Agenda and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 January 2020 (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the Chairman be authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 January 2020.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of Licensing Sub-Committees held on 17 January 2020 and 2 March 2020 (copies attached) and for the Chairmen of the appropriate Sub-Committees to sign, as correct records.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 17 January 2020 and 2 June 2020 be received and the Chairman of the relevant Sub-Committee be authorised to sign as a correct record.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests.  (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Members may, however, also decide, in the interests of clarity and transparency, to declare at this point in the meeting, any such disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, as well as any other registrable or other interests.

If a Member requires advice on any item involving a possible declaration of interest which could affect his/her ability to speak and/or vote, he/she is advised to contact the Monitoring Officer at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that no declarations of interest were raised.

To consider whether the items, if any, in Part II of the Agenda should be considered in the presence of the press and public.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that there are no excluded items on the Agenda.

Any member of the public who wishes to ask a question, make representations or present a deputation or petition at this meeting should apply to do so by no later than 0:01am (one minute past midnight) two working days before the meeting.  Information on how to make the application can be obtained by viewing the Council’s Website www.southlakeland.gov.uk or by contacting the Committee Services Team on 01539 733333.

(1)        Questions and Representations

            To receive any questions or representations which have been received from members of the public.

(2)        Deputations and Petitions

            To receive any deputations or petitions which have been received from members of the public.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that no questions, representations, deputations or petitions had been received in respect of this meeting.

To consider the review of Licensing Fees and Charges for 2021/22 and Draft Budget for this service area.

The Operational Lead Case Management Services informed Members that Officers had proposed a 2% increase to the majority of locally controlled license fees, in line with the Medium Financial Plan. She highlighted that a significant proportion of licenses issued had been based on cost recovery. She informed Members that due to the pandemic, current data had been used to set the 2021/22 charges and emphasised the impact of both the current pandemic and the potential impact of Brexit.

The Operational Lead Case Management Services stated that officers had committed to a full review of fees and charges before 2022/23 budget setting. She highlighted the future Licensing working group, led by officers with Member oversight that would report back to both Licensing and Licensing Regulatory Committees on a regular basis.

Members raised questions relating to taxi and private hire fees that had not been due to change as a result of the report and requested information relating to the total number of officers that were involved in the licensing process. The Principle Specialist (Health & Environment) informed Members that the consultation process linked to raising or lowering the Taxi and Private Hire License fees was disproportionate to the amount that had been proposed and highlighted the intention to review these fees when the full review is undertaken before 2022/23 budget setting. He stated that the expectation was that a full breakdown of all officers involved in the licensing process throughout the authority would be produced as part of ongoing works over the next 12 months.

RESOLVED – That:-

(1)        the recommended fees for the financial year 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1, and subject to approval by Council as part of the final budget setting process be endorsed;

(2)        the Licensing Committee note the nationally-set fees for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 2; and

(3)        the Licensing Committee note and refer the latest draft budget estimates including the fees and charges for 2021/22 in Appendix 4 to Council for approval as part of the final budget report.