Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN. View directions

Contact: Luciane Bowker  Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist

Media

Items
No. Item

17.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Sarah Kerr, Abdul Loyes and Shahid Younis.

18.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 229 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 October 2021.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 October 2021 were confirmed as a correct record, subject to the amendment below, and signed by the Chairman.

 

The following sentence be added to item 16 of the minutes (page 9 on the agenda):

 

Councillor Fishwick stated that journeys need to be seamless and not end at the boundary, therefore officers at a senior level and the relevant Executive Members should work to promote the use of Reading’s bus lanes by Wokingham drivers (this was in relation to resolution number 3).

 

Matters arising

Councillor Shenton pointed out that Julia O’Brien, Principal Officer Compliance and Enforcement, had stated in the previous meeting that the Taxi and Private Hire Policies would be brought to the January meeting for consideration.  However, there was no report in the agenda with these policies.

 

Councillor Burgess agreed with the point raised by Councillor Shenton, questioned the items in the forward programme and also asked if the Taxis Liaison Group would be involved in the consultation.

 

Julia O’Brien explained that the draft policy was not ready to be submitted to the Committee yet.  She informed that work was being undertaken to draft the policy and confirmed that the trade would be involved in the consultation.  Therefore, the forward programme would have to be amended.

 

Councillor Fishwick asked for an update on the issue of Reading bus lanes.  Stephen Brown, Assistant Director for Place and Growth informed that a letter had been sent to Reading, however no response had yet been received, he would inform the Committee as and when he received a reply.

 

In relation to the issue previously raised by Councillor Kerr, that the Licensing and Appeals Committee had recommended a freeze and subsidy to the taxi fees and a refund those who had already paid, Councillor Fishwick stated that Jennifer Lee, Legal Specialist had confirmed that this Committee did not have the authority to make a decision on fees, however it could make recommendations.  He asked which body could actually approve it and if this had been actioned.  He stated that this subsidy equated to £9k, and therefore he believed that it could be delegated to officer level.

 

Stephen Brown stated that in previous years had officers taken such delegated decisions.  However, this year the Council was looking to save £2m and officers were not prepared to take such decisions in the current context.  He pointed out that there would be an opportunity for full Council to consider this proposal at its Budget meeting in February. 

 

Sean O’Connor, Lead Specialist Legal stated that there was a difficulty in relation to mid-year changes to budget decisions and the funding of such decisions.  He confirmed that next year’s budget would be discussed at the Budget Council meeting in February.

 

Councillor Fishwick asked who would be able to make a decision on the recommendation relation to this year’s subsidy.

 

In relation to the concerns being raised, the Chairman stated that Members should have submitted Members’ questions prior  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

20.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions.

 

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

 

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

21.

Member Question Time

To answer any member questions.

Minutes:

There were no Member questions.

22.

Fees and Charges for Licensable Activities 2022/2023 pdf icon PDF 876 KB

To receive and consider the Fees and Charges for Licensable Activities 2022/2023 report.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Fees and Charges for Licensable Activities 2022/23 report which was set out in agenda pages 11-31.

 

Ed Shaylor, Head of Enforcement and Safety presented the report.  This was an annual report which formed part of the overall Council’s budget setting process, and the recommendations from this Committee would be submitted to the Budget Council in February.

 

Ed Shaylor stated that the proposal was to set remain unchanged fees for 2022/23.  The rationale was that the service was returning in-house in April, and a review of the costs would have to be carried out before any changes could be made (fees were set on a cost recovery basis).

 

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

 

·           Councillor Ferris asked if it was possible to change the figures in relation to hackney carriage and private hire licences to the reduced figures agreed by this Committee in June 2021;

·           Sean O’Connor stated that this Committee could recommend a change in the figures, however he pointed out that if the reduced figures did not cover the costs, this would mean a subsidy from the general funds.  Council would make a final decision on the figures;

·           Councillor Ferris stated that the figures were based on £59 per hour under the PPP.  It was necessary to work out what the new hourly rate would be once the service returned in-house;

·           Ed Shaylor agreed that the fees were based on hourly rates and that it remained to be seen what efficiencies could be found after April, however the hourly cost would continue to be the same;

·           Councillor Ferris felt uncomfortable with making a proposal to the Council on next year’s budget without knowing how much the service would cost under the new structure from April;

·           Councillor Soane stated that it was impossible for the Council to know at the moment how much the service would cost under the new structure;

·           Councillor Burgess seconded the proposal to put forward the reduced figures in relation to hackney carriage and private hire licences, as previously agreed by the Committee.  She expressed concern that the recommendations of the Committee were not being taken seriously.  She believed that £9k was not a material sum for the Council.

