Agenda item

To receive an Enforcement update.

The Licensing and Compliance Manager presented the Enforcement Update report.

He recommended that Members noted the report.

He noted that they were starting to build effective relationships with the Airport Police and Transport for London.

Following questions from Members the Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

·         Events held on the Common required an individual license for the relevant location to serve alcohol. The time limit relating to music would be addressed within the terms of the individual license

·        The Ask Angela campaign had been rolled out by Essex Police

Members raised concerns about the management of unlicensed airport parking that was operating outside of the airport boundary. There had been a recent fatal crash near the airport which had resulted from the reckless driving of an individual operating an unlicensed airport parking service.

The Chair said that they were meeting with Officers and members of the public on Thursday to discuss what action could be taken to resolve unlicensed airport parking issues.

The Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

• Licensing were only involved if there was a car park and that members of the public were being transported from the car park to the airport
• Operators and drivers required licenses when that service was provided
• There were a number of operators that worked that way at the airport
• The recent fatal case involved an individual from a company who offered a different park and ride service where members of the public drove to the airport, handed over their vehicle and the company drove the car to be parked somewhere else. The company did not need to be licensed as a private hire vehicle or an operator. However this company had also set up a park and ride where they were parking in the airport and were not licensed to do so. There were also questions over whether the land being used to park the cars had the correct permissions. It had been a partnership operation and had resulted in the company returning to only offering the initial park and ride service
• It was difficult for members of the public to identify legitimate licensed operators, although the airport did try to signpost appropriate operators

Members discussed:

• Stansted Airport being reportedly the second most expensive airport in the world for weekly car parking
• Members of the public who hire out their drives and take people from their house to the airport were acting as a private hire vehicle operator and should be subject to licensing regulations

Following comments from the Leader of the Council regarding her disappointment at the high number of license suspensions, the Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

·         He would report back with the percentage of complete complaints that were upheld

·         The number of complaints received was high because members of the public could easily complain about missing door stickers and signs inside vehicles

·         Complaints relating to driving were reported to the Police as the statutory investigators of driving standards, and that they continued to build relationships with other statutory bodies to ensure that they learn about all their drivers wherever they are

The Solicitor responded to a question from Members regarding whether the agreement with Stansted Airport stipulated that all airport related parking should be within the boundaries of the airport.

She said that:

• The airport operator could only regulate their own premises
• The behaviour of members of the public parking badly was a matter for the Police.
• There was not much that could be done if the companies operating chose to seek cheaper sites to hold the cars in their care
• Taxi Touting was a specific offence where unlicensed drivers approach members of the public offering taxi services in an unlicensed vehicle for which they charge a fee.

The report was noted.

The meeting concluded at 19:42

The Licensing and Compliance Manager presented the Enforcement Update report.

He recommended that Members noted the report.

He noted that they were starting to build effective relationships with the Airport Police and Transport for London.

Following questions from Members the Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

·         Events held on the Common required an individual license for the relevant location to serve alcohol. The time limit relating to music would be addressed within the terms of the individual license

·        The Ask Angela campaign had been rolled out by Essex Police

Members raised concerns about the management of unlicensed airport parking that was operating outside of the airport boundary. There had been a recent fatal crash near the airport which had resulted from the reckless driving of an individual operating an unlicensed airport parking service.

The Chair said that they were meeting with Officers and members of the public on Thursday to discuss what action could be taken to resolve unlicensed airport parking issues.

The Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

• Licensing were only involved if there was a car park and that members of the public were being transported from the car park to the airport
• Operators and drivers required licenses when that service was provided
• There were a number of operators that worked that way at the airport
• The recent fatal case involved an individual from a company who offered a different park and ride service where members of the public drove to the airport, handed over their vehicle and the company drove the car to be parked somewhere else. The company did not need to be licensed as a private hire vehicle or an operator. However this company had also set up a park and ride where they were parking in the airport and were not licensed to do so. There were also questions over whether the land being used to park the cars had the correct permissions. It had been a partnership operation and had resulted in the company returning to only offering the initial park and ride service
• It was difficult for members of the public to identify legitimate licensed operators, although the airport did try to signpost appropriate operators

Members discussed:

• Stansted Airport being reportedly the second most expensive airport in the world for weekly car parking
• Members of the public who hire out their drives and take people from their house to the airport were acting as a private hire vehicle operator and should be subject to licensing regulations

Following comments from the Leader of the Council regarding her disappointment at the high number of license suspensions, the Licensing and Compliance Manager said:

·         He would report back with the percentage of complete complaints that were upheld

·         The number of complaints received was high because members of the public could easily complain about missing door stickers and signs inside vehicles

·         Complaints relating to driving were reported to the Police as the statutory investigators of driving standards, and that they continued to build relationships with other statutory bodies to ensure that they learn about all their drivers wherever they are

The Solicitor responded to a question from Members regarding whether the agreement with Stansted Airport stipulated that all airport related parking should be within the boundaries of the airport.

She said that:

• The airport operator could only regulate their own premises
• The behaviour of members of the public parking badly was a matter for the Police.
• There was not much that could be done if the companies operating chose to seek cheaper sites to hold the cars in their care
• Taxi Touting was a specific offence where unlicensed drivers approach members of the public offering taxi services in an unlicensed vehicle for which they charge a fee.

The report was noted.

The meeting concluded at 19:42