Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Branson, J Hunt and C Tarrant.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 31 October 2012  and 8 May 2013 (attached)

The minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 31 October 2012 and 8 May 2013 were approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

Minute 18/10/2012 – Ward Members on Licensing Sub-Committees

In response to a member of the Committee, the Chairman confirmed that the decision to prohibit Ward Members from sitting on the Licensing Sub-Committee would not prevent Ward Members from making representations on behalf of their residents at licensing hearings.

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 interest from any of the members present.

The Chairman to report the outcome of meetings attended or other information arising since the last meeting of the Committee

The Chairman reported that he had visited all Pubwatch  premises in the Borough and that all had signed up to an agreement whereby any member failing to attend more than three Pubwatch meetings would no longer be able to access the scheme.

Complaints of noise and anti-social behaviour associated with the Wheelwrights Arms were now resolved following the closure of the premises.  Similar problems associated with West Town Hotel on Hayling Island were currently being monitored by the Licensing and Environmental Health Officers and the Police.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 12 April 2013.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 12 April 2012 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered a report setting out options in relation to Hackney Carriage fares and was asked to determine which of the five suggested options should be applied.

The Committee was mindful of the negative impact of the present economic climate on the Hackney Carriage trade and of the need to have in place a pricing framework that struck a balance between profitability and affordability. 

Taking into account the information set out in the report and the low number of representations submitted by members of the Hackney Carriage trade, the Committee was minded not to increase fares at the present time and to actively support the officers in their efforts to establish new hackney carriage ranks at alternative locations within the Borough. It was agreed that the Chairman, in the first instance, would liaise with the Licensing Officers with a view to taking this forward.

RESOLVED that

(1)          fare charges remain unchanged; and

(2)          urgent efforts be made to identify and provide new locations for additional hackney carriage ranks within the Borough and that the Committee be given regular updates on progress.