Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beynon, Chicken and Lee.

Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on Wednesday 15 February 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on Wednesday 15 February 2023, as circulated be confirmed as a true  record and signed by the Chair.

To receive for information the Minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee held on Thursday 16 February 2023. 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee held on 16 February, be received for information.

(a) Hackney Carriage Review Tariff 2023 To update Members on consultation undertaken following the agreement of the Committee on the 15 February to increase the Hackney Carriage tariff of fares, and in doing so, determine whether there are grounds to adopt a different approach to that which was agreed and consulted upon.

(a)      Hackney Carriage Review Tariff 2023 

Members were updated on the consultation following the agreement of the Committee on 15 February to increase the Hackney Carriage tariff of fares, and in doing so, determine whether there are grounds to adopt a different approach to that which was agreed and consulted upon. 

A request was made to record the thanks of members for the hard work carried out by the Licensing team. 

Members were reminded that the tariff had last been reviewed in 2022, where it had been agreed on an increase of 5% with an agreement to review after 12 months. 

The Licensing & Regulatory Committee on 15 February 2023, had agreed to increase the tariff by approximately 5% and authorised the licensing section to consult with the licensed trade and publish the required public notices. 

Responses/comments were attached in Appendix A to the report. 

In response to questions, the following comments were made: 

• The re-setting the meter was carried out independently 
• Public notices were published accordingly and approximately 1000 people were invited to comment. 
• Drivers could charge more, but this would only come into effect if there was more than 4 passengers 

Councillor Parry moved acceptance of the proposed revised hackney carriage tariff of 5%, this was seconded by Councillor Gallacher and unanimously agreed. 

Councillor Foster proposed that the tariff to come into force on 22 May, this was seconded by Councillor Sharp and unanimously agreed. 

          RESOLVED that: 

1.       The proposed revised hackney carriage tariff increase of 5% be agreed. 

2.       The tariff to come into force on 22 May 2023. 

The Chair conveyed his thanks to Phil Soderquest, Director of Housing and Public Protection who was leaving the authority for all the hard work he had contributed to licensing committees.  This was echoed by members.

The next meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday 14 June 2023. 

RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory on Wednesday 14 June 2023, be noted.