Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Constitutional Services Email: Constitutional.services@oldham.gov.uk
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Apologies For Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Byrne. |
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Urgent Business Urgent business, if any, introduced by the Chair Minutes: There were no items of urgent business received. |
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Declarations of Interest To Receive Declarations of Interest in any Contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest received. |
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Public Question Time To receive Questions from the Public, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. Minutes: There were no public questions for this meeting to consider. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minutes of the meeting held on 29th October 2024 are attached for approval. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29th October 2024 be approved as a correct record.
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The reason for this report is to request that
Members note the activities of the Licensing Team since the last
meeting. Minutes: Officers provided an update on the activities of the Licensing team since April 2024 together with outlining the challenges and demands on the service.
In terms of Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment, there has been one hearing since April 2024 for Greene’s Bistro and Parlour, Wade Row, Uppermill. Application to vary licence refused.
For Taxi and Private Hire Licenses, there have been a total of circa. 1300 new applications received for dual driver licences since April 2024. The significant increase in licensed drivers has placed an additional burden on Officers so a recruitment exercise has taken place with two new staff joining the team recently and one position yet to fill.
The additional vehicles being licensed has also meant an increase in testing capacity is required. A third bay is due to open imminently.
Officers are working towards the implementation of a new service database and front facing driver application and account system which improve efficiency and speed of processes.
Since April 2024 there have been 60 hearings before the Drivers Panel with 7 applications granted, 37 applications refused, 3 Licences suspended, 11 Licences revoked, and no further action carried out on 1 Licence. In addition, there have been 12 delegated revocation decisions made by Officers for urgent matters.
RESOLVED that the Licensing Update is noted by the Committee. |
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Allocation of unused Hackney Carriage Licences The reason for this report is to request that
Members approve an addition to the Councils Taxi and Private Hire
licensing policy in relation to the allocation of unused hackney
carriage vehicle licences. Minutes: Officers request that Members approve an addition to that policy in relation to how the Licensing Authority releases unused hackney carriage vehicle licences when they are unallocated.
It is very rare that a licence becomes available but when it does an agreed approach is needed in order to consider a new applicant. It is therefore proposed to adopt the following wording to insert into our taxi and private hire licensing policy:
On the occasion that a hackney carriage vehicle licence becomes available for issue the licensing authority will ascertain from all licensed clients whether anybody wishes to put their name forward to apply for a licence. Those interested will then go into a draw and the successful person will be invited to apply for a licence as long as they can meet the criteria within the licensing policy. In addition to the trade notification seeking expressions of interest a public notice will be displayed on the councils website seeking to enable other interested parties to participate.
RESOLVED that, Members of the Licensing Committee approve an addition to the Councils Taxi and Private Hire licensing policy in relation to the allocation of unused hackney carriage vehicle licences. |