Licensing Panel
Tuesday 13 October 2015 6.00 pm
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13 October 2015
PRESENT: Councillors Asghar Majeed (Chairman), Carwyn Cox (Vice Chairman), Malcolm Alexander, John Bowden, John Collins, David Hilton, Charles Hollingsworth, Sayonara Luxton, Wesley Richards, Derek Sharp and Derek Wilson (substituting for Councillor Andrew Jenner).
Officers: Alan Barwise, Will Cottrell, Steve Johnson and Shilpa Manek
14/15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hashim Bhatti, Jesse Grey, Maureen Hunt and Andrew Jenner.
15/15 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
16/15 MINUTES
RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 7 September 2015 be approved.
17/15 GAMBLING ACT 2005 STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
Steve Johnson, Enforcement Principal, explained that a draft paper was agreed at the July 2015 Panel and it was suggested that trade was consulted regarding the suggestions. Trade was consulted an no amendments had been made to the suggested wording that was agreed at the July Panel.
The Panel UNANIMOUSLY AGREED the officer’s recommendation.
18/15 REVIEW OF ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD’S PRIVATE HIRE AND HACKNEY CARRIAGE OPERATOR, VEHICLE AND DRIVER POLICIES AND CONDITIONS.
Steve Johnson, Enforcement Principal, went through the paragraphs 2.3 to 2.9 of the policy as follows:
Paragraph 2.3 – Medical for Drivers
Points highlighted by members included:
Whether it was legal to ask for a full medical from drivers every year.
Reliant on drivers to provide information to officers.
Steve Johnson clarified that the drivers GP would officially send a certificate for the driver to the council.
Councillor Cox questioned if this could be done and was any other boroughs already doing this. Councillor Cox suggested that it would be good to find out which other councils were following this example and if there had been any challenges. He highlighted that we would need to be careful to implement the policy.
Councillor Alexander pointed out that the policy concentrated on health of the driver but what if a driver was driving 24/7. Alan Barwise, , Licensing Manager, reassured Members that this was being monitored.
The Chairman requested that the issues raised be checked before the consultation be sent out.
Paragraph 2.4 – Internal Identification Plates
Councillor Luxton suggested a photograph of the driver would be better as it would be easier to remember. Councillor Sharp suggested an easy to remember number which would be more memorable and easy to quote if wanting to identify the driver.
Steve Johnson explained that these ideas could be considered. He explained that the additional internal plates had been costed at £1.00 per plate.
Councillor Wilson agreed with Councillor Sharp that a bold, easily visible number would be recognised and easily remembered.
The Panel unanimously agreed that the internal identification plates would be a good idea.
Paragraph 2.5 – Temporary Vehicle License Fees
The Panel unanimously agreed that the fee be increased.
Paragraph 2.6 – Road Knowledge Testing Fee
The Panel unanimously agreed that the fee be increased.
Paragraph 2.7 – Annual Driver Checks
This was discussed at the September 2015 Panel, the conditions requested by Members were now added.
The Panel unanimously agreed the Officers proposals.
Paragraph 2.8 – Convictions
Councillor Cox suggested that the definition of “convictions” be very clearly stated. The Panel unanimously agreed the Officers proposals.
Paragraph 2.9 – Horse Drawn Hackney Carriages
The Panel unanimously agreed that an additional section, relating to horse drawn vehicles, be added to RBWM’s Policies and Conditions.
The Panel unanimously agreed that the policies could go out to consultation and would come back to the Licensing Panel in January 2016.
19/15 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
Members noted the next meeting of the Licensing Panel would be 6 January 2016,
20/15 MEETING
The meeting, which began at 6.00pm, ended at 7.15pm.
Chairman…………………………………Date……………………………………………