Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Proposed by Cllr Parker, seconded by Cllr Fry.

Decision: that Cllr Brian Heatley be elected Vice Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on:-

27 January 2022,  17 November 2021,  15 June 2021, 22 October 2020

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2022, 17 November 2021, 15 June 2021 and 22 October 2020 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of 26 July 2019 which had been approved at the meeting of 22 October 2020 were also signed as a correct record.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work, or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit up to two questions or two statements for each meeting.  Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.

All submissions must be emailed in full to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Tuesday 15 March 2022. 

When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that:

· no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read

· a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context and this will be included within the three-minute period

· please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two

· when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder)

· Include your name, address and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting.

· questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda

· all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

Dorset Council Constitution Procedure Rule 9

There were no questions or statements from the public.

To determine the maximum level of fares that can be charged by a Hackney Carriage Proprietor and to set the fees for the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licence regimes.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report detailing the maximum level of fares that could be charged by a Hackney Carriage Proprietor and the fees for the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licence regimes.  The committee members were advised that there had been two further comments which had been circulated and published together with corrected appendix 7.1.

The Licensing Team Leader stated that one of the basic principles that the council must adhere to was that the cost of the function of licensing Hackney Cabs and Private Hire vehicles should be covered by the fees charged.  No profit should be made, nor should there be any cost to the council tax payer.

The fees had been advertised and sent to all 2399 licence holders, resulting in 13 comments which were addressed by the Licensing Team Leader.

The fees proposed in the report were considerably lower than neighbouring authorities and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

In relation to the tariffs, 5 tariffs had been brought into line and levelled up, with the exception of the defined Weymouth Zone within the taxi policy.  It was suggested that these tariffs also be reviewed annually so that any sustained fuel price increases could be taken into account.

The Licensing Team Leader suggested that three requests following consultation, to consider earlier tariff 2 charge times, add in the 30p per extra person and to increase the soiling charge to £100 be included in the recommendations.

The Committee Members were invited to ask questions of the Licensing Team Leader.  Overall, there was support for the report, members did not consider it necessary to reduce fees for single car operators and were in agreement to include the three additional requests.

Proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Decision: that after consideration of the responses from the licensed trade, the new fees for the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licences be agreed.

Proposed by Cllr Parker, seconded by Cllr Jones

Decision: that after consideration of the responses from the licensed trade, the new tariffs for both zones be agreed. This was to include the change from 23.00 to 22.00hrs for the tariff 2 rate, the inclusion of the 30p per passenger rate and increasing the soiling charge to £100.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There was no exempt business.