Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brake, Howcroft-Scott, Kemp, Nestorova and Sands.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 16 June 2025.

The record of the meeting held on 16 June 2025 was agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none.  

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

To seek approval for the adoption of consolidated model Byelaws to regulate premises carrying out acupuncture, tattooing, electrolysis, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic and ear piercing within Medway.

This will also require revocation of the existing two sets of The City of Rochester Upon Medway Byelaws that regulate both tattooing, and ear piercing and electrolysis, in accordance with sections 14 and 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by section 120 of the Local Government Act 2003.

These Byelaws were adopted by Medway Council at its formation in 1998 and have remained in force since then.

Discussion:

Officers informed the Committee that the proposed new Byelaws were model Byelaws produced by the Department of Health and it was proposed that they replaced Byelaws adopted in 1988. Local Authorities can devise their own Byelaws, however this would require approval by the Secretary of State and adopting the model Byelaws would not have a significant impact on premises already registered or those that would be registered in future.

Officers confirmed that if adopted the Byelaws would apply to the whole of Medway.

Decision:

a)    The Committee noted the consolidated model Byelaws to regulate acupuncture, tattooing, electrolysis, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic and ear piercing.

b)    The Committee noted that Council would be requested to approve the adoption of the Byelaws, in line with many other local authorities, on 16 October 2025.

c)    The Committee noted that if the new Byelaws were adopted, Council would be requested to revoke the Byelaws currently in force, namely: ‘Byelaws relating to ear piercing and electrolysis’ and ‘Byelaws relating to tattooing’, made by the City of Rochester Upon Medway, under section 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.