Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
22
Meetings (2025):
67
Meetings (2024):
72
Meeting
Licensing Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 6th February 2023
6:30 PM
Monday, 6th February 2023
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 6th February 2023
9:30 PM
Monday, 6th February 2023
9:30 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Monday, 6th February 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 6th February 2023
12:00 AM
Finished:
Monday, 6th February 2023
12:00 AM
Monday, 6th February 2023
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
06 Feb 2023
06 Feb 2023
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Councillor Samir Kotecha
Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group
Apologies, sent representative
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Committee Member
Mayor
Reserve
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Committee Member
Vice-Chair of Human Resources Committee
Committee Member
Chair of the Licensing Committee
Reserve
Leader
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Councillor Kotecha was replaced by Councillor Frost.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
3
Urgent matters
To consider any items of business, other than those shown on this agenda and which, by reason of special circumstances to be stated at the meeting, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
Minutes
There were no urgent matters.
4
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of the meeting held on 7th November 2022 26 Jan 2023
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022 were approved by the Committee and signed by the chair as a correct record.
5
Approval for Adoption of the Proposed Licensing Fees and Charges 2023-24
Contact Officer: Emma Coles
The purpose of this report is to provide the committee with the proposed licensing fees and charges for 2023/24.
The purpose of this report is to provide the committee with the proposed licensing fees and charges for 2023/24.
Attachments:
- Document Report 26 Jan 2023
- Document Appendix 1 26 Jan 2023
- Document Appendix 2 26 Jan 2023
Minutes
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 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.
6
Review of work programme
The committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 26 Jan 2023
Minutes
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.
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.
Previous Meetings
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