Agenda and decisions

This is where Councillors who are attending as substitutes will say for whom they are attending.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allison, Homewood, Hussain and Pinnock.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 November 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 23 November 2018 were approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

That all agenda items be considered in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.  

No deputations or petitions were received.

The Committee will hear any questions from the general public.

Councillor Scott referred to the introduction of clean air zones and the Clear Air Charging Zone due to be introduced by Leeds City Council in 2020 and highlighted the impact that surcharges would have on Kirklees’ taxi drivers and their businesses.  This was considered under Item 7 (Kirklees Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy).

The Committee to consider the adoption of the overarching Kirklees Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, taking into account any consultation responses.

Officer: Russell Williams, Group Leader Licensing Public Protection, Samantha Lawton, Operations Manager – Public Protection (Licensing), TEL: 01484 221000

That the Committee agreed:-

·         The adoption of the draft policy as presented at Appendix I in the report from 1 April 2019; and

·         To delegate authority to the Head of Public Protection to make minor changes to the policy should these be necessary, in relation to updating of processes, legislation, service name changes or grammatical errors.

The Committee to receive a report which provides information of a consultation currently being undertaken by the Department of Transport on new statutory guidance in relation to the licensing of the private hire and hackney carriage trades.

Officer: Russell Williams, Group Leader Licensing Public Protection, Samantha Lawton, Operations Manager – Public Protection (Licensing), TEL: 01484 221000.

That the Committee:-

·         Noted the Statutory Guidance;

·         Delegated authority to officers, in conjunction with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee, authority to respond to the consultation on behalf of the licensing service; and

·         Agreed that Committee Members would contact officers and / or the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee with any specific consideration to be fed into the consultation response.

The Committee received a verbal update on licensing training proposals for newly elected members and refresher sessions for existing councillors. 

The Committee agreed the training session proposals and asked that it be clearly stated that the training was mandatory for all committee members.