Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
22
Meetings (2025):
70
Meetings (2024):
72
Meeting
Licensing Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Monday, 2nd June 2025
6:30 PM
Monday, 2nd June 2025
6:30 PM
End:
Monday, 2nd June 2025
9:30 PM
Monday, 2nd June 2025
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
02 Jun 2025
02 Jun 2025
Location:
Council Chamber - Deanes
Council Chamber - Deanes
Webcast:
Available
Available
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Committee Member
Leader of the Conservative Group
Reserve
Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Committee Member
Vice Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Committee Member
Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee
Committee Member
Chair
Chair of the Licensing Committee
Committee Member
Chair of the Human Resources Committee
Committee Member
Reserve
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Committee Member
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillor J Perry and Councillor S Kotecha.
Councillor A Mummalaneni was absent.
Councillor A Mummalaneni was absent.
2
Appointment of Vice-Chair
To appoint a Vice-Chair to the Licensing Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year.
Minutes
Councillor S Hart was appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee for the 2025/26 municipal year.
3
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
4
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.
5
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2025
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 3 February 2025 21 May 2025
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2025 were approved by the Committee as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
6
Options Paper on the use of CCTV in Licensed vehicles
Contact Officer: Emma Coles
This report provides information required to make an informed decision regarding the consideration of the installation of CCTV systems in licensed vehicles.
This report provides information required to make an informed decision regarding the consideration of the installation of CCTV systems in licensed vehicles.
Attachments:
- Document Report 21 May 2025
Minutes
The Regulatory Services Manager introduced the report, which provided information of the options regarding the mandatory installation of CCTV systems in licensed vehicles.
The Regulatory Services Manager outlined national guidance that encouraged the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles but highlighted the need to assess local requirements alongside cost alongside data protection implications and provided examples of other authorities that required CCTV schemes in licensed vehicles.
The Committee was asked to consider the information provided and determine whether the council should undergo public consultation on the mandatory use of CCTV in licensed vehicles with Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers, operators, and passengers alongside engagement with the police, including the Police and Crime Commissioner. If required, the findings of the public consultation would be reported to a future Committee meeting. Alternatively, another option was to take no further action.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Clarified that the report was in response to the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy which was presented to the Committee in September 2024. Highlighted that CCTV could enhance public safety in vehicles by protecting drivers and passengers and stated that a public consultation may help to understand abuse faced by drivers alongside other underreported safety issues that may occur. Clarified that most authorities that required CCTV in licensed vehicles were unitary authorities with responsibility for travel to schools. The Regulatory Services Manager stated that Licensing officers would only download and examine CCTV footage if a complaint was made, alongside the police where necessary. Stated that while only 10% of licensing authorities required CCTV, this included large authorities such as Transport for London, and suggested that the number of taxis with CCTV was likely higher. Several points were raised as to whether the council should consider the installation of CCTV in vehicles in case future government legislation mandated it alongside consideration of ongoing local government reorganisation proposals. The Regulatory Services Manager stated that being ahead of potential legislative change would not offer an advantage and informed the Committee that Hampshire County Council did not plan to require CCTV in its licensed vehicles. Suggested that the Police and Crime Commissioner assist with funding with the associated costs of fitting CCTV in licensed vehicles. Expressed concern about continual CCTV recording in licensed vehicles and sought greater detail about the capabilities of various CCTV systems. A motion was put forward to undertake a public consultation process on the mandatory installation of CCTV in licensed vehicles. It was requested that the consultation include separate questions for passengers and drivers. It was suggested that views be sought on whether CCTV in vehicles should be introduced after a certain period or phased in for new vehicles. The motion was proposed by Councillor S Minas-Bound and seconded by Councillor J Ganesh. The motion was carried.
Resolved: The Committee agrees that the council undertake a public consultation process regarding the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in its licensed vehicles.
The Regulatory Services Manager outlined national guidance that encouraged the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles but highlighted the need to assess local requirements alongside cost alongside data protection implications and provided examples of other authorities that required CCTV schemes in licensed vehicles.
