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; 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 evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 July 2015 (Minute Nos. 94 - 98) as a correct record.

The Minutes fo the Meeting held on 8 July 2015 (Minute Nos. 94 – 98) 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 15 January 2016 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 proposed amendments to the hackney carriage and private hire control systems.

The Chairman introduced the report which recommended revisions to the control and management systems deployed in the issuing of licences and local regulations as part of the ongoing review and management of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire service.

The Committee considered each recommendation outlined in the report.  The Hackney Carriage Inspector provided some background information and responded to various questions from Members. 

In response to a query, the Hackney Carriage Inspector stated that any Members  concerned that drivers were not using the direct route for a fare to contact him direct.  He spoke about iCars based on the Isle of Sheppey which allowed customers to book via an App on their IPhone and used Satellite Navigation.  He stated that this was a safer and more efficient mode of transport moving forward.   

Resolved:

(1)  That paragraph 9 of the Local Conditions July 2015 as detailed in paragraph 2.1 of the Committee report be amended.

(2)  That paragraph 13 of the Local Conditions July 2015 as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the Committee report be deleted.

(3)  That the five pounds (£5) levy, to check the driving history for new drivers as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the Committee report be removed.

(4)  That the requirement for the supplementary DVLA Driving test as detailed in paragraph 2.4 of the Committee report be removed.

(5)  That an optional English Test for new drivers as and when required as detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the Committee report be introduced.

(6)  That the Knowledge Test as detailed in paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of the Committee report be revised.