Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor McCartney.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 13 January 2020.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2020. 

In relation to minute item number 56, the Committee stated that part of the minute had been to ensure that the driver appeared before the Licensing Committee prior to receiving a licence. The Democratic Services Officer was asked to make this amendment.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Committee which took place on the 13 January 2020 with the above amendment. 

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already entered in their Register of Interests. Councillors should leave the meeting and take no further part in the consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair informed Members that following the request made by the Licensing Committee at the meeting on 13 January, the Chief Executive had met with him, on 27 January 2020, to answer the three questions posed by the Committee regarding the revocation of a taxi driver licence through the urgency procedure in the Council’s Constitution. 

The Chair agreed that copies of the response be circulated to the Committee.

The Chair paused the meeting at 10.05 am to allow the response from the Chief Executive to be photocopied, circulated to the Committee, and time for the members to read the response.

The meeting re-commenced at 10.14 am

The Vice-Chair proposed that the order of business be amended to allow the two items of business at agenda items five and six to be taken first, then to re-convene in private session to continue the discussion regarding the revocation of a taxi driver licence.  This was agreed by the Licensing Committee.

To receive the report, which asks the Committee to note the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2020, as attached at appendix 1; and to provide any comments to be considered by the Executive.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which asked the Committee to note the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2020 as attached at Appendix 1; and to provide any comments or recommendations to be considered by the Executive.

Members heard that all local authorities had to determine and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy, under the Licensing Act 2003, every five years; the Council’s current Statement of Licensing Policy was adopted by the Council on the 1 December 2015.  Additionally, it was noted that in determining the policy, the Council had to carry out a statutory consultation as provided by the 2003 Act, to afford the local community time to comment on the proposed policy.

The Members noted that the proposed policy had taken into account the legislative changes to current policy, and the main changes had included the addition of the Home Officer Immigration Enforcement Unit as a responsible authority under the Immigration Act 2016; and the deregulation of entertainment.

The Committee confirmed that it was satisfied with the contents of the report and had no comments to make.

RESOLVED:

To note the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2020.

Reason for decision:

Adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy 2020, and the measures within it would support the Council’s statutory position and help protect public safety.

To receive the report, which asks the Committee to note the draft Animal Licensing Policy 2020 as attached at Appendix 1; and to provide any comments or recommendations to be considered by the Executive.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which asked the Committee to note the draft Animal Licensing Policy 2020 as attached at Appendix one; and to provide any comments or recommendations to be considered by the Executive.

Members noted that the draft Animal Licensing Policy 2020 consolidated existing procedures and incorporated the Animal Welfare (Licensing Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.  The regulations implemented a single ‘Animals Activities Licence’ for the sale of animals (formally pet shops), dog breeding, animal boarding (dogs and cats), home boarding of dogs, dog day care, hiring out of horses (formally riding establishments); and training or exhibiting animals (formally performing animals).

Members heard that prior to the new legislation coming into effect; the Licensing Committee had resolved to issue one year licenses only.  After the 1^st October 2018 a star rating for the establishment now determined the length of the licence, and would be able to be issued for a one, two or three year period based on an assessment of risk.

In response to a query regarding the licensing of dangerous wild animals, and whether Selby district had any, the Committee were informed that the licensing of dangerous wild animals did not come under this policy and that Selby did not have any dangerous animals.

The Committee raised questions around the licensing of dog walker’s, the Licensing Manager confirmed that they were not licensable. 

The Committee confirmed that it was satisfied with the contents of the report.

RESOLVED:

To note the draft Animal Licensing Policy 2020.

Reason for decision:

Adoption of the Animal Licensing Policy 2020 would help to protect the welfare of animals within the Selby district, support the Council’s statutory position; and help protect public safety.

It was proposed, and seconded, that the Committee sit in private session due to the nature of the business to be transacted.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted the meeting be not open to the press and public during discussion of the following items as there will be disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

Discussion took place about the urgency procedure being used as outlined in the Council’s Constitution to revoke a taxi driver’s taxi licence.

Following the discussion it was proposed that, at the end of the meeting the Chair and Vice-Chair seek to meet with the Chief Executive to raise the Committee’s concerns, and request a written response as detailed in the minutes of the previous meeting on the 13 January 2020.

RESOLVED:

To ask the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee to meet with the Chief Executive to raise the concerns expressed during the meeting, and request a written response to the Licensing Committee as detailed in the minutes of the meeting which took place on 13 January 2020.