Issue - meetings

The Head of Housing and Health submitted a report updating Members in relation to statistics on processing licences, enforcement activity and implementation of the Service Plan for Quarter 4 of the 2016/17 financial year.  The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer provided a summary of the report and referred to Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ regarding licensing data for the relevant period.

The Committee Chairman referred to the possibility of more multi-agency campaigns on a number of issues detailed in the SIAS report.  He referred in particular to complaints and test purchasing activity.  Questions were asked regarding where Environmental Health report to regarding the licences they issue such as street trading and acupuncture.  The Service Manager said that he would respond to Members with this information.

Councillor Mrs R Cheswright referred to the percentage of taxi drivers who had been issued with licensing record points.  The Service Manager confirmed that this figure currently stood at 20%.  Councillor Cheswright detailed a number of incidents she had witnessed involving Taxi Drivers.

Following a general debate regarding the conduct of taxi drivers, Members commented on a hardening of the policy approach towards taxi drivers and their conduct.  Members referred in particular, to the issue of licensing record points, the expiry of documents and the reminders issued by the Authority.  The Service Manager undertook to report back on this at the next meeting of the Committee.

Members debated the matters they would like to see reported to them within the reintroduced quarterly performance and update report.  This report would be revised to reflect the needs of the Committee and Members’ responses should be submitted to the Chairman.  The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that the report be received.