Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mark Prenter.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 17 July 2023.

The record of the meeting held on 17 July 2023 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 consider and set the tariff variation for the Christmas 2023/New Year 2024 period.  

Discussion:

The Licensing Manager presented a report requesting a variation to Hackney Carriage Tariffs for Christmas 2023/New Year 2024.

The Licensing Manager explained that the Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (MLTDA) submitted annual Christmas/New Year tariff variations.  Prior to their submission they circulated their proposal to their members via a newsletter, which invited comments, suggestions, or amendments.  They confirmed no responses or objections were received and therefore they submitted the proposed variation (attached at Appendix A) to Licensing on 15 September 2023.

The Licensing Manager advised the Sub-Committee that there were cost and consultation period implications associated with any request for varying the tariff.  It would therefore be appropriate for the Council to agree to set the tariff prior to consultation, negating the need for a further Sub-Committee to determine a post consultation report should no objections be received.

Decision:

a)    The Sub-Committee agreed to set the tariffs for the Christmas 2023/New Year 2024 as proposed by the Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers Association at Appendix A and agreed for officers to advertise in accordance with legislation and circulate to the taxi trade for comments for a period of 14 days.

b)    The Sub-Committee agreed that if no objections are received within the 14 day notice period, or if all objections made are withdrawn, the variation will come into operation on the date of the expiration of the 14 day notice period or the date of withdrawal of the objection(s), whichever is the later.

This report summarises the content of agenda items 7 and 8 which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contain exempt information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is a matter for the Sub-Committee to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of documents.

Decision:

The Sub-Committee agreed to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of agenda items 7 and 8 because consideration of this matter in public would disclose information falling within paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as specified in agenda item 5 (Exclusion of press and public) and, in all the circumstances of the case, the Sub-Committee considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider an appeal against penalty points issued and review of Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was to consider an appeal against penalty points issued and a review of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence and Mr M and his Legal representative attended the meeting for this purpose. However, as the required interpreter did not attend as scheduled, the Sub-Committee agreed to defer the item to a later date.

To consider an appeal against the revocation of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence.

Due to the unavailability of the Licensing Officer at short notice for this appeal this item was deferred to a later date.