Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no substitute members.

So as to provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by midday on Wednesday 22 November 2023.

Where relevant notice of a question has not been given, the person presiding may either choose to give a response at the meeting or respond by undertaking to provide a written response within three working days.

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services - democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Public Question Time will last for a maximum of 30 minutes)

There were no questions from the public.

Pre-submitted Members questions are pursuant to rule 12 of the Council & Committee Procedure Rules.

Questions should be submitted by midday on Wednesday 22 November 2023 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Member Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes.)

There were no questions from Members.

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 18 September 2023 and the Licensing Sub Committees on 5 September 2023, 13 September 2023, 18 October 2023 and 7 November 2023 which have been emailed to Members.

Resolved: that the minutes of the committee meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 18 September 2023 and the Licensing Sub Committees on 5 September 2023, 13 September 2023, 18 October 2023 and 7 November 2023 be approved as the correct record.

To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent

There were no urgent items.

A report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, attached as item 6.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, a copy of which had been circulated to all members.

The Officer presented the report explaining that a routine review of the service had brought to light that the original paperwork, proving the adoption of the Act, was incomplete. Due to this, it had been brought to committee to obtain Members agreement to re-adopt the policy.

A Member advocated that this information should be shared with the Taxi trade. Officers explained that this could be done but would incur an additional cost. Members considered that in the current economic climate any unnecessary additional cost was ill advised. A proposal was put forward to agree to the recommendations with an additional proviso that the Taxi Trade be informed separately. This proposal was not seconded and as a result taken no further.

A proposal was put forward to accept the Officers recommendations, and readopt the policy. This was seconded and voted in favour of, with a unanimous outcome.

Resolved: That the Licensing Committee approves the passing of a resolution to adopt, to the extent they are not already in force, the provisions of Part II of the 1976 Act in relation to the whole borough and that adoption of Part II of the 1976 Act shall come into effect on 1 February 2024, this being a date not less than one-month after the day the resolution is passed.

A report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, attached as item 7.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, a copy of which had been circulated to all members.

The Officer explained the rationale used to set the new fees and clarified for Members why some figures were surplus and some were deficit.

With regards to the Taxi fees, Members enquired if the rise in costs would result in higher fares for the passengers. The Officer clarified that the Hackney Carriage fare tariff was set by the Council and it dictated the maximum fare that could be charged. The Hackney Carriage Driver's had latitude to charge less if they wished. The Private Hire tariff was not under the control of the Council so were at liberty to set their own fees.

Members enquired as to why, with regards to Street Trading licences, some areas' rise in fees were significantly higher than others. The Officer clarified that certain areas, such as the sea front areas, generated considerably more administration work, due to those areas generating greater income for the traders who were sited there, and this was represented in the fees.

A member enquired why the Foreshores and Concessions Team charges for sea front sites were so much higher than the Councils. The Officer explained that Concessions were not controlled by the same legislation as licences and they are effectively a permit to use Council land to trade on. Street trading requires a licence and legislation dictates that the Council are bound to charge only what costs are incurred in producing that licence and are unable to make a profit.

A proposal was put forward to accept the Officers recommendations, and approve the scale of licensing fees proposed. This was seconded and voted in favour of, with a unanimous outcome.

Resolved: To approve the scale of licensing fees proposed within Appendix 1 to apply from 1 April 2024. In addition, should representations be received following the Council placing a notice in a local newspaper setting out the changes to the vehicle and operator fees and inviting representations on those changes within 28 days then these will be considered by the Public Health and Regulation Manager in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee.