Agenda and minutes

NOTED       that no Member or Officer declared any interest pursuant to any statutory requirement in any matter discussed or voted upon at the meeting.

NOTED       that an audio recording of the meeting was to be made by the Council.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 June 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Projects Officer – Commercialisation & Major Projects which sought Members’ approval to begin a formal process to amend the prohibited street designation of The Wharf to exclude the Wharf Car Park. 

The report set out that the Concessions Project identified opportunities to generate a commercial income from food and beverage licenses on Council owned land and noted the success of Phase One of the project at Sconce & Devon Park and Vicar Water Country Park.  Phase Two was to conduct a district wide review of potential locations that would be suitable for food and beverage concessions to maximise income generation for the project.  The proposals, reported at paragraph 3, noted that the Wharf was currently designated as a prohibited street for the purposes of street trading but that it was proposed to grant permission for a concession to operate from the Car Park on the site.  Opportunities for the concession would be advertised asking for expressions of interest in early 2020.  Details of how the successful party would be chosen and the management of the concession were detailed in paragraphed 4 of the report.  The timetable for the proposals was listed at paragraph 6.

In considering the report Members queried whether any restrictions as to the type of concession would be applied.  The Projects Officer stated that careful consideration would be given to the type of concession to be sited on the car park, having regard to the surrounding businesses etc.  A Member queried whether a burger van would be sited there.  In response the Projects Officer advised that such a concession would not be sited on the Wharf Car Park but that it may be considered as part of the wider Concessions Project. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the commencement of formal process to amend the prohibited street designation of The Wharf to exclude The Wharf Car Park be approved;

(b)     the consultation timetable set out in paragraph 6.2 of the report be endorsed; and

(c)     a further report with consultation comments be brought to the Committee in November to seek a resolution to amend the existing prohibited street designation.

The Committee considered the report of the Director – Governance & Organisational Development which sought to inform Members of the statutory review of polling districts and polling places.

It was reported that a review must be undertaken every four years and that the deadline for the latest review to have been completed was 31 January 2020.  Paragraph 1.4 indicated that a further report would be presented to Committee on 14 November 2019 with the consultation responses and a recommendation that Committee recommend a final scheme to full Council for approval.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the process to consult on polling districts and polling places be approved in accordance with the timetable.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Public Protection in relation to the consultation responses from the trade to the proposals for a review of hackney carriage fares.

The report set out the proposed fare increase and the methodology used to undertake the consultation.  The Business Manager stated that the response rate had been disappointing with only 20 responses being received from the 175 issued.  It was now proposed that the public consultation would be undertaken.  The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Business Manager would be given delegated authority to determine the relevance of any objections raised.  If it was considered that no such responses had been made it was proposed that the new fares would be implemented on 21 October 2019.

In considering the matter a Member requested that the proposed fare increase advert also be placed in the Mansfield Chad as the residents of Ollerton and surrounding areas did not read the Newark Advertiser.  The Business Manager confirmed that it would be placed in both papers.

A Member raised concerns as to the continuing issues with drivers who were not licensed within the District.  The Chairman and Business Manager both advised that legislation to resolve the matter remained outstanding and of the working protocols within the County to try to resolve the ongoing issues. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the advertising of the new Hackney Carriage Fares as set out in Appendix Two be approved;

(b)     the proposed implementation date of 21 October 2019 be approved; and

(c)     delegated authority be given to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Business Manager – Public Protection to determine the relevance of any objections raised.

AGREED      (unanimously) that:

(a)     the General Purposes Forward Plan be noted; and

(b)     the following two items be added:

(i)      Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places (14.11.19); and

(ii)     Castlegate Taxi Rank Update (14.11.19)

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Public Protection in relation to the activity and performance of the Licensing Team which included details of current ongoing enforcement issues. 

Information contained in the report related to the number of applications for grants and renewals of licences for Hackney Carriage; Private Hire; and Ambulance Drivers together with those for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles.  A note of ongoing enforcement activity was also listed with information as to what action had been taken to-date.  Also provided within the report was information relating to both street and house to house collections.

In considering the report a Member raised the ongoing issues with licensed drivers at the Northgate Train Station and that some refused to take passengers if they only required a short journey.  Members agreed that it may prove beneficial to undertake some additional investigation and if possible some ‘mystery shopping’ activity to ensure compliance with licence conditions.

Members also queried whether any complaints received in relation to licensed drivers were followed up.  The Business Manager advised that all complaints received resulted in follow up action and, if necessary, monitoring of the driver.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.

In response to the Chairman asking for an update on the latest position with the amendment to the hours of the Castlegate Taxi Rank, the Business Manager – Public Protection advised that he had been in contact with Nottinghamshire County Council’s Legal Services who were responsible for issuing the new Order to amend the commencement time to 18:00 hours as previously agreed by this Committee.  To-date he had not received a response.  He advised that he would present an update report to the next meeting of the Committee on 14 November 2019.

To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

That, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Committee considered the exempt Minutes of the Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Driver’s Sub-Committee held on Wednesday, 26 June 2019. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that the exempt Minutes be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Director – Communities & Environment in relation to safeguarding issues as detailed in the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the report be noted.