Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Extraordinary Licensing Committee Meeting held on 12 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 822 – 825) as a correct record.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 February 2025 (Minute Nos. 641 – 646) as a correct record.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 38 – 39) as a correct record.

To accept the Minutes of the following Licensing Sub-Committees:

12 May 2025

19 June 2025

24 June 2025

The Minutes of the Extraordinary Licensing Committee Meeting held on 12 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 822-825) and the Meetings held on 11 February 2025 (Minute Nos. 641-646) and 14 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 38 - 39), were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct records.

The Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committees held on 12 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 817-821), 19 June 2025 (Minute Nos. 83 - 87) and 24 June 2025 (Minute Nos. 88-92) were accepted by the Chair as correct records.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Lee-Anne Moore declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 7 Draft Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003, as she was employed by a public house.

During the discussion on Item 6 Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2025-30, Councillor Terry Thompson declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was employed in the motor trade.

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Licensing Committee. Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered by Democratic Services by noon on Friday 11 July 2025 and must be related to an item on the Agenda. Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes to speak.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

In introducing the report, the Licensing Team Leader referred to the decision by the Licensing Committee at their meeting on 11 February 2025 to consult with the taxi trade and members of the public on the draft taxi policy, and she said this report included consultation feedback and sought Members’ opinion, on what to include in the final draft policy before it was considered by the Policy and Resources Committee on 15 September 2025. The Licensing Team Leader said the policy incorporated, where possible, the recommendations of the Best Practice Guidance published by the Department of Transport (DfT) in November 2023.

The Licensing Team Leader drew attention to the draft policy at Appendix I (pages 15 to 10 of the Agenda pack), and said a summary of the proposed changes were included at Appendix II on pages 109 to 131. She explained that the 12 week consultation that ran from 26 February 2025 to 28 May 2025, produced a low response rate of only 11 contributors. The Licensing Team Leader highlighted Appendix III which included officers’ comments and recommendations in response to suggestions and set out how these had been addressed.

The Licencing Team Leader said the main changes that affected trade and which attracted comments were in respect of the date for transition to ultra-low emission electric vehicles and the proposal for restricted Private Hire Licences. She reminded Members that the current policy mandated that all new vehicle applications from 1 April 2027 must be for vehicles of ultra-low emission which included battery electric vehicles (EV’s), extended range electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or fuel cell electric vehicles.  She drew attention to operators’ comments on this subject on pages 137-138 and 141-142 of Appendix III and said they were similar to those raised previously in 2022 and were summarised at paragraph 4.6 on page 7 of the Agenda pack. The Licensing Team Leader referred to the 2024 report from the House of Lords and the Environment and Climate Change Committee that stated the transition to EV’s had many ‘barriers’ and was not happening quickly enough.

Drawing Members’ attention to paragraphs 4.7 to 4.12 of the report which set out the impact to the borough’s travelling public should drivers and operators not continue in the trade, the Licensing Team Leader said there was also a risk of a possible depletion of wheelchair accessible vehicles which had additional concern factors when changing to ULEV.

The Licensing Team Leader said the proposal was to revise the date from 2027 to 2030 with a recommendation that this be considered again at the next policy revision. 

Referring to the suggestion from the DfT Guidance that local authorities considered the removal of topographical tests for applicants for private hire driver licences, the Licensing Team Leader said that whilst officers were opposed to the removal of the topographical test for all private hire applications as set out in paragraph 4.15 on page 10 of the report, the option had been suggested to support operators with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report explaining that the current Statement of Licensing Policy was due to expire in March 2026 and a revised draft policy was attached at Appendix I for Members’ consideration prior to consultation. She highlighted that there had been no major changes in legislation within the previous five years and the proposed changes to the policy were minor. The Licensing Team Leader highlighted the changes at Appendix II on pages 183 to 185 of the Agenda pack.

Finally, the Licensing Team Leader advised that an 8-week consultation on the policy was proposed to run from 25 July 2025 to 19 September 2025. Responses would be presented to the Licensing Committee on 16 October 2025, and the final policy would be considered by Full Council for adoption on 12 December 2025.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Tony Winckless and seconded by Councillor Charlie Miller and on being put to the vote, were agreed.

Resolved:

(1) That the draft Licensing Act 2003 policy be agreed.

(2)  That the consultation process be agreed.