Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Licensing Committee Meeting

Councillor Kotecha was replaced by Councillor Frost.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent matters.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022 were approved by the Committee and signed by the chair as a correct record.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report, which presented an in-depth review of the licensing fees and charges for 2023/24, with the proposed new changes which would come into effect from 1 April 2023.

The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:

·         Raised an issue regarding whether the increase in fees was necessary due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The Regulatory Services Manager responded that the fees had previously been frozen for three years to protect the trade, which had resulted in high costs for the authority.

·         Questioned how an increase of 106% for a five-year private hire operator’s license for 46+ vehicles was justifiable. The Regulatory Services Manager stated that the increase was reflective of the amount of enforcement required for larger operators and the associated costs.

·         Sought clarification on whether the Council had under-recovered by £700.00 for the five-year private hire operator’s license for 46+ vehicles in 22/23. It was acknowledged by the Regulatory Services Manager that a range of fees may have been under-recovered.

·         It was questioned whether the Council would offer a payment plan for the fees. The Regulatory Services Manager advised that the charges were a one-off payment to be paid at the start of the five-year period.

·         It was queried how the percentages for the amended fees had been calculated.

·         Questioned how drivers could be encouraged to work and operate in Basingstoke.

·         Sought clarification on whether there was a process for a refund if costs were over-recovered. The Regulatory Services Manager responded that if any fees had been over recovered then the Licensing service would look to offset them in the following year.

Resolved: The Committee:

·         Approves the licensing fees and charges set out in Appendix 1 of the report, which will apply from 1 April 2023.

·         Approves the consultation on the Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Fees and charges.

·         Authorises the Head of Environment and Community Services to make minor administrative amendments if required.

The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

The Regulatory Services Manager highlighted the work that the Licensing team would be undertaking in the subsequent months.

• The Committee received a presentation about Licenced Vehicle/Driver Updates and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Challenges. The Regulatory Services Manager described three options to deal with vehicle challenges, as well as driver challenges, which would be discussed at the next meeting. 

• The Committee discussed the presentation and made a range of comments.

• The consultation process for the Tables and Chairs Pavement Licenses and Street Trading Policy due in November 2023 was questioned.

• The Chair agreed to work with officers to discuss a date for the next meeting, as Officers had requested that the meeting scheduled for July be brought forward.