Agenda and minutes

Doug Perry spoke on the importance of having CCTV equipment in taxis and on the costs of enforcement being incorporated into the licensing fees for the taxi trade.

Barry Drinkwater said he was looking forward to hearing an update on the licensing policy review. He also spoke on ULODA’s recent efforts to promote the taxi trade in the business community.

The Chairman thanked both speakers for their statements. He said he was sorry to hear of the incident in which a driver was robbed in his taxi. The council-owned CCTV camera had not been working but it was the driver’s duty to maintain the camera. The department was planning to look at CCTV in taxis, but it would likely be too expensive for the department to fund it all. Officers would be looking into other options.

The Chairman said the review of licensing policy would take time, but it was better that it be done right rather than be rushed.

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gerard.

To consider the minutes of previous meetings.

The minutes of the meetings on 17 April, 23 April, 24 April, 10 May and 4 June were signed and approved as correct records.

The Chairman asked the Environmental Health Manager – Commercial to summarise the progress of the review so far.

The Environmental Health Manager – Commercial said due to the current workload and staffing resource pressure it had been a struggle to move things along as expediently as he would have liked. In September, the team would be acquiring the services of the licensing manager from East Herts District Council for 12 months at one day a week. This would allow the team to have a dedicated and technically knowledgeable individual focused purely on driving the review forward and implementing its findings. There were clear benefits in establishing consistency of approach and sharing good practice between two neighbouring authorities.

The Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) said he had identified three areas of immediate priority and work had commenced on delivery using in house resource. These areas of priority were:

·         To ensure the existing team was supported through the transition and that sufficient resource was available to address short term pressure and keep on top of existing workloads. Two new members of staff had been secured, one to cover for an existing team member who is on maternity leave and one to provide additional cover for 14 months. An additional part time resource had been put out to advert.

·         To instigate changes to requirements for training, knowledge testing, English language competency and safeguarding.

·         To introduce a driver suitability policy. The Licensing Team Leader was working on a compare and contrast exercise to ensure that any policy incorporated the best elements from both authorities and was reflective of the needs at Uttlesford.

A more detailed written update of the licensing policy review is attached to these minutes.

To consider the report on sky lanterns and helium filled balloons.

The Environmental Health Manager – Protection gave a summary of the report. He said Full Council had supported a motion to request the Licensing Committee give consideration to the inclusion of a condition on premises licensing to prevent helium balloon and sky lantern release. Sky lanterns were potentially dangerous and caused unnecessary litter. Helium balloons were a source of littering and environmental hazard. While the use of sky lanterns was not a licensable entertainment or activity, the Committee could adopt the measures recommended in the report.

Members discussed issues such as the danger of fires caused by sky lanterns, the litter caused by balloons and the need to educate the public of these problems.

The Environmental Health Manager – Protection said he would confirm how various councils and royal parks had been able to impose bans and restrictions on sky lanterns and helium balloons.

RESOLVED that officers adopt the following measures:

1)    Ensure that the use of sky lanterns and helium filled balloons are discouraged at multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (SAG) meetings.

2)    Provide information discouraging the use of sky lanterns and helium filled balloons to applicants seeking Temporary Events (TEN applications).

3)    Environmental Health to make representations when there are legitimate public safety concerns regarding the use of sky lanterns at particular venues.

To consider the report on the Statement of Principles Gambling Act 2005.

The Licensing Team Leader gave a summary of the report. She said it was to seek members’ views as to whether any alterations were required to the policy prior to it going out for consultation.

Members said it might be worth introducing a local area profile, but at present this would create too much work for members of the licensing team. It would be kept under review.

RESOLVED to approve the draft statement of principles under the Gambling Act 2005 annexed to the report as the basis for 6 week consultation.

To consider the report on cross border operations.

Members considered the report by the Environmental Health Manager – Protection.

To consider the enforcement update.

Members considered the report by the Environmental Health Manager – Protection.

The meeting ended at 8.15pm.