Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Fearn.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 8 December 2023.

The record of the meeting held on 8 December 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.

This report summarises the content of agenda item 6 which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contains 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.

The Sub-Committee agreed to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of agenda item 6 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.

The Licensing Sub-Committee are requested to consider the application for a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Discussion:

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Decision:

After careful consideration of the written evidence and the representations made at the meeting, the sub-committee decided not to grant the Hackney Carriage Driver Licence. The decision was based on an application of the fit and proper test for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers.

The purpose of this report is for Members to set the tariff following a request and recommended tariff received from the Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (MLTDA).

Discussion:

Following the receipt of legal advice, the Sub-Committee were advised that the setting of tariffs was an executive function, i.e. a matter for Cabinet, rather than the Licensing-Sub Committee.

The Sub-Committee were advised to disregard paragraphs 3.4-3.8 of the report as these would be steps for Cabinet to consider. The Sub-Committee were asked to recommend to Cabinet to set the tariffs as attached in Appendix B. The report would be submitted to Cabinet on 12 March 2024.

The Licensing Manager informed the Sub-Committee that following consultation with drivers it was recommended that the flag price was increased from £3 to £4 with no change to the distance or waiting time element of taxi fares.

Members discussed whether the proposed increase was reasonable in the current financial climate and that it remained competitive with the flag price increase.

Decision:

The Sub-Committee agreed to recommend to Cabinet to set the tariffs as attached in Appendix B.