Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth

The Director of Economic Growth submitted a report (previously circulated) to invite Members to determine the licence fees relating to transport licensing and animal welfare licensing.  The proposed fees had been based on the recovery of administering and where appropriate enforcing the relevant legislation relating to such licences.

It was reported that Full Council at its meeting on 28 January 2016 had delegated the setting of all fees and registrations that are within the remit of the General Licensing Committee to that Committee to enable in depth consideration to be given by Members in a specialist Committee.

The submitted report outlined the introduction of a ‘licensing’ scheme for home to school transport drivers and operators; the accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations on 1 October 2018; and a review of the Licensing Service.

The submitted report also outlined the review of the taxi licensing fees for the current financial year which showed that at the end of the last financial year the carry forward income for Hackney Carriages was £34,228 and £28,509 for private hire giving a total carry forward of £62,373.  It was therefore proposed that all fees in respect of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators remain for a third year at their current levels.

With regard to Animal Welfare Licence Fees a costings exercise in relation to the application processing and licensing and inspection of animal welfare premises had been carried out in order that the fees reflected the cost to the Council for providing this Service.  The proposed fees were outlined in the submitted report and will be reviewed annually.

Members welcomed the report and in particular the introduction of a ‘licensing’ scheme for home to school transport drivers and operators to be implemented at the end of this financial year to ensure that drivers and operators who carry the most vulnerable members of the public are protected at all times.

RESOLVED – That Members of this General Licensing Committee:

(a)  approve that the taxi licensing fees continue at their current rate from 1 April 2019; and

(b)  approve the fees in respect of animal welfare licensing as detailed in the submitted report.