The Committee was asked to consider the information provided and determine whether the council should undergo public consultation on the mandatory use of CCTV in licensed vehicles with Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers, operators, and passengers alongside engagement with the police, including the Police and Crime Commissioner. If required, the findings of the public consultation would be reported to a future Committee meeting. Alternatively, another option was to take no further action.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Clarified that the report was in response to the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy which was presented to the Committee in September 2024. Highlighted that CCTV could enhance public safety in vehicles by protecting drivers and passengers and stated that a public consultation may help to understand abuse faced by drivers alongside other underreported safety issues that may occur. Clarified that most authorities that required CCTV in licensed vehicles were unitary authorities with responsibility for travel to schools. The Regulatory Services Manager stated that Licensing officers would only download and examine CCTV footage if a complaint was made, alongside the police where necessary. Stated that while only 10% of licensing authorities required CCTV, this included large authorities such as Transport for London, and suggested that the number of taxis with CCTV was likely higher. Several points were raised as to whether the council should consider the installation of CCTV in vehicles in case future government legislation mandated it alongside consideration of ongoing local government reorganisation proposals. The Regulatory Services Manager stated that being ahead of potential legislative change would not offer an advantage and informed the Committee that Hampshire County Council did not plan to require CCTV in its licensed vehicles. Suggested that the Police and Crime Commissioner assist with funding with the associated costs of fitting CCTV in licensed vehicles. Expressed concern about continual CCTV recording in licensed vehicles and sought greater detail about the capabilities of various CCTV systems. A motion was put forward to undertake a public consultation process on the mandatory installation of CCTV in licensed vehicles. It was requested that the consultation include separate questions for passengers and drivers. It was suggested that views be sought on whether CCTV in vehicles should be introduced after a certain period or phased in for new vehicles. The motion was proposed by Councillor S Minas-Bound and seconded by Councillor J Ganesh. The motion was carried.
Resolved: The Committee agrees that the council undertake a public consultation process regarding the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in its licensed vehicles.
7
Adoption of the Sex Establishment Policy
Contact Officer: Emma Coles
This report provides information required to make a decision to adopt the revised sex establishment licensing policy.
This report provides information required to make a decision to adopt the revised sex establishment licensing policy.
Attachments:
- Document Report 21 May 2025
- Document Appendix 1 21 May 2025
- Document Appendix 2 21 May 2025
Minutes
The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report, which requested the Committee to approve adoption of the council’s revised sex establishment policy following consultation.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Stated that the policy covered permanent events licenses as opposed to temporary event licenses. Observed that the policy was difficult to interpret within Basingstoke’s local context. Questioned how a ‘major’ negative equality impact could be demonstrated in an equality impact assessment. The Licensing Team Leader stated that the equality impact assessment was updated if circumstances changed.
Resolved: The Committee:
Approves and adopts the Sex Establishment Policy. Delegates authority to the Regulatory Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Stated that the policy covered permanent events licenses as opposed to temporary event licenses. Observed that the policy was difficult to interpret within Basingstoke’s local context. Questioned how a ‘major’ negative equality impact could be demonstrated in an equality impact assessment. The Licensing Team Leader stated that the equality impact assessment was updated if circumstances changed.
Resolved: The Committee:
Approves and adopts the Sex Establishment Policy. Delegates authority to the Regulatory Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
8
Adoption of the Licensing Enforcement Policy
Contact Officer: Emma Coles
This report provides the information required to make a decision to adopt the Licensing Enforcement Policy.
This report provides the information required to make a decision to adopt the Licensing Enforcement Policy.
Attachments:
- Document Report 21 May 2025
- Document Appendix 1 21 May 2025
Minutes
The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report, which requested the Committee to adopt the Licensing Enforcement Policy.
The Licensing Team Leader notified the Committee that an amendment needed to be made to page 9 of the policy to state that the council’s Monitoring Officer had overall authority to authorise prosecutions.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted a bullet point formatting error in page 7 of the policy. Asked for more detail regarding the seriousness of an offence required for a licence to be modified. The Regulatory Services Manager explained that conditions of premises licences could be modified voluntarily, or conditions could be imposed by a Licensing Sub-Committee to address concerns. Suggested an awareness campaign to address the issue of spiking in nightclubs.
Resolved: The Committee:
Approves and adopts the Licensing Enforcement Policy. Delegates authority to the Regulatory Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
The Licensing Team Leader notified the Committee that an amendment needed to be made to page 9 of the policy to state that the council’s Monitoring Officer had overall authority to authorise prosecutions.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted a bullet point formatting error in page 7 of the policy. Asked for more detail regarding the seriousness of an offence required for a licence to be modified. The Regulatory Services Manager explained that conditions of premises licences could be modified voluntarily, or conditions could be imposed by a Licensing Sub-Committee to address concerns. Suggested an awareness campaign to address the issue of spiking in nightclubs.
Resolved: The Committee:
Approves and adopts the Licensing Enforcement Policy. Delegates authority to the Regulatory Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
9
Review of work programme
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme.
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 21 May 2025
Minutes
The Licensing Team Leader confirmed that the Licensing Fees and Charges report and the Pavement Licence report would be presented at the Committee meeting in November.
The Licensing Team Leader stated that the consultation results of the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles would be presented at either the November or February meeting.
The meeting ended at 7.48 pm.
Chair
The Licensing Team Leader stated that the consultation results of the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles would be presented at either the November or February meeting.
The meeting ended at 7.48 pm.
Chair
10
Exclusion of press and public
To consider whether, in view of the nature of the remaining items on the agenda, any of them are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt or confidential information within the terms of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
11
Confidential / exempt items for information
Previous Meetings
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