Havant Borough Council
Councillors:
36
Wards:
17
Committees:
35
Meetings (2025):
86
Meetings (2024):
96
Meeting
Licensing Committee - Havant
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 6th March 2025
5:30 PM
Thursday, 6th March 2025
5:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 6th March 2025
7:00 PM
Thursday, 6th March 2025
7:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
06 Mar 2025
06 Mar 2025
Location:
Hurstwood Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX
Hurstwood Room, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Chairman of Licensing Committee
Committee Member
Cabinet Lead for Regeneration & Communities
Secretary
Democratic & Electoral Services Manager
Jenni Harding
Expected
Vice-Chairman
Cabinet Lead for Housing
Chairman
Chairman of Governance Committee
Committee Member
Vice Chairman of Planning Committee
Secretary
Democratic Services Officer
Mark Gregory
Expected
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence
To receive and record apologies for absence from members.
Minutes
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Paul Gray, Councillor Liz Fairhurst and Councillor Munazza Faiz.
2
Declarations of Interests
To receive and note any disclosable pecuniary interests from councillors. In accordance with the Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda. Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.
Councillors are further invited to disclose any personal or prejudicial interests which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda. Participation in the meeting and vote shall depend upon the nature of the interest.
Councillors should refer to the declaration of interest flowchart and raise any queries with the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.
Members are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent and if appropriate, withdraw from the room immediately thereafter.
Councillors are further invited to disclose any personal or prejudicial interests which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda. Participation in the meeting and vote shall depend upon the nature of the interest.
Councillors should refer to the declaration of interest flowchart and raise any queries with the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.
Members are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent and if appropriate, withdraw from the room immediately thereafter.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.
3
Minutes of the previous meeting
To approve:
1 the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 8 January 2025
2 the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub Committee held on 12 February 2025
1 the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 8 January 2025
2 the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub Committee held on 12 February 2025
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 25 Feb 2025
- Document Minutes Public Pack, 12/02/2025 Licensing Sub Committee 25 Feb 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED that:
1. the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on the 8January 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman; and
2. the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub - Committee held on 12 February 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman
1. the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on the 8January 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman; and
2. the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Sub - Committee held on 12 February 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman
4
Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Fees following Public Consultation
Report number HBC/030/2025 attached.
Attachments:
- Document Licensing Committee Report - Mar 25 - Taxi Fees 25-26 V2 25 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix A - proposed fees 25 Feb 2025
- Document Appendix B - Licensing fee increase REDACTED 25 Feb 2025
Minutes
The Licensing and Animal Welfare Team Leader introduced the item and
Highlighted that in the agenda pack, section 2.2 on page 8 should read:
“The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 requires the Council to undertake a public consultation for any proposed changes to vehicle and operator licensing fees. A consultation took place between 17 January to 14 February 2025.”
The Committee considered the one public response received during the consultation and asked further questions.
it was clarified that:
· The figures in Appendix A show a decreasing figure for Hackney Carriage renewal fees. At the point of calculating it was not decided to undertake an unmet demand survey. Since fee setting has taken place it has been decided that this will go ahead this year and costs will be recovered from the next financial year.
· There is no formal evidence to show that drivers are going to other local authorities to get their license. Applications at Havant Borough Council have increased since 2022.
· The service is designed to be cost neutral and charges are based on a true reflection of delivering the service. Fees are set based on the cost of administering the service therefore no unnecessary costs are charged to the drivers.
· Every effort is made to ensure that the consultation is communicated to drivers as it is circulated by email, newspaper article and is advertised in the Plaza building.
Following debate it was RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee:
a) Consider the responses received during public consultation.
b) Make any necessary amendments to the proposed fees, in light of the responses received during public consultation.
c) Recommend the agreed fees for adoption by Full Council and implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2025.
Highlighted that in the agenda pack, section 2.2 on page 8 should read:
“The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 requires the Council to undertake a public consultation for any proposed changes to vehicle and operator licensing fees. A consultation took place between 17 January to 14 February 2025.”
The Committee considered the one public response received during the consultation and asked further questions.
it was clarified that:
· The figures in Appendix A show a decreasing figure for Hackney Carriage renewal fees. At the point of calculating it was not decided to undertake an unmet demand survey. Since fee setting has taken place it has been decided that this will go ahead this year and costs will be recovered from the next financial year.
· There is no formal evidence to show that drivers are going to other local authorities to get their license. Applications at Havant Borough Council have increased since 2022.
· The service is designed to be cost neutral and charges are based on a true reflection of delivering the service. Fees are set based on the cost of administering the service therefore no unnecessary costs are charged to the drivers.
· Every effort is made to ensure that the consultation is communicated to drivers as it is circulated by email, newspaper article and is advertised in the Plaza building.
Following debate it was RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee:
a) Consider the responses received during public consultation.
b) Make any necessary amendments to the proposed fees, in light of the responses received during public consultation.
c) Recommend the agreed fees for adoption by Full Council and implementation for the financial year commencing 1 April 2025.
Previous Meetings
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