Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Governance Services  37 88662

Items
No. Item

39.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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)

 

Minutes:

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

 

40.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information 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 press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information

 

Minutes:

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the nature of the business to be considered.

41.

Late Items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

 

Minutes:

The Chair referred to the Licensing Committee Night Time Patrol of the City Centre scheduled to take place on Friday 8th September 2017.

 

It was reported that Inspector Berriman was unavailable on the scheduled date but was keen to be in attendance if Members would be willing to consider one of the following alterative dates:

 

·  Friday 15th September

·  Saturday 16th September

·  Friday 6th October

·  Saturday 7th October.

 

RESOLVED – That the visit be re-scheduled to Friday 6th October 2017 commencing at 10.15pm and the necessary invitations be issued accordingly.

42.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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.

 

Minutes:

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

 

43.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: S McKenna and C Townsley.

44.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 1st August 2017.

 

(Copy attached)

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1st August 2017, were accepted as a true and correct record.

 

45.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

Minutes:

There were no issues raised under Matter Arising.

46.

Taxi and Private Hire Enforcement Update pdf icon PDF 803 KB

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which provides an update on taxi and private hire licensing activity and enforcement priorities.

 

(Report attached)

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which provided an update on taxi and private hire licensing activity and enforcement priorities.

 

The Executive Officer, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing presented the report and together with representatives from West Yorkshire Police addressed the following issues:

 

·  The detection of plying for hire and touting continued to be a priority

·  There were more “out of town/ cross border” vehicles operating in Leeds

·  There was now more cross border working with other local authorities including joint training and the creation of a database of over 500 “out of town/cross border vehicles observations”

·  Late September would see the introduction of two specialist police officers to work with TPHL enforcement on Friday/ Saturday nights using two high visibility police vehicles and having access to automated number plate recognition systems

·  Improved information sharing with the Police and Safer Leeds in respect of disclosure arrangements

·  The promotion of good taxi awareness in the city, via a web page, including how to lodge a complaint

·  The introduction of a new complaints recording system, allowing monitoring of trends and improved analytical reporting

·  660 compliance inspections undertaken in a six month period

·  Planned enforcement activity

 

The issue of out of town vehicles was raised, one Member suggesting that he had witnessed on at least three separate occasions vehicles with out of town plates parked up on Aire Street, it was queried if the drivers could be prosecuted?

 

In responding the Executive Officer said out of town drivers could be prosecuted if observed plying for hire but could not be suspended. Daytime enforcement within the city centre was difficult because the enforcement teams were not on patrol until 8.00pm

 

Members queried if the vehicle insurance became invalid if the vehicle was involved in an accident which was outside the Local Authority area where the vehicle was registered.

 

In responding officers suggested that the vehicle insurance may not become invalid, as a minimum the vehicle would usually have third party coverage.

 

 

Referring to the increase in the number of out of town vehicles, Members queried if there were a sufficient number of Enforcement Officers to carry out the necessary checks.

 

In responding, officers reported that the Police were shortly to provide further resources which would assist enforcement operations, there was also a vacant post for a TPHL Enforcement Officer and this was currently been pursued.

 

Referring to paragraph 3.11 of the submitted report, Members queried if there were any issues around taxi drivers refusing to take passengers who were been assisted by a Guide Dog.

 

Officers reported that of the 401 complaints received only 3-4 related to access issues (wheel chair accessible vehicles). It was reported that joint working with Guide Dogs for the Blind had taking place in early 2017 using a telephone test purchase operation to ensure compliance with the Equalities Act 2010. It was noted that currently there was only one driver who had a medical exception to transporting a passenger who was accompanied by a guide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Leeds City Centre Evening & Night Time Economy pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which provides an overview of the partnership working and improvements within the city centre evening and night time economy in support of the licensing objectives and Purple Flag accreditation.

 

 

(Report attached)

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which provided an overview of the partnership working arrangements and improvements within the city centre evening and night time economy in support of the licensing objectives and Purple Flag accreditation.

 

The Chair welcomed representatives of the Purple Flag Partnership which included: West Yorkshire Police, Leeds BID, Business Against Crime in Leeds (BACIL) West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), LCC Public Health, LCC City Centre Management, LCC Entertainment Licensing and LCC Taxi & Private Hire Licensing.

Addressing the report the Section Head, Entertainment Licensing reminded Members that in January 2017 the City was awarded Purple Flag status for the management of the evening and night-time economy.  Purple Flag is a town and city centre award which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 17:00 & 05:00.

It was reported that Purple Flag was assessed annually.  The accreditation addresses key themes: Wellbeing, Movement, Appeal, Policy Envelope and Place. Sub groups had been established to lead on each theme, enabling the progress of actions by October 2017 in line with the renewal date.

Partnership representatives addressed the Committee providing an update on the following issues:

·  Police Resourcing in the City Centre

·  Counter Terrorism threat

·  Crime statistics

·  Funding obtained for a Street Ambassador Service

·  The intention to create a team of trainers to deliver Safeguarding Training in all aspect of evening and night-time entertainment

·  Alcohol and drug campaigns

·  The continued marketing and promotion of the city centre

·  Movement – arrival and departure of people into/ out of the city centre, looking at public transport, car parking provision, pedestrian routes, crowd management and the level of information available to users.

 

One Member queried if rough sleepers/ begging was a particular issue.

 

In responding it was suggested that many rough sleepers/beggars led chaotic lifestyles (alcohol/ drug issues). It was noted that currently 12 individuals were on criminal behaviour orders.

 

One Member expressed the view that to exclude beggars/ rough sleepers out of the city centre would not solve the problem, alternative solutions had to be found.

 

The Chair referred to the large number of people employed as part of the evening and night time economy and queried how these people travelled to and from work; car, bus or train and were these services reliable in the late evening.

 

In responding Officers from LCC City Centre Management and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority suggested that many employees would use public transport including park & ride but accepted bus and rail providers would not operate a full night service unless there was demand for such a service.

 

On Member suggested that the smaller bus operators be approached to deliver a night time service.

 

Commenting on the issue of service reliability Members were made aware of the “Bus 18 initiative” which was launched on 24th March 2017.

 

Operated by First West Yorkshire, Arriva Yorkshire and Transdev, under the Bus 18 Customer Promise, members of the public unhappy with their journey  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

Policing and the Night Time Economy pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To receive a presentation from Sergeant Dave Shaw, West Yorkshire Police on the issues of “Policing and the Night Time Economy”

 

(Report attached)

Minutes:

Members received a Presentation from Sergeant Dave Shaw, West Yorkshire Police, who spoke about Policing and the night time economy.

 

Sergeant Shaw reported at as a result of closer partnership working associated with a number of initiatives attributed to the Purple Flag award, there were currently no premises within the City Centre Cumulative Impact Area which were a cause of concern.

 

The Chair thanked Sergeant Shaw for his attendance and presentation commenting that the session had been informative and interesting.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(i)  That the contents of the presentation be noted

 

(ii)  That a further presentation on policing and the night time economy be scheduled for March 2018.

 

49.

Licensing Committee Work Programme 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To note the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme 2017/18.

 

(Copy attached)

Minutes:

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

 

50.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 4th October 2017 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, 4th October 2017 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.