Venue: Meeting Room G.01, Ground Floor, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ
Contact: Rachel Hall: Tel No. 0116 4543047 Angie Smith: Tel. No 0116 454376354 Internal 37634
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda. Minutes: Members were asked to declare any interest they may have in the business on the agenda.
There were no declarations.
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MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE To note the membership of the Committee for the municipal year 2019-20 as approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16th May 2019.
Chair Councillor Hunter Co Vice-Chair Councillor Singh Johal Co Vice-Chair Councillor Pickering
Councillor Cank Councillor Fonseca Councillor Gee Councillor Dr Moore Councillor Sangster Councillor Thomas 1 Non-Group Place Minutes: NOTED: The membership of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee for the 2019-20 municipal year as follows:
Councillor Hunter (Chair) Councillor Singh-Johal (Vice-Chair) Councillor Pickering (Vice-Chair) Councillor Cank Councillor Fonseca Councillor Gee Councillor Dr Moore Councillor Sangster Councillor Thomas 1 non-group place |
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To note the Terms of Reference of the Committee that were approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16th May 2019. Minutes: NOTED: The Terms of Reference for the Licensing & Public Safety Committee. |
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DATES OF MEETINGS To note the dates for Committee meetings for the municipal year 2019-20 approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16th May 2019 as follows:-
Tuesday 9th July 2019 Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Tuesday 11th February 2020 Tuesday 21st April 2020
All meetings commence at 5.30pm.
Minutes: NOTED: The dates of the Committee meetings for the 2019-20 municipal year as follows:
Tuesday 9th July 2019 Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Tuesday 11th February 2020 Tuesday 21st April 2020
All meetings to commence at 5.30pm |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING PDF 90 KB The minutes of the meeting held on 12th February 2019 have been circulated and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 12th February 2019 be confirmed as a correct record. |
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PETITIONS The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures. Minutes: The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.
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QUESTIONS, REPRESENTATIONS, STATEMENTS OF CASE The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures. Minutes: The Monitoring Officer reported that there were no questions, representations and statements of case received.
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LICENSING SERVICE POSITION STATEMENT PDF 864 KB The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report giving an overview of each work area within the Licensing Service.
Members will be asked to note the contents of the report. Minutes: The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report providing an overview of each work area within the Licensing Service.
The Licensing Team Manager introduced the report which included background information to the Licensing Process, roles and responsibilities, a summary of the three Licensing Teams: Licensing Applications; Licensing Enforcement and the Vehicle Testing Station and details of any particular areas of note.
Members noted that the Licensing and Public Safety Committee were responsible for maintaining an overview of licensing matters, scrutinising processes and procedures, making recommendations and actions as a consultee on licensing policy.
RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.
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TAXI STRATEGY - DRIVER LICENSING CONSULTATION PDF 91 KB The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report giving details of the proposed public consultation regarding policies and procedures associated with the licensing of taxi drivers.
Members will be asked to comment on the proposed consultation document. Minutes: The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report giving details of the proposed consultation regarding policies and procedures associated with the licensing of taxi drivers.
The Chief Licensing Officer introduced the report and reminded members that the Taxi Strategy had been approved by Deputy City Mayor Clair earlier in the year and the next step of the process was to begin public consultation with the first part concerning taxi drivers. Members were referred to a draft copy of the consultation document which included proposals for consideration and were invited to provide comments to be feedback to the executive.
Members were of the view that Child Sexual Exploitation awareness training should be a mandatory pre-licensing requirement in proposal 11.
Regarding proposal 1, it was suggested that the expression “as soon as reasonably practicable” should be more specific. Concern was also expressed about computer accessibility and the difficulties that some may have with that. It was explained that all new applicants had been required to apply online for a few years with no reports of that being an issue. It was accepted that the renewal process was less simple however the council was moving to digital by default but there would continue to be an offer of assistance to anyone that struggled with that. Existing drivers would also be written to about the consultation.
In relation to proposal 7, it was suggested the statement about English assessment pre-licensing requirements be rephrased to say, “applicants whose language is not English as their first language” rather than refer to “all new applicants who were born outside the UK”. Members also questioned the equality implications of the English assessment and were informed that the English assessment had been introduced following a series of complaints primarily from customers, but also from councillors and officers, who had encountered difficulties with drivers that spoke little or no English. The proposal was to obtain further advice on equalities and consider whether there was a more appropriate way of screening people to ensure a sufficient level of communication ability with customers.
Members also suggested that once a provider was approved to conduct English Assessments there should be regular checks or audits against providers to ensure they were carrying out those assessments properly and verifying identities of those being tested.
Members noted that for proposal 3 and 6, the intention would be to contract a medical services provider and English assessment provider following a thorough procurement process based on whoever was able and willing to provide such a service. In relation to proposal 3 concern was expressed regarding the procurement of private medical services as it was felt that the council should be seen to support the provision of NHS services. It was explained that this proposal had come about due to the constraints on GP practices in Leicester and the fact that a number of those were now unable to provide this service.
DBS checks would be portable under the DBS update service at proposal 4.
Members raised ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |
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CLOSE OF MEETING Minutes: The meeting closed at 6.24 pm |