Agenda and minutes

Venue: Main Committee Room, Civic Centre, Stone Cross, Northallerton

Contact: Democratic Services Officer  01609 767015

Items
No. Item

LC.11

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles pdf icon PDF 732 KB

Report of the Executive Director

Minutes:

The subject of the decision:

 

The Executive Director submitted a report seeking approval of the revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles.

 

Alternative options considered:

 

To modify the Statement of Principles prior to seeking Council approval.  No modifications were deemed appropriate.

 

The reason for the decision:

 

The Statement of Principles formed part of the material considerations to be taken into account by the Council when exercising its functions under the Act.  Equality and diversity implications were taken into consideration when drafting the revised Statement of Principles.  The revised Statement of Principles addressed the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005, and relevant consultation responses.

 

THE DECISION:

 

That Council be recommended to approve the revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles.

LC.12

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Report of the Executive Director

Minutes:

The Executive Director submitted a report seeking consideration of responses to consultation in relation to the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and also to the approval of the revised policy.  The Committee considered four consultation responses in relation to the proposed ten year age limit on vehicles, an enquiry regarding increasing number of mechanical tests for vehicles over three years old and an enquiry in respect of DVSA assessments.  

 

Alternative options considered:

 

To modify the policy prior to seeking Council approval.  No modifications were deemed appropriate.

 

The reason for the decision:

 

The Committee on taking into account the proposed changes to the draft policy, the consultation responses and the further explanation provided by officers in relation to the consultation responses reached the following conclusions:

 

1.         the Committee was satisfied the adoption of a general ten year age limit on licensed vehicles was appropriate to promote public safety, reliability and improved high standards of hackney carriage and private hire service in the district.  The Committee was satisfied that the policy allowed exceptions to the general rule by placing a requirement on the licensing authority to consider each application on its individual merits and to depart from the general policy where the specific circumstances of a case justify making an exception;

 

2.         the Committee was satisfied that the increased number of mechanical tests for licensed vehicles over three years old was appropriate to promote public safety; and 

 

3.         the Committee was satisfied that the proposed amendment in respect of the enquiry on DVSA assessments was appropriate in order to reduce the burden on the taxi trade. 

 

The revised policy sought to promote the Council’s equality and diversity duty and any implications had been addressed within the policy. 

 

THE DECISION:

 

That Council be recommended to approve the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and to take effect from 1 April 2016.

LC.13

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2015 (LC.7 - LC.10) and the meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel held on 2 December 2015 (LHP.5LHP.7 and LHP.8LHP.10), previously circulated.

Minutes:

THE DECISION:

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 November 2015 (LC.7 - LC.10) and the meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel held on 2 December 2015 (LHP.5LHP7 and LHP.8LHP.10), previously circulated, be signed as correct records.