Agenda and minutes

The Chair Welcomed Councillor K Groves to her first meeting of the Licensing Committee.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

That, in accordance with Regulation 4 of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting during Consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:-

Appendix B & C to Agenda Item No.10, Leeds Festival 2017 – Summary of Changes for the Event Management Plan was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (3, 7) because it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. (Minute No.38 Referred)

There were no late items of business.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: B Gettings and S McKenna.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 4^th July 2017.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4th July 2017, were accepted as a true and correct record

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes.

(i)  De-Regulation - With reference to the meeting held on 3^rd April 2017 and the decision to send a letter to the appropriate Minister responsible together with all Leeds Members of Parliament and the Local Government Association (LGA) expressing this Committee’s concerns at the consequences of de-regulation.

The Chair reminded Members of the necessity to lobby all Leeds MPs about the consequences of de-regulation with particular reference to the issue of drivers operating in the Leeds area but who were licensed by other authorities.

(ii)  Developments and Improvements to the Taxi and Private Hire Service – With reference to the meeting of 3^rd April 2017 when Members considered a report which provided details of the work being carried out to improve the Taxi and Private Hire Service. It was suggested by one Member that a visit be arranged to the Taxi and Private Hire offices to view first-hand the developments and improvements to the service.

In responding the Chair said it was his understanding that works were still ongoing and that it would be more appropriate to visit the premises at a later date when development/ improvement works had been completed

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which informs Members of proposals to review and increase the tariffs charged by taxis in Leeds, following recommendations from the local hackney carriage associations.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which set out details of proposals to review and increase the tariffs charged by taxis in Leeds, following recommendations from the Local Hackney Carriage

Associations.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents:

·  Leeds City Council  - Current Hackney Carriage Tariff (Appendix 1 referred)

·  Hackney Carriage Tariff Comparisons with other Local Authorities (Appendix 2 referred)

In addressing the report the Licensing & Finance Manager informed Members that:

·  The City Council had the authority to set the Hackney Carriage (taxi) tariffs for the 537 taxis licensed by the Council

·  The tariff established the maximum fare charged by a licensed Leeds Hackney Carriage Vehicle

·  To fix the schedule of fares, a written request is submitted to the council, usually by the hackney carriage associations.  The application must include details of the increase/decrease and provide supporting evidence. The council will grant, amend or refuse the application.

·  The council is obliged to advertise for a period of 28 days any variation to an approved table of fares.  Any objections to the proposal must be considered before new tariffs are brought into force.

·  Once a fare increase has been approved, the council is required to ensure all licensed hackney carriage vehicles have meters which show the new tariffs, and to ensure that meters are checked and sealed, and that there are clear fare cards for each vehicle.  This is to ensure that members of the public are not overcharged for their journey, and that there is a clear explanation about the fare change or increase.

·  The Council last reviewed the Hackney Carriage Tariff in May 2012.

Members queried if a passenger could agree a fare at the start of a journey.

In responding officers said the tariff established the maximum fare charge, however, an alternative fare could be negotiated at the start of the journey.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That the Hackney Carriage Tariff review be supported

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for

2017/ 18

(Report attached)

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2017/18.

RESOLVED – To approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2017/18

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 5^th September 2017 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 5^th September 2017 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which advises Members of the progress of the multi-agency meetings and the Event Management Plan for the 2017 Annual Festival.

The report recommends that the approval of the final Event Management Plan be delegated to the Head of Elections, Licensing & Registration.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report on the progress of the multi-agency meetings and the Event Management Plan for the 2017 Annual Leeds Festival, to be held within the grounds of Bramham Park, Friday 25th until Sunday 27th August 2017.

The report also recommended that the approval of the final Event Management Plan be delegated to the Head of Elections, Licensing & Registration.

A copy of the Premises Licence detailing the activities permitted was attached as Appendix A. The draft Event Management Plan including a summary of changes was included as Appendix B and a Memorandum of understanding in respect of the cleaning of the public highway arrangements was included as Appendix C – Both Appendix B & C were exempt from publication.

Melvin Benn together with Harmony Blake, Festival Republic Ltd, attended the meeting and discussed the management plans for the Festival with Members.

RESOLVED –

(i)    That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)    That approval of the Event Management Plan, including any   minor amendments necessary to the Plan before the Festival   takes place, be delegated to the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration

(iii)    That, should the Event Management Plan be subject to   amendment without the relevant agency consent, or be of a   nature which officers consider may impact on the Licensing   Objectives, then it will be brought back before the Licensing Committee prior to the Festival taking place.