Agenda and minutes

None.

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Of the meeting held on 19^th June 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th June 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the Committee review and accept the summary of findings of the report below.

The Committee considered a report on Air Quality within the local authority area over the previous calendar year, including results of air pollutants monitored over the year, comparison with national Air Quality Standards, trends over the most recent 5 year period, details of existing AQMAs, progress on implementation of measures by the district and partners and their impact in reducing concentrations of pollutants actions, significant new sources of emissions, and detailed quality assurance processes of monitoring undertaken.

Adrian Allman, Principal Officer – Technical Pollution presented the report and highlighted the main points. He responded to questions from Committee Members and Mark Cox, Technical Services Manager, also commented.

In response to a question about pollutants from sources other than transport, he explained that it is intended to monitor this aspect and undertake intelligence work to identify locations where particulate matter is prevalent. Officers will report back at a future date and it is intended to make the information available to the public.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to accept the summary of findings of the report below.

That the Committee note the Licensing Annual Report 2023.

The Committee considered a report on activities undertaken in 2022/23 under the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005 and all other aspects of Licensing and to inform the Committee on any issues anticipated in the ensuing year. The Principal Officer – Licensing presented the report and highlighted the main points. He responded to questions from Committee Members.

In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to the proliferation of tables and chairs in the street and obstruction from A-boards. The Principal Licensing Officer explained the legislative requirements and advised that work is undertaken in conjunction with the County Council regarding A-boards. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities stated that any specific concerns in and around the City centre can be raised with Officers, and he will provide a Council contact to raise queries with.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the Licensing Annual Report 2023.

That the Committee note the report.

The Committee considered a report on the activities of the service in 2022/23 specifically relating to Worcester City. The Senior Environmental Health Practitioner presented the report and highlighted the main points. She responded to questions from Committee Members.

In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to new requirements regarding food packaging and the use of plastics. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities stated this is a matter for the City Council rather than Worcestershire Regulatory Services and he will ask for Members to be provided with a briefing note.

With regard to the guidance on statutory nuisance which was appended to the report, Members were informed that this is being updated and the Chair asked if the revised version could be circulated to all Members when completed.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the report.

That the Committee note the contents of this report, in particular the results of the public consultation exercise undertaken, attached at Appendix 1; and resolve to make no changes to the current Cumulative Impact Policy as contained in the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, attached at Appendix 2. 

The Committee considered a report on the outcome of the public consultation undertaken on the Council’s existing special policy of cumulative impact, as set out in the Statement of Licensing Policy. The Principal Officer – Licensing presented the report and explained that, in accordance with the decision taken at the Committee’s meeting in June 2023, Officers had undertaken a public and stakeholder consultation on the proposal to retain the special policy, without amendment.  

One response was received, a summary of which was appended to the report. The respondent agreed that the policy should be retained.

Sgt Simon Hallam and PC Jen Evans from West Mercia Police were in attendance and spoke in support of the recommendation to make no changes.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the contents of this report, in particular the results of the public consultation exercise undertaken, attached at Appendix 1; and

2.    make no changes to the current Cumulative Impact Policy as contained in the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, attached at Appendix 2. 

That Committee consider the findings of a recent unmet demand survey and stakeholder engagement commissioned by the Council in respect of the Council’s policy on the control of hackney carriage numbers and resolve to continue to restrict the number of licensed hackney carriages to 231 in accordance with the current policy.

The Committee considered a report on the findings of a recent unmet demand survey and stakeholder engagement commissioned by the Council in respect of the Council’s policy on the control of hackney carriage numbers. The Principal Officer – Licensing explained the background to the report and Ian Millership, who had been commissioned to undertake the survey, spoke to explain the work which he had undertaken, and his conclusions and recommendations.

In summary, the evidence gathered demonstrated that there remains no significant unmet demand, therefore the report recommended that there is no need to increase the number of hackney carriage licences at the present time, to meet the needs of the travelling general public. 

Based on these findings, the preferred option recommended by Officers was to retain the current numerical restriction on the number hackney carriage vehicles in Worcester.

Committee Members expressed support for the recommendation, based on the findings of the survey.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the contents of the report; and

2.    continue to restrict the number of licensed hackney carriages to 231 in accordance with the current policy.

Which in the opinion of the Chair is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.