Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Governance Services  2243836

Items
No. Item

69.

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.

 

70.

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:

RESOLVED – 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 from publication 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:-

 

(a)  Agenda Item No.9, Premises Licence – Licensing Act 2003, Roundhay Park, Princess Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds – August 2019 – The Committee heard evidence from the Safety Advisory Group to the event which 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.

 

(b)  Agenda Item 10 – Premises Licence – Licensing Act 2003, Leeds Festival event - The Committee heard evidence from the Festival Organiser and the Safety Advisory Group to the event which 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.

 

71.

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:

There were no late items identified.

72.

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.

 

73.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received for Councillors: H Bithell and N Buckley.

 

74.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 236 KB

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5th November 2019.

 

 

(Copy attached)

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 5th November 2019, were accepted as a true and correct record.

 

75.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

Minutes:

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing – Cross Border Working and Responses (Minutes No.65 referred) - The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager suggested that following discussion at the last meeting on cross border working and a possible review of the operating conditions, it may be appropriate to establish a Working Group to review Private Hire Operator conditions, including operators who are licensed in Leeds and in other licensing authorities. It was further suggested that the review should also include operating conditions for the use of “hailing apps” and an explanation as to how hailing apps work.

 

RESOLVED – That a report be prepared for the next meeting which seeks the establishment of a Working Group to review Private Hire Operator conditions, the report to also include the Terms of Reference of the Working Group. 

 

 

 

76.

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing - Results of CCTV Working Group pdf icon PDF 252 KB

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which provides a summary of the findings of the recent CCTV working group, the  likely content of a CCTV policy and the areas where further consultation with the trade, general public and neighbouring authorities is required.

 

 

(Report attached)

 

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which provided a summary of the findings of the recent CCTV working group, the likely content of a CCTV policy and the areas where further consultation with the trade, general public and neighbouring authorities was required.

 

Addressing the report the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager explained that a CCTV working group had been established in August 2019. The group met on four occasions throughout September to November considering a range of issues to develop and implement a new CCTV policy for taxi and private hire vehicles in Leeds. The main issues of discussion included:

 

·  Aims and objectives of CCTV in taxi and private hire vehicles;

·  Passenger and driver safety priorities and perceptions;

·  Privacy concerns and compliance requirements; and

·  CCTV policy, specifications, and practical concerns

 

Members queried the length of time CCTV footage would be retained before being deleted.

 

In responding the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager suggested that 31 calendar days was considered to be the appropriate amount of time.

 

In the discussion that followed, some Members expressed a preference for 31 active days, suggesting that many drivers operated on a part time basis.

 

On the issue of privacy, Members queried if the CCTV system could be switched off when the vehicle was not being used as a taxi.

 

Members were informed that National Guidance advised that CCTV systems must be capable of being turned off.

 

In respect of consultation, Members queried if the Information Commissioner’s Office had been consulted.

 

Members were informed that the draft policy had been shared with LCC’s Information Management Team but not with the Information Commissioner’s Office, but there was no reason why the draft policy could not be circulated further.

 

Reference was made to the mandatory CCTV policy in operation in Rotherham with Members querying the background to this.

 

It was confirmed that the CCTV policy in Rotherham was mandatory, it was explained that Rotherham Council had put forward a special case for adopting a mandatory policy citing “extreme circumstances”. Other authorities were pursuing a strong voluntary code in the first instance, although a mandatory system had at one point been proposed by local authorities in Greater Manchester.

 

Members asked if it was worthwhile considering a mandatory CCTV policy for Leeds given there had been allegations of rape/ assault having taking place in taxis.

 

With reference to National Guidance the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager said the proposal was to pursue a voluntary code first.  Allegations of rape/ assault would continue to be pursued when reported to authorities.

 

The Chair sought details of the potential costs of CCTV systems and the impact on LCC resources.

