Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Members were asked to declare any interest they may have in the business on the agenda.

There were no declarations.

To note the membership of the Committee for the municipal year 2019-20 as approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16^th 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

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

To note the Terms of Reference of the Committee that were approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16^th May 2019.

NOTED:

            The Terms of Reference for the Licensing & Public Safety Committee.

To note the dates for Committee meetings for the municipal year 2019-20 approved by the Annual Council meeting on 16^th May 2019 as follows:-

Tuesday 9^th July 2019

Tuesday 22^nd October 2019

Tuesday 11^th February 2020

Tuesday 21^st April 2020

All meetings commence at 5.30pm.

NOTED:

The dates of the Committee meetings for the 2019-20 municipal year as follows:

Tuesday 9^th July 2019

Tuesday 22^nd October 2019

Tuesday 11^th February 2020

Tuesday 21^st April 2020

All meetings to commence at 5.30pm

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2019 have been circulated and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2019 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that there were no questions, representations and statements of case received.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The meeting closed at 6.24 pm