Agenda and minutes

This being the first meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee since the Council’s AGM on 11 May 2016, the Business Regulation & Licensing Manager opened the meeting and asked for nominations for Chairman of the Committee for 2016/2017.

Accordingly, Councillor Carol Lynch nominated Councillor Michael Anderson as Chairman and this was duly seconded by Councillor John Bloodworth, and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

That Councillor Michael Anderson be elected Chairman for 2016/2017.

Councillor Anderson then took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting and requested nominations for the election of Vice-Chairman.

Councillor Michael Anderson nominated Councillor Carol Lynch as Vice-Chairman and this was seconded by Councillor Nigel Roman, and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

That Councillor Carol Lynch be elected Vice-Chairman for 2016/2017.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Appleby, Chris Barker, Bill Sadler and Reg Silvester.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

Members of the public are invited to put questions/statements of not more than 3 minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only.

There were no questions/statements from members of the public.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2016 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2016 were unanimously accepted by the Committee as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

Report No: LIC/FH/16/003

The Business Regulation & Licensing Manager advised Members that on receipt of an enquiry with regard to a stage hypnotist performance within the St Edmundsbury Borough it highlighted the fact that neither of the West Suffolk Councils had a specific policy in place in respect of this type of licensable activity.

Accordingly, Officers had developed standard conditions regulating the exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism, which were attached as Appendix 1 to Report No LIC/FH/16/003, and approval was sought to adopt these conditions so that they could be applied to any future application under the Hypnotism Act.

Members were advised that an identical report had been presented to St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 17 May 2016 at which the conditions had been adopted.

The Officer responded to Members questions with regard to this item.

Following which, it was moved by Councillor Carol Lynch, seconded by Councillor Nigel Roman and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

          That:-

1.   The standard conditions attached as Appendix 1 to Report No LIC/FH/16/003, be adopted so that they can be applied by the Licensing Authority to any future application made under the Hypnotism Act; and

2.   Delegated Authority be given to the Business Regulation & Licensing Manager, or equivalent, to determine any future applications under the Hypnotism Act 1952 and to authorise proceedings under this Act.

Report No: LIC/FH/16/004

The Business Regulation & Licensing Manager sought approval to change the requirements for licensed drivers to complete the BTEC Level 2 certificate in ‘Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver’ (QCF).

Details of the course were attached for Members’ reference with the exact cost to be confirmed.  Officers were also exploring if it was possible to utilise any Government grants towards funding the training.

The Committee were advised that the proposed change would be subject to consultation with the Trade.  Informal discussions had received a largely positive response.

The Officer advised that an identical report had been presented to St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 17 May 2016 at which the course had been endorsed.

The Committee wholeheartedly welcomed this proposal and Councillor Nigel Roman asked if it would be possible to include some form of badge/label on the driver’s vehicle to show that they had achieved the qualification.  Officers were in support of this and agreed to look into how this could be achieved.

Following which, it was moved by Councillor Roman, seconded by Councillor John Bloodworth and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

          That:-

1.   The contents of Report No LIC/FH/16/004 be noted and the change in requirements for new drivers to complete the BTEC Level 2 Certificate, subject to consultation, be supported;

2.   The change in requirements for all current drivers to complete the BTEC Level 2 Certificate (within a timeframe to be set), subject to consultation, be supported; and

3.   Officers to explore appropriate ways of advertising course completion in/on licensed vehicles.