Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th September 2016.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th September 2016, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

          Mr Keith Radway of Swindon Black Cabs asked questions regarding (a) the notice period for calling the meeting, (b) the public notice in the evening advertiser with regard to the proposed changes in Hackney Carriage fares, (c) the wording of the public notice in the evening advertiser with regard to the proposed changes in Hackney Carriage fares, and (d) the legality of the petition supporting changes in Hackney Carriage fares.  The Chair responded at the meeting.

          The Committee considered (a) a report of the Council’s Licensing Manager setting out (i) objections to the maximum scale of fares for licensed Hackney Carriage operators within the Borough, (ii) the current scale of fares, (iii) a petition in support of the current scale of fares, (iv) a petition opposing the current scale of fares,  (b) the views of Mr Keith Radway of Swindon Black Cabs opposing any amendment to the Hackney Carriage fares structure, (c) the views of Mr Mark Bates (Chair, Swindon Taxi Association) and Mr Andrew Lucas (Hackney Carriage Driver) supporting the reduction of the 30p rate for each 129.3 or 27.2 seconds in the current Night Rate, and (d) questions from Councillors to Mr Bates, Mr White, Mr Lucas and Mr Radway and the Council’s Licensing Manager in respect of the proposed hackney carriage scale of fees.

          Resolved – (1) That the revised maximum scale of fares for Hackney Carriage Tariffs as set out in Appendix 2 to the report of the Council’s Licensing Manager be agreed and advertised for 14 days public consultation under by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 be approved.

          (2) That this Committee not consider any further amendment to the Hackney Carriage Tariffs until after 1^st December 2017.

The Committee considered (a) a report setting out a proposed Sex Establishment Policy for the Borough and (b) comments received as part of the Council’s consultation on the proposed policy.

          Resolved – (1) That, subject to the term “Bright Lighting” being replaced with “Effective Lighting” within the policy document, the Sex Establishment Venues policy set out as an appendix to the report be approved and commended to the Council for adoption. 

          (2) That subject to (1) above and the adoption of the policy by the Council, the newly adopted policy be reviewed no later than 2021 or at such time as legislative changes require.