Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 17th March 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 17^th March 2025 were confirmed and signed.

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 Public Document Pack in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 either 1 question or 1 statement for each meeting.  You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via MS Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting. The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  Further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Monday 19th May 2025.

When submitting your question or statement please note that: 

·       You can submit 1 question or 1 statement.

·       a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.

·       It must be a single question, and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted.

·       Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to 3 minutes to present your question.

·       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.  

There was no public participation.

To present the General Licensing Committee with a report to consider a new Pleasure Boat, Vessel and Boatperson Licensing Policy for public consultation.

John Newcombe, the Service Manager Licensing and Community Safety, presented the report and outlined the proposal. He confirmed that consultation had taken place with the Harbour Manager and other partners. A draft policy had been prepared and was due to be circulated for review. He clarified that no recommendation for approval was being made at that stage, with the intention of bringing the existing licensing regime up to date.

The consultation process had been arranged with the Consultation Team and was due to commence shortly. Officers stated that responses would be brought back to the committee along with any proposed changes, providing an opportunity for further discussion.

Cllr Derek Beer noted that there had been serious incidents in recent years involving crafts operated by untrained crews.

Cllr Les Fry commended the policy, noting its detail. He asked whether any existing policies or forms were in place and encouraged placing responsibility on applicants wherever possible.

Cllr Kate Wheller raised concerns about the increasing number of jet skis being hired out and highlighted potential risks, particularly in cases involving unregulated organisations.

Officers confirmed that jet skis fell under Category 1 and that an operator’s licence was required. They further advised that a basic level of training was mandatory for users. A robust regulatory regime had been in place to assess the suitability of hire boats, supported by extensive conditions developed and refined over a number of years

Cllr Derek Beer requested clarification on the origin and approval process of inspectors. Officers responded that there was an approved list.

Cllr Jill Haynes praised the report for its comprehensiveness and sought clarification on the specific areas within the Council’s control and those that were not.

Proposed by Cllr Jill Haynes, seconded by Cllr Les Fry.

Decision: The committee:

a)    agreed the proposed draft Pleasure Boat, Vessel and Boatperson Licensing Policy for public consultation.

b)    authorised the Service Manager Licensing & Community Safety to make any further minor editorial changes to the proposed policy, prior to the document being issued for consultation

To gain the approval of the General Licensing Committee to publish the Byelaws based on the Department of Healths model, for the regulation of businesses involved in acupuncture, tattooing, semipermanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis, to go out to public consultation.

Following consultation, to consider the results and make recommendation to Full Council for the adoption of the Byelaws.

Laura Brewer, The Service Manager for Food, Safety and Port Health, presented the report, outlining the proposed changes. Historically, the regulation had been managed through separate byelaws made under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, with separate byelaws for ear piercing and electrolysis, acupuncture, and tattooing.

In 2003, the Local Government Act made an amendment to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act replacing the term “ear piercing” with “cosmetic ear piercing” and introducing a new practice of semi-permanent skin colouring.

The Department of Health in 2007, introduced a consolidated set of model byelaws that local authorities could adopt to simplify regulatory frameworks. The departments of health model byelaws were adopted by two of the five legacy councils, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

When the council came together in 2019 under local government reorganisation, only piercers under the Legacy Byelaws of the area where they were operating could have been regulated. This has meant there has been discrepancies in which practices can be regulated based on where they are carried out.

In 2022 The Health and Care Act introduced plans for a licensing scheme for aesthetic practitioners completing non-surgical cosmetic procedures who operate in England. 

The wording of the act meant that local authorities were under the impression that these new licensing regulations would include current piercing practices regulated under the byelaws. 
 
Unfortunately, when the subsequent consultation came out in 2023 it was clear that the Government did not intend that this licensing scheme would incorporate piercing practices already covered by local government byelaws. 
 
Therefore, now in a position where we need to adopt the Department of Health model byelaws for piercing practices across the whole of Dorset council's footprint removing inconsistency in enforcement. The proposed Dorset Council Byelaws had been put together which could be found at Appendix A. 

Cllr Cathy Lugg asked how long businesses would be given to register under the new scheme. Officers confirmed that business owners would be issued updated registration documents for public display.

Cllr Craig Monks inquired whether adopting and updating the byelaws would bring the council in line with neighbouring authorities and questioned whether the changes would affect small businesses in the area. Officers advised that both BCP and Wiltshire Councils had been consulted. While some councils had adopted the model byelaws and others had not, Dorset Council would not have been out of step with neighbouring authorities.

Cllr David Shortell highlighted the need for practices to be registered both as businesses and for individual practitioners.

Cllr Kate Wheller sought clarification on what would be regarded as an adequate level of sterilisation and requested information on the frequency of inspections going forward.

Proposed by Cllr Craig Monks, seconded by Cllr Jill Haynes.

Decision:  The committee:

a)    agreed that the proposed skin piecing Byelaws be published for consultation.

b)    authorised the Service Manager for Food, Safety and Port Health to make any minor editorial changes to the proposed Byelaws, prior to the document being issued for consultation.

c)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To determine the maximum level of fares that can be charged by Hackney Carriage Proprietors in the Weymouth and Portland zone for the next three years.

Aileen Powell, Licensing Team Leader, introduced the report and outlined the recommendations. It was proposed that the matter be put forward to the relevant Cabinet Member and, if approved, proceed to consultation with the trade. It was noted that the consultation period would be relatively short, as most stakeholders were likely already aware of the proposals.

An additional recommendation had been included: in the event that no responses were received during the initial consultation, permission would be sought to proceed directly to public consultation.

Cllr Jill Haynes requested that the report clearly state the proposed fee was £6, to ensure transparency and clarity for the public.

Cllr Jack Jeanes sought clarification on the definition of a soiling charge.

Proposed by Cllr Les Fry, seconded by Cllr Craig Monks.

Decision:  That the committee:

a)    recommend to the Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder the new tariffs for the Weymouth hackney carriage zone as set out at Appendix 3.

b)    recommend to the Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder that the trade consultation of the new tariffs is commenced.

c)    recommend to the Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder that if no trade responses are received the public consultation advertisement is proceeded with.

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 are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.