 

Members were informed that the cost of a CCTV system (cameras, audio controls and a hard drive) was in the region of £500. The Council currently offer funding up to 50% of the costs but funding was limited. In terms of impact on LCC resources, it was suggested that if there was a large take up of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

(Prior to discussion of the following item, Councillor A Wenham vacated the meeting)

77.

Premises Licence - Licensing Act 2003, Roundhay Park, Princess Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds - August 2019 pdf icon PDF 247 KB

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which  provides with details of the action log following the Roundhay Park concerts held on the 16th and 17th August 2019.

 

A representative of the licence holder, Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside, will be in attendance at the meeting, together with a representative of the Safety Advisory Group.

 

(During the course of this item, the Committee may move into Private Session to hear confidential information from the Safety Advisory Group)

 

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

The Chair introduced and welcomed Dave Morgan, Carnival and Events Manager, Rebecca Meers, Assistant Carnival and Event Manager, Parks and Countryside Service and Leanne Cummins a representative of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG)

 

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which provided details of an event which took place at Roundhay Park, on the 16th & 17th August 2019.

 

  The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report explaining that although the premises licence was held by Leeds City Council Parks & Countryside Service, the promoter for the 2 day concert was Kilimanjaro Ltd.

  Members were informed that the multi-agency meetings via the Safety Advisory Group were convened on the lead up to the event, including a table - top exercise, a final site visit took place on Thursday 15th August.

  Members noted that the stairway to Hill 60 had received attention with extensive repair works carried out, satisfying responsible authority concerns.

Following the conclusion of the concerts all agency feedback was collated by the Safety Advisory Group to produce an action log which would be used in planning future events on a similar scale.

 

(At this point in the discussion, the meeting moved into closed session to hear from the premises licence holder and the representative of the Safety Advisory Group.

 

The Chair thanked the event organisers for their attendance and contributions.

 

RESOLVED – To note the information provided by Parks & Countryside, on behalf of LCC, the premises licence holder and the representative of the Safety Advisory Group, together with the details of the action log following the 2019 concerts.

 

 

78.

Premises Licence - Licensing Act 2003, Leeds Festival 2019 pdf icon PDF 243 KB

To consider a report by the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which provides details of the action log following the Leeds Festival 2019 event.

A representative of Festival Republic, the event organisers will be in attendance at the meeting together with a representative of the Safety Advisory Group.

(During the course of this item, the Committee may move into Private Session to hear confidential information from the Festival Organiser and the Safety Advisory Group)

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

The Chair introduced and welcomed Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, the event organiser and Leanne Cummins a representative of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).

 

The Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory submitted a report which provided details of Leeds Festival 2019 which took place within the grounds of Bramham Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

 

  The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report explaining that multi agency meetings via the Safety Advisory Group were convened on a regular basis in the lead up to the Festival, including a table - top exercise. On-site multi agency meetings also continued throughout the period of the event.

  Following the conclusion of the event all agency feedback was collated by the Safety Advisory Group to produce an action log which would be used in planning the 2020 Festival.

  Members were also made aware that a post - event meeting had taken place with the Ward Members for Wetherby and Harewood.

(At this point in the discussion, the meeting moved into closed session to hear from the event organiser and the representative of the Safety Advisory Group.

 

The Chair thanked the event organisers for their attendance and contributions.

 

RESOLVED – To note the information provided by the event organiser and the representative of the Safety Advisory Group, together with the details of the action log following the 2019 Festival.

 

79.

Licensing Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 262 KB

To note and approve the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2020.

 

 

(Report attached)

Minutes:

Members considered the ongoing Work Programme for 2020.

 

Following discussion at today’s meeting, it was agreed that a report “Taxi and Private Hire Licensing – Review of Private Hire Operator Conditions”, the report to also include the Terms of Reference of the Working Group, be submitted to the January meeting of this Committee.

 

RESOLVED – That with the addition of the above, the Licensing Committee Work Programme be approved

 

 

 

 

 

 

80.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 28th January 2020 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Minutes:

RESOLVED - That the next meeting of the Committee be arranged for Tuesday, 28th January 2020 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.