Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Isham, Lees and Tayler.

 

Councillor Pepper declared a non-pecuniary interest as a friend of the manager of 24x7 Ltd, Mr Mahoney.

2.

Public Speaking

Minutes:

Mr B Drinkwater addressed the committee; a summary of his statement is appended to these minutes.

 

3.

Minutes of Previous Meetings pdf icon PDF 143 KB

To consider the minutes of previous meetings.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the following meetings were accepted and signed as an accurate record:

 

  • 24 January 2019
  • 29 January 2019
  • 30 March 2019
  • 26 March 2019
  • 23 April 2019
  • 28 June 2019
  • 22 July 2019

 

4.

Licensing progress and information report 01 April 2018 - 31 March 2019 pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Summary of the work undertaken by the Licensing Department.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Team Leader presented the Committee with the report summarising the work undertaken by the Licensing Department. 

 

5.

Licensed vehicle compliance testing stations pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Report to inform members on the current testing approach adopted by Uttlesford District Council.   The report is for members to note that Officers are acting to ensure that the vehicle testing regime remains sufficiently robust to ensure public safety.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Enforcement Officer presented a report to inform members of the current vehicle testing adopted by Uttlesford District Council, which was in addition to the standard MOT test.

 

Members discussed the need to update the scheme and report back to the Committee as to the planned and structured approach before the next meeting.

 

The Enforcement Officer agreed to this update timescale.

 

6.

Requirements placed on holders of driver's licences pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Report to inform the Committee of the proposal to reinstatement two conditions on all drivers’ licences issued by UDC.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Enforcement Officer presented the report to inform the Committee of the proposal to reinstate two conditions on all drivers’ licences issued by Uttlesford District Council.

 

RESOLVED to approve the reinstatement of the conditions as outlined in the report.

 

7.

Enforcement Update pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Report to inform members of the enforcement activities between 01 April – 30 June 2019.

Minutes:

The Enforcement Officer presented the report to inform the Committee of the enforcement activities between 1 April and 30 June 2019.

 

The Enforcement Officer also reported on a driver revocation that was done under delegated powers with Cllr Gerard which was noted.

 

Councillor Freeman commended the work that the Enforcement Team had been doing.

 

In response to concerns raised about unsafe vehicles and unsafe drivers, the Enforcement Officer and the Environmental Health Manager outlined the methods in which vehicles and drivers were monitored and reported, and said all drivers and vehicles should be up to standard. Unlike private vehicles, commercial vehicles were subject to additional testing.

 

8.

Environmental Health (Commercial) Activity Report Q1 (April to June 2019) pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Report to outline to members the work of the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service as undertaken between April and June 2019

Minutes:

The Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) presented the report on the work of the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service that had been undertaken between April and June 2019.

 

It was explained that 98% of food premises were broadly compliant. Those that were not and those that received a rating of zero were not an imminent risk and therefore were permitted to stay open. There were no enforced closures.

 

9.

Environmental Health (Protection) Update pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Report to outline to members the work of the Environmental Health (Protection) Service between April and June 2019.

Minutes:

The Environmental Health Manager (Protection) presented a report to outline the work of the Environmental Health (Protection) Service between April and June 2019.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Environmental Health Manager (Protection) said that the authority once had a mobile air quality assessment station which went out to a number of locations. This could be looked at once more and its viability would be reported back to the Committee.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Environmental Health Manager (Protection) said noise control and the building of new homes was the responsibility of the Development Control team, as new developments were subject to environmental scrutiny during the planning process.

 

 

Meeting end 8:45pm


 

 

Statement of Mr B Drinkwater

 

Mr Drinkwater introduced himself and his colleagues Mr Andy Mahoney (Managing Director of 24x7) and Mr Doug Perry (ULODA's Honorary President), and outlined their collective accolades. 

 

Mr Drinkwater requested a response to a letter on 10 July, sent to the Council from Roland Pelly, a Director of Pellys Transport & Regulatory Law, drawing together the trade's concerns (24x7 and ACME Bus among others) about the legality of imposing a condition on school contracts drivers, the assessment of training needs and the provision of training for drivers (aka ''Watford Training Courses''), and the licensing of vehicles. 

 

Mr Drinkwater said that they had no record of a response to an email sent to The Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) on 21 March.

 

Mr Drinkwater thanked the Committee and said that he looked forward to an improved working relationship and they would be putting proposals to the Council in good time.