 

Upon being put to the vote, most Members were in favour of Councillor Ferris’ proposal.

 

Councillor Dennis asked for clarification on what would happen to the recommendation for the mid-year reduction.  Stephen Brown stated that the relevant director had indicated that there was insufficient funds to support that recommendation.

 

Councillor Ferris stated that, in view of the vote in favour of the proposal, he expected the figures in pages 25-27 be amended as per previous discussions in June (lower figures).

 

In response to a question Sean O’Connor pointed out that the funds for this proposal were yet to be identified.

 

Upon being put to the vote most Members were in favour of the recommendations contained in the report with the addition of a subsidy to the taxi fees,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

23.

Statutory Consultation on Increase to Hackney Carriage Fare Tariffs pdf icon PDF 556 KB

To receive and consider the Proposed Increase to Hackney Carriage Fare Tariffs report.

Minutes:

The Committee received the Statutory Consultation on Increase to Hackney Carriage Fare Tariffs report which was set out in agenda pages 33-41.

 

Moira Fraser, Policy and Governance Officer presented the report.  Officers had received a request by the taxi trade to increase its tariffs, this request was supported by a petition from 31 members of the trade, as set out in the table contained in the report.

 

The petition pointed out that the last tariff rate rise was in 2010 and there had been a minor variation in 2014.  The changes proposed were as stated in the report and Members were asked to consider the proposal.  Members were reminded that the Committee could set a maximum tariff, there was opportunity for drivers to set lower tariffs if they wanted to.

 

Any changes would be subject to statutory consultation.  Moira Fraser explained that the proposed short period of consultation was to meet timescales for the March meeting of the Committee.  If objections were received the Committee would have consider them, and if not, the changes would be implemented.

 

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

 

·           Councillor Fishwick expressed concern that the proposed consultation period was only two weeks and proposed to extend it to 21 days;

·           The Chairman explained that this issue had been considered, however there was an issue with extending the consultation period, in that it would mean that this Committee would not be able to consider it before the end of this municipal year;

·           Moira Fraser confirmed that there was an issue in extending the consultation period and not being able to submit a report in time for the agenda publication for the meeting on 2 March.  There was also an issue with not being able to issue a notice for the newspaper any earlier;

·           Councillor Fishwick was concerned that 14 days was a short period for this consultation.  Moira Fraser stated that as well as the newspaper, the consultation was also advertised on the website and the trade was directly informed about it;

·           In response to a question Moira Fraser confirmed that the figures contained in the report had been proposed by the trade (not officers).  She added that the Committee could decide to propose different figures for consultation;

·           Councillor Burgess was in favour of the proposal, in view of the fact that there had not been a review since 2010 and it only brought tariffs in line with inflation;

·           Councillor Burgess asked how this proposed structure compared with other local authorities; 

·           Moira Fraser stated that comparisons were made on a two-mile journey and the tariffs were as follows:

o   Reading - £8

o   West Berkshire - £7.40

o   Bracknell - £6.50

o   Wokingham’s proposal was for £8.10

·           Councillor Fishwick emphasised that it was important to facilitate communication about the consultation, and he believed three weeks was necessary to enable people to take part;

·           Councillor Firmager asked if extending the consultation would mean entering the purdah period;

·           Sean O’Connor explained that although an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Forward Programme pdf icon PDF 163 KB

To consider the Forward Programme for the Committee.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Forward Programme which was set out in Agenda pages 43-44.

 

Councillor Burgess pointed out that item 3 on the Forward Programme for 2 March would be a review of the draft policy and the outcome of the consultation would be considered at the June meeting.

 

Councillor Burgess requested that a meeting of the Taxis Liaison Group be scheduled during the consultation period to discuss the policy.

 

Councillor Ferris stated that the remit of the Licensing and Appeals Committee was being widened and asked for an update on this.  Councillor Soane suggested that the implication of moving public protection and licencing in-house from April be discussed at the next meeting in March.

 

RESOLVED That:

 

1)     The following items be added to the March meeting:

          I.    the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy

        II.    the implication of moving public protection and licensing in-house

 

2)     A meeting of the Taxis Liaison Group be scheduled during the consultation period of the draft policy; and

 

3)     The consultation review on the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle Policy be added to the June meeting