The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park. Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 October 2018 (Minute Nos. 246 – 254) as a correct record and to accept the minutes of the following Licensing Sub-Committees:

23 October 2018                   Minute Nos. 283 – 287

19 December 2018              Minute Nos. 404 – 408

23 January 2019                  Minute Nos. 450 - 454

28 January 2019 2pm         Minute Nos. 460 - 464

28 January 2019 3pm         Minute Nos. 465 – 469

19 March 2019                     Minute Nos. 565 - 569

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 October 2018 (Minute Nos. 246 – 254) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Licensing Sub-Committees held on:

23 October 2018 (Minute Nos. 283 – 287)

19 December 2018 (Minute Nos. 404 – 408)

23 January 2019 (Minute Nos. 450 – 454)

28 January 2019 2pm (Minute Nos. 460 – 464)

28 January 2019 3pm (Minute Nos. 465 – 469)

19 March 2019 (Minute Nos. 565 – 569)

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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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 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 by Democratic Services by 4.30pm on Friday 5 April 2019 and must be related to an item on the Agenda.  Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes to speak.

The Chairman advised that no requests to speak had been received.

6.1  -  OLEV/ULEV grants

6.2  -  Taxis

6.3  -  Kent Community Alcohol Partnership

6.4  -  Local Area Profile

6.5  -  Street Trading Policy

6.1 OLEV/ULEV grants

The Resilience and Licensing Manager introduced the Office for Low Emission Vehicles/Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV/ULEV) grants update.  She explained that Kent County Council (KCC) had been successful in their bid for 75% of the £180,000 funding.  The suppliers of the units were happy to put in the remaining 25%.  Officers had been looking for the best locations for the rapid charging points, which included positioning one at a local supermarket.  Although taxi vehicles were not fully electric in the Borough at the moment, due to only being allowed in the new policy from last summer, there had been interest from one of the taxi companies who had hybrid vehicles.

The Resilience and Licensing Manager explained that KCC would lead on procurement, and the units would be installed by the end of March 2020.  Swale Borough Council (SBC) would take over their management once the units had been installed, following further discussions with KCC on this process.  The units could be made available to the public and this would be reviewed if the number of electric taxis increased.

In response to questions, the Resilience and Licensing Manager explained that as the supermarket, where the units were likely to be positioned, already had their own charging points, the units installed by KCC would be marked differently, and there would be clear signage as well.  She also explained that Licensing would keep a close watch for further funding opportunities which could mean that more charging points could be installed across the Borough.

6.2 Taxis

The Licensing Officer introduced the taxi update.  She explained that the taxi policy had been in place since July 2018 and was working well.  This had helped officers to keep checks on taxi drivers.  Penalty points were more focussed, and vehicle checks were no longer carried out as it was considered this was doubling-up with the garage inspections that were carried out.  This enabled more time for more targeted enforcement.  The Licensing Officer explained that small amendments to the policy could be carried out by the Chairman and the Resilience and Licensing Manager, and this ensured the Policy was kept up-to-date.

The Licensing Officer explained that the Street Knowledge Test (SKT) was now online, which most taxi drivers preferred.  A safeguarding module had been introduced, whereby a short film was shown, with questions afterwards.  Candidates were expected to achieve the 100% pass mark on this module.  The Licensing Officer considered this approach indicated that SBC was being robust with regard to safeguarding.  The questions would be refined so that the SKT would not become obsolete.

The Licensing Officer reported that taxi driver meetings were now being held at 3 monthly intervals.  Drivers had been kept up-to-date with the roadworks in Sittingbourne, with agencies responding to questions which the taxi drivers had asked.  The Licensing Officer stated that all drivers were invited to these meetings, but acknowledged that there needed to be more engagement with the taxi drivers on the Isle of Sheppey and Faversham.

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 605.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which set out the National Register of Taxi Revocations and Refusals (NR3) and asked the Committee to consider adopting the Register and associated Guidance.  She reminded Members that the General Licensing Committee, at its meeting on 2 October 2018, had approved participation in the national database.  Adoption of NR3 would allow records of where a driver’s licence had been revoked, or an application was refused, to be seen.

The Licensing Officer reported that consultation had been carried out from 22 October 2018 to 14 December 2018 to all existing taxi drivers and the general public.  No responses had been received.

A Member referred to the personal information recorded on the NR3 and suggested a photograph of the person also be included to ensure that the correct person had been identified.  The Licensing Officer explained that the enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check included comprehensive records, and that during the medical, the driver’s GP was required to verify that the person was one and the same, by checking with a photograph of that person.

The Senior Lawyer advised that the NR3 would ensure that a person’s name, including aliases, would be added to the register and their history, and any revocations would be available to view.  Previously revocations could not be viewed.

A Member considered that consultations like this were being missed by a lot of people as they did not have on-line access, and very few people read a newspaper, so could not pick up a consultation there also.  The Licensing Officer acknowledged the issue and suggested the information could be sent to libraries for them to display.  She welcomed any other suggestions for publicising consultations. 

Another Member agreed that consultations were not being publicised enough.  The Licensing Officer explained that SBC had done more than other Local Authorities in promoting the register, and that only three other Kent Local Authorities were using the register.  The Senior Lawyer stated that the general public were not directly affected by the register, the drivers were, and the Resilience and Licensing Manager confirmed that they had been written to.

Recommended:

(1)      That it be noted that there were no responses to the public consultation regarding the adoption of the National Register of Taxi Revocations and Refusals.

(2)      That the National Register of Taxi Revocations and Refusals be adopted as Appendix R of the Swale Borough Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2018-2021.

The Chairman thanked Members for their attendance at the Licensing Committees and Sub-Committees and he wished them well for the future.  He also thanked officers.