Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Farrow and Pierce Jones.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 24 September 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 24 September 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

There were no matters arising.

To receive and record any declarations of interests from members present in respect of any of the various matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the appeal against the decision of the Licensing Sub Committee held on 16 July 2014 had been scheduled for January 2015.

Members were also updated on a recent newspaper article regarding a local taxi operator.

The Committee considered a report from the Licensing Officer requesting consideration of a potential increase in Hackney Carriage fares.

The Committee was advised that all hackney carriage proprietors had been consulted on the proposed alteration to the hackney carriage fare structure and the majority of those who had responded had indicated support for an increase in fares.

The Committee noted that there had not been a fare increase for six years whilst other charges, such as licence fees and fuel costs had increased steadily over the same period. Members also expressed concern over the fee charged for use of the hackney carriage rank outside Havant Railway Station and suggested a letter be sent to Network Rail requesting support for hackney carriage proprietors.

RECOMMENDED to Council that

(1)          The following increases be advertised:

i)                No increase in the ‘flag drop’ but change the mileage ‘for the first 171 metres or part thereof’ to ‘first 154 metres’ and ‘For each succeeding 210 metres’ to ‘189 metres’.

ii)               The waiting time be increased from 20 pence for each period of 60 seconds to 25 pence;

(2)        Any objections to the above proposals following the advertisement be considered by the Licensing Committee; and

(3)        If there are no objections then the increase be implemented 28 days from the date the proposed fare increases were first advertised.

The Committee received a report from the Licensing Officer setting out proposed charges for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing for the financial year 2015/2016.

Due to the importance of ensuring the fees were legally robust and set using a transparent methodology it was intended that fees would be reviewed annually through an assessment of relevant costs. It was confirmed that the proposed fees sought to fully recover all relevant costs to the Council apart from the following two exceptions:

1)    The proposed Hackney Carriage licence fee was £20 less then could be charged following the assessment of costs in order to avoid a significant increase during 2015/16; and

2)    The knowledge test fee was £5 less then could be charged given the assessment of costs in order to avoid a significant increase during 2015/16.

RECOMMENDED to Council  that

(1)          The variations to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence fees as set out in the appendix to these minutes be advertised; and

(2)          If no objections to the proposed variations are received they be implemented on 1 April 2015.