Issue - decisions

The Committee received a report from the Licensing & Enforcement Manager.

The report advised the City Council is responsible for processing and issuing licences for a wide range of activities. At its meeting on 7 October 2013 Licensing Committee approved the basis for determining fees and instructed officers to report back, with a view to adopting the fees to be applied with effect from 1 April 2014.

The Committee received a representation from Mr Wratten.

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          Suggested most fees being charged were reasonable.

     ii.          Expressed concern regarding the fee charged for administering transfers. Suggested that £40-£50 was more appropriate than £80.

The Environmental Health Manager responded:

       i.          The transfer process took a lot of officer time to administer.

     ii.          A cost breakdown was undertaken to evidence the fee charged was appropriate (circa £79, so rounded up to a £80 charge).

Councillor Rosenstiel said that the Council had little discretion to vary fees.

The Committee then debated the Officer’s report.

Councillor Gawthrope sought clarification why fees were changing. Councillor Rosenstiel said this was a result of a Westminster Council court case. Fees now reflect costs to the authority. Some charges were outside of the Council’s control ie set nationally.

Councillor Brierley asked if fees could be reduced. The Licensing & Enforcement Manager said the charges reflected good value for money for the service and assistance officers provide to drivers.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 6 votes to 0) to:

       i.          Agree the level of fees from 1st April 2014 as set out in Appendix A of the Officer’s report and then refer them for adoption by Full Council as part of the budget setting process.

     ii.          Agree that fees shall be reviewed on an annual basis.

   iii.          Advertise those levels, in accordance with taxi law.