To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2014 (Minute Nos. 134 – 138) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2014 (Minute Nos. 134 – 138) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the General Licensing Committee.  Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered with Democratic Services by 4.30pm on Friday 23 January 2015 and must be related to an item on the agenda.  Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes to speak.

There were no questions.

To consider a few minor changes that are recommended to the Local Conditions to help maintain the quality of the service.

The Chairman introduced the report which proposed a few minor changes to the Local Conditions to help maintain the quality of the service.

A Member considered that the increase from 3 to 6 penalty points for the handheld use of a mobile phone would not be enough of a deterrent, and should be increased to 8 or 9 points. 

Councillor Lloyd Bowen moved the following amendment:  That the penalty points for the handheld use of a mobile phone while driving were increased from 3 to 8 penalty points.  This was seconded by Councillor June Garrad. On being put to the vote the amendment was not agreed.

Members made comments which included: failure to move up the taxi rank outside Faversham station meant that drivers often parked over the area designated as a bus stop, which was an offence; and considered that 3 points for failure to set meter was not sufficient.

The Hackney Carriage Inspector explained that Civil Parking officers would be responsible for enforcing no parking over a designated bus stop.  With regard to failure to set meter, the Hackney Carriage Inspector explained that he appreciated how easy it could be for drivers to be distracted and forget to set the meter, and pointed out that it would be the driver that was ‘cheated’ financially, not the customer.  He therefore considered 3 points was sufficient for the offence.

In response to a query from a Member, the Head of Service Delivery clarified that any driver accruing 12 penalty points would be called-in before a Licensing Sub-Committee who would review their licence.

At the request of the Chairman, the Head of Service Delivery agreed to ensure that the penalty points system was reviewed annually in future.

Resolved:

(1)   That the penalty points for the handheld use of a mobile phone while driving be increased from 3 to 6 penalty points.

(2)   That a minimum size of a Top Sign of 400mm (16 inches) be included in the conditions.

To consider information on the review of fares for hackney carriages and a slight change to the Drivers’ Licence Fee to cover the cost of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) licence checks.

The Chairman introduced the report which provided information on the review of fares for hackney carriages and recommended that no changes were made to the current fare structure.  The report also recommended that there should be a slight change to the Driver’s Licence Fee to cover the cost of DLVA licence checks.

In response to a query from a Member, the Head of Service Delivery confirmed that a copy of the agenda for the Liaison Meeting had been sent to all hackney carriage operators. 

The Head of Service Delivery advised that feedback from drivers on the proposed changes to the annual driver’s licence fee indicated that they considered it to be  reasonable and appropriate.    

The Head of Service Delivery confirmed that the proposed annual drivers licence fee would have no impact on the budget proposals to be considered at Annual Council on 18 February 2015.

Resolved: 

(1)  That no changes are made to the current fare structure.

(2)  That the annual driver’s licence fee is increased by £5 from £50 to £55 and that the three year licence is increased by £5 from £120 to £125.