Agenda and minutes

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 A to Agenda Item No. 12, Large Casino – Variation to Schedule 9 Agreement was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (3) because it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person. (Minute No.71 Referred) and in all the circumstances of the matter, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information

Appendix A & B to Agenda Item No.13, Leeds Festival 2017 – Members

De Brief was designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (3, 7) because they contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, and 10.4(7) information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime, and in all the circumstances of the matter the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. (Minute No.72 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: K Groves, S McKenna, C Townsley and G Wilkinson.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4^th October 2018.

(Copy attached)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4^th October 2017 were submitted for accuracy and approval.

The Executive Officer, Taxi & Private Hire Licensing requested a correction to the last bullet point on page 2 deleting the words “successful application” and replacing with “unsuccessful application”.

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

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

Taxi and Private Hire Enforcement Update (Minutes No.55 referred) – Members asked if there had been any enforcement activity in respect of Private Hire vehicles using the short stay car park outside the rail station.

The Executive Officer Taxi and Private Hire Licensing confirmed that the rear of the rail station was being given a higher priority throughout the day and also at night-time. It was reported that some drivers were aware they were been monitored and moved off before enforcement officers intervened. 

Concerns was also expressed about private hire vehicles parking and waiting to the rear of the St John’s Centre (Wormald Row) especially in the early evening.

The Executive Officer confirmed that this particular area was known to officers who would take the necessary action. Members were informed that once a private hire vehicle had “dropped off” it should return to base but officers were aware that often taxi and private hire bases did not have sufficient parking provision.

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which informs Members that a procurement exercise has commenced and provides details of the timetable for the dynamic purchasing provision of Taxi and Private Hire Driver Training for an initial 4 years.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which informed Members that a procurement exercise had commenced which provided details of Taxi and Private Hire Driver Training for an initial 4 year period.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following documents:

·  A list of Driver Training Courses: Course title, Provider cost of training (Appendix A referred)

·  Framework for Taxi and Private Hire Driver Training – Possible Timetable (Appendix B referred)

Addressing the report the Executive Officer, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing said that in procuring driver training from more than one organisation it would increase training capacity and speed up the length of time between commencing training and the awarding of a licence.  Members were informed that a dynamic purchasing arrangement had been agreed to contract a number of suppliers who could each provide all modules of the driver related training and assessment centre.  The aim of the procurement exercise was to improve training capacity, maintaining quality and standards, while ensuring compliance with procurement rules.

In the discussion that ensued, Members raised the following queries and questions:

·  Could issues such as: safeguarding, customer care, health & safety, sexual harassment and human trafficking be included as part of the training

·  Would drivers from other local authority areas receive the same training

·  Who would be auditing the external trainers to ensure they met the Leeds standards 

·  If harmonisation of training was agreed between the West Yorkshire Authorities and the City of York Council, it needs to meet minimum standards that are judged to be the best out of the 6 authorities. 

The Executive Officer, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing provided the following responses:

·  A full review of driver training would be undertaken focusing on some on the issues highlighted in the Rotherham inquiry

·  Leeds was rigorous in its training and re-training and all authorities should meet the same standards

·  The intention is to use our Service Development Officer to manage the contract and check they were up to the quality required.  Each year we have an opportunity to suggest areas for internal audit to work on, and this area would be a suitable subject.

·  The harmonisation process would agree the standard, format and curriculum of the training and the method of testing.  It would raise and maintain the level of training, but it won't specify to the other 5 authorities that they need to use the same provider(s) as Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which suggests how Working Groups could be established, with a view to tackling in turn the reviews of the various taxi and private hire policies and conditions.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which proposed the establishment of Working Groups to undertake a review of the various Taxi and Private Hire Policies and Conditions.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following documents:

·  Working Groups for review of the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policies and Conditions (Appendix A referred)

·  List of Stakeholders (Appendix B referred)

Addressing the report the Executive Officer, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing suggested the main themes for discussion were: The Working Group approach, the terms of reference, input from key stakeholders and timetable for review.

  The proposals for the Working Groups and timescales were suggested as follows:

·  Working Group A – Drivers: initial meeting January, review meeting February, final meeting March 2018;

·  Working Group B – Operators: initial meeting April, review meeting June, final meeting July 2018;

·  Working Group C – Vehicles: initial meeting September, review meeting October, final meeting November 2018;

·  Working Group D – Safety: Initial meeting December 2018, review meeting January 2019, final meeting February 2019.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That approval be given to the establishing of Working Groups to review the Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Driver Policies and Conditions

(ii)  That the Executive Officer, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in consultation with Governance Services and Scrutiny Support be requested to put in place the necessary arrangements

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

(Copy attached)

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018.

RESOLVED – To approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 9^th January 2018 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 9^th January 2018 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which seeks approval of a variation of contract for the Schedule 9 Agreement between the Council and Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Ltd.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which sought approval to a variation of the contract for the Schedule 9 Agreement between the Council and Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Ltd.

Appended to the report was a copy of the following document:

·  Large Casino – Variation to Schedule 9 Agreement (Appendix A referred - Exempt)

The Section Head, Entertainment Licensing together with the Financial Inclusion Manager, Communities and Environment presented the report.

Members were informed that as part of the competitive process Global Gaming Ventures Ltd had committed to providing a number of benefits that were converted into a legal agreement made under Schedule 9 of the Gambling Act 2005. Benefits included commitments to employment, training, mitigation of problem gambling, environmental principles and the physical development of the casino.

Officers reported that following discussions with Global Gaming Ventures (Leeds) Ltd, it was proposed to amend two clauses within the original Schedule 9 agreement relating to the annual monitoring fee and the provision of a monthly drop in centre.

In the discussion that followed Members were supportive of the proposals to vary the Schedule 9 Agreement

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the variation to the Schedule 9 Agreement as set out in Appendix A of the submitted report

To consider a report by the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration which provides a de brief following the Leeds Festival 2017.

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report which informed Members of any issues arising from the 2017 Leeds Festival held in the grounds of Bramham Park between 25^th and 27^th August 2017.

The report included a summary of the outcome of the multi-agency

debriefing meeting held on 19^th October 2017 at Appendix A & B  (Exempt).

  The meeting concluded that no major concerns had been identified   resulting from the 2017 Festival.

The Section Head, Entertainment Licensing, presented the report together with the Premises Licence Holder (Festival Republic) and responded to Members questions and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

·  The receipt of one complaint in respect of the road closure imposed to prevent traffic volume through Thorner Village

·  Concerns raised about the management of the Taxi/ Private Hire pick up area.

  It was reported that the Premises Licence Holder was now in the process   of drafting the Event   Management Plan for 2018, incorporating any   amendments to reflect improvements on the 2017 event

  The Chair requested if there was any provision for concessionary tickets   for children in care

  In responding the Premises Licence Holder said arrangements could be   put in place subject to Festival Republic being supplied with the contact   details of an appropriate officer within the Department of Children and   Families

Members expressed their continued support of the Festival and the work undertaken by the organiser together with support agencies to ensure the smooth running of the event

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted including the   issues raised at the debrief, following the Leeds Festival 2017 event.

(ii)  That Festival Republic be supplied with the contact details of an appropriate officer within the Department of Children and Families with a view to providing concessionary tickets for children in care