Agenda and minutes

The Committee Members agreed the re-election of Cllr Robert Knowles as Chairman of the Committee and Cllr Michael Goodridge as Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held 8 November 2021 and published on the Councils Website.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence and to report any substitutions

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Roger Blishen and Anna James.

Cllrs David Munro and Ruth Reed joined via Zoom.

To receive from members declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting, in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

There were no Declarations of Interest submitted for this meeting.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from members of the public in accordance with Procedure Rule 10. 

There were no questions submitted by members of the public for this meeting.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

There were no questions submitted by members for this meeting.

There were no items under this heading.

To receive any action taken by the Executive Director after consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last meeting.

There had no action been taken by the Executive Director following consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman since the last meeting.

From time to time the Hackney Carriage trade requests that we, the Council, increase the amount that they can charge their customers, the last such request was in February 2014. This report sets out the recent history and current fare levels in Waverley.

The decision on whether to increase the maximum fare level is an Executive       function. On the 29 March 2022 the Executive agreed to advertise/consult on a new maximum fare tariff.

Following consultation (from 01 April to 18^th April) officers received 3 comments. The Executive is being asked to consider the 3 comments received and agree the new maximum fare tariff (with or without modifications) to come into effect on the 17 June 2022.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Licensing & Regulatory Committee:

Considers the report, makes comment and recommend to the Executive to agree the proposed advertised new maximum fare tariff (with or without modifications).

Recommend that the Executive’s agree that the maximum fare tariff comes into effect on the 17 June 2022 (within 2 months of the first specified date (last date for objections on the scale of fares consultation, 18 April 2022).

Members received an overview of the report and papers circulated with the agenda.  Members questioned why the booking fee had been removed as they felt this was cutting the taxi drivers earning potential despite the proposal to increase fares.  Paul Hughes explained that the “Guildford Methodology”, which the Committee had previously agreed to, following the case of Rostron v Guildford Borough Council, excluded a booking fee.  Members asked if the methodology took into account the rising fuel prices and were assured it did but also kept in mind if fuel prices go down.

Members felt that we should consider adding a booking fee.

Cllr Jerome Davidson proposed adding a discretionary booking fee element of up to £1 (representing an increase to the current booking fee in place within Waverley which amounts to 60 pence) and this was seconded by Cllr Jerry Hyman.

The Committee voted 5 in favour, 1 against and 2 abstained therefore the proposal was carried to add a recommendation for a discretionary booking fee at the sum of £1 suggested.

The Committee voted on the published recommendation (with proposed modification) and there were 7 in favour, none against and 1 abstention.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that the Executive agree the proposed advertised new maximum fare tariff (with the above booking fee modification) and to agree that the  maximum fare tariff comes into effect on the 17 June 2022 (within 2 months of the first specified date (last date for objections on the scale of fares consultation 18 April 2022).

To discuss the letter from Minister, Kit Malthouse MP regarding drink spiking circulated to the committee in April 2022.

The Committee NOTED the letter from Minister, Kit Malthouse MP circulated with the agenda. They agreed this was a worrying development and that it should be monitored closely. Paul Hughes advised that he had made enquiries with Surrey Police Licensing officer and understood there was not currently a significant issue in Waverley but he reminded members that they could review a licence if an issue emerged in a Waverley establishment and impose conditions in appropriate cases.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued best practice guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing since 2006 to assist local authorities that have responsibility for the regulation of this sector.

This has recently been updated to take into account stakeholder views and changes in the way the sector operates.

DfT is seeking views from the public, licensing authorities and the taxi and PHV industry on the proposed updated version.

Taxi and private hire vehicle best practice guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The members noted the information included with the agenda on the National Taxi Standards Consultation.  They were informed that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had responded formally to this and members were also encouraged to do so using the link provided on or before 20 June.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group A meeting held on 25  November 2021 and published on the Councils Website.

Members noted the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group A meeting held on 25 November 2021.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group B meeting held on 13 December 2021 and published on the Councils Website.

Members noted the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group B meeting held on 13 December 2021.

To note the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group C meeting held on 28 February 2022 and published on the Councils Website.

Members noted the minutes of the Licensing Sub Group C meeting held on 28 February 2022.

To note the minutes of the Licensing General Purpose meeting held on 24 & 31 January 2022 and published on the Councils Website.

Members noted the minutes of the Licensing & General Purpose meetings held on 24 & 31 January 2022.

To consider the following recommendation on the motion of the Chairman:-

Recommendation

That pursuant to Procedure Rule 20 and in accordance with Section 100B(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items 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 public were present during the items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information (as defined by Section 100l of the Act) of the description specified in the appropriate paragraph(s) of the revised Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (to be identified, as necessary, at the meeting).

There were no items to discuss in exempt session so the Chairman closed the meeting.