Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Governance Services  37 88662

Items
No. Item

74.

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.

 

75.

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.

 

76.

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:

Although there were no formal late items, the Chair did accept the inclusion of supplementary information (Letter of objection from the Unite Union) in respect of Agenda Item No.8 “Taxi & Private Hire Licensing – Review of vehicle conditions to encourage ultra low emission vehicles” Minute No. 81 referred)

77.

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.

 

78.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence

79.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 238 KB

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6th November 2018.

 

 

(Copy attached)

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 6th November 2018 were submitted for consideration/ approval.

 

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th November 2018 be accepted as a true and correct record.

 

80.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

To consider any Matters Arising from the Minutes.

Minutes:

There were no issues raised under Matters Arising.

 

81.

Taxi & Private Hire Licensing - Review of Vehicle Conditions to Encourage Ultra Low Emission Vehicles pdf icon PDF 332 KB

To consider a report by the Chief Officer Electoral and Regulatory which informs Members of the recommendations of the Vehicle Conditions (ULEV) Working Group for changes to council’s existing vehicle conditions to encourage high emission vehicles to be replaced by ULEVs, in line with the council’s Clean Air Zone priorities. 

The report also highlights some of the likely areas where the council’s current vehicle policies and conditions should be reviewed by a vehicle working group and consulted upon and policies updated following receipt of any comments or objections.

 

(Report attached)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Officer Electoral and Regulatory submitted a report which informed the Committee of the recommendations arising from the Vehicle Conditions (ULEV) Working Group, which proposed changes to the council’s existing vehicles conditions to encourage high emission vehicles to be replaced by ULEVs, in line with the council’s Clean Air Zone priorities.

 

The report highlighted some of the likely areas where the council’s current vehicle policies and conditions should be reviewed (by a Vehicles Working Group), consulted upon and policies updated following receipt of any comments or objections.

 

 Appended to the report were copies of the following appendices:

 

·  A list of the delegates who attended and contributed to the Vehicles Conditions (ULEV) Working Group (Appendix No.1 referred)

·  An Equality & Diversity Cohesion and Integration Impact Assessment (Appendix 2)

 

A letter from the Unite Union was circulated prior to the start of the meeting and considered.

 

The letter set out Unite’s view that the recommendations put forward by the Working Group did not go far enough and suggested alternatives. The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager explained that the proposals put forward in the report arose from the working group review and to go beyond this would need further consideration and potentially consultation. The issues raised by Unite would be considered in the next planned review.

 

Addressing the report the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Manager explained the background to the report, the main issues to be considered and the recommendations of the working group in that a number of minor changes were required in order to ease transition towards ultra-low emission vehicles.

 

The recommendations of the working group were:

 

·  Removal of 1400cc minimum engine capacity for ULEVs

·  Extend age at first licensed for ULEVs to 7 years and fewer than 120,000 miles

·  Extend age at which last licensed for ULEVs to 12 years

·  Temporary extension for up to six months for vehicles reaching maximum age limit November 2018 to April 2019

 

Commenting on the temporary extension of up six months for vehicles reaching the maximum age limit, Members sought assurance that drivers/operators would be notified  when the six month period begins and ends, the suggested period in the submitted report appeared not to be correct.

 

The Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Manager gave an assurance that the temporary six month extension period would be notified to drivers / operators.

 

Referring to the age restrictions for Licenced vehicles in Leeds, Members expressed the view that it was important to maintain standards but were aware that other local authorities do not have the same standards.

 

In responding Members were informed that there were some “odd/ historic” vehicle age conditions operating in other local authorities. Common standards were being introduced across the West Yorkshire and the York areas but common standards need to apply nationally.

 

Referring to the grants scheme, Members queried the period of time for any grant to be spent.

 

Members were informed that the grant could only be claimed once the CAZ compliant vehicle had been purchased and licensed, the grant was claimed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

82.

Licensing Committee Work Programme 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 199 KB

To consider the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2018/19.

 

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

Members considered the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2019.

 

It was noted that there were no items listed for the January 2019 meeting.

 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2019 be approved.

 

83.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday 8th January 2019 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 5th February 2019 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.