Agenda and minutes

Councillor Lewing for Councillor Pingree.

None.

None.

Of the meeting held on 11^th December 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

For Committee to note the contents of the report, and in particular the revised Site Management Agreement at Appendix 1, following a review by the Licensing and Town Centre management teams, with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

The Committee considered a report on a recent review of the Council’s voluntary site management agreement, which had been introduced in 2013 to address perceived problems associated with direct debit street collectors operating unregulated in the city. The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report and explained that officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, and the Council’s City Centre Management Team had met with the Public Fundraising Manager at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

The view was that the agreement is working well, and is achieving what was intended. Consideration was given as to whether any amendments were required, and it was agreed that only very minor changes should made to update the agreement. These amendments simply updated the document and removed any outdated terminology or references.  The amendments also simplified the identification of the collection area by replacing and updating the city centre plan.

A revised agreement had been produced and was appended to the report. Committee Members expressed support for its adoption.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the contents of the report, and in particular the revised Site Management Agreement at Appendix 1, following a review by the Licensing and Town Centre management teams, with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

For Committee to :

1.   Note the contents of the report and in particular the proposal to introduce mandatory safeguarding training for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

2.   Approve the undertaking of a 12-week public consultation exercise on the proposal including the amendment of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy at Appendix 1.

3.   Note that a decision report will be presented to this Committee in September 2024, presenting the results of the consultation exercise.

The Committee considered a report on a proposal to introduce mandatory safeguarding training for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers. Kiran Lahel, Licensing Support Services Manager, presented the report and explained that, in September 2022 the Council had introduced a ‘Competency Certificate’ which all new drivers were required to undertake. This included training on issues such as safeguarding, disability and equality. However, anyone licensed prior to this date was currently asked to undertake safeguarding training on a voluntary basis at the time they applied for renewal. This had in effect created an uneven playing field. The proposal was that a 12-week public consultation exercise be undertaken. The outcome would be presented to the Committee at a future meeting.

Officers responded to question and comments from Committee Members. In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

·          It is proposed to introduce this requirement for all licensing authorities across Worcestershire.

·          Feedback from drivers that have undertaken the competency certificate on safeguarding training has been positive overall.

·          The cost of the training itself will need to be met by the licence holder, but officers will work with the training provider to keep costs to a minimum. Officers anticipate this to be in the region of £20 per driver.

·          If adopted, this requirement will be implemented upon renewal of every driver’s licence and will therefore take 3 years to roll out. There will also be a requirement to undertake refresher training every three years in line with the renewal of the licence.

In conclusion, Committee Members expressed the view that safeguarding training will be extremely valuable, both for drivers and to protect the travelling public.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree:

1.    to note the contents of the report and in particular the proposal to introduce mandatory safeguarding training for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers;

2.    approve the undertaking of a 12-week public consultation exercise on the proposal including the amendment of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy at Appendix 1; and

3.    note that a decision report will be presented to this Committee in September 2024, presenting the results of the consultation exercise.

For Committee to note the contents of the report.

The Committee considered a progress report on the installation of new real-time air quality monitors for Worcester City. This matter had been discussed at the last meeting in December 2023. Adrian Allman, Principal Officer (Technical Pollution) presented the report and explained that the monitors were all installed at the agreed locations in the week commencing 15^th January 2024. Calibration certificates have been received and all monitors are working. The data can be accessed by WRS staff and will be published in due course. Updates will be provided to this Committee at every meeting.

The report also made reference to the behaviour change air quality survey, which was launched on 12^th February 2024 and will run for a consultation period of 3 months to gather baseline understanding of air quality. A report on the outcome of the will be presented to this Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the contents of the report.

For Committee to:

1.   note the proposed incoming legislation (including proposed statutory duties) and its potential impact on the Council and other organisations

2.   note the measures being taken by the Council to support our staff to understand and comply with these new proposed statutory duties and continue to work towards identifying any additional costs in relation to complying with the anticipated legislation.

The Committee considered a report on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill which was announced in the King’s Speech in November 2023. The Economic Development and Regeneration Team Leader presented the report and explained the main provisions.

The report highlighted that the new legislation will apply to publicly accessible locations used for purposes such as entertainment and leisure. Whilst many of the details are still to be announced, it is anticipated that there are likely to be licensing implications. The legislation will be accompanied by significant guidance.

The report explained that the new legislation is likely to require re-prioritisation of existing resources or the provision of additional resources, to ensure that Council owned venues comply with the new legislation. It is expected that additional training and support will be required to be undertaken to cover the workforce and Members. 

The City Council, as regulator of other legislation, may have a role to undertake within the new legislation. This again is likely to require re-prioritisation of existing resources or the provision of additional resources. 

The report set out a number of areas where the City Council has already started to progress in this area of work.

Members debated the report. The Economic Development and Regeneration Team Leader advised that, at present, there is no timeline for introduction of this new legislation. There is a strong expectation that there will be a reasonable lead in time, to ensure that all qualifying premises will be able to implement the new measures.  Further reports will be presented, both to this Committee and place and Economic Development Committee, as and when more details are announced.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note:

1.    the proposed incoming legislation (including proposed statutory duties) and its potential impact on the Council and other organisations; and

2.    the measures being taken by the Council to support staff to understand and comply with these new proposed statutory duties and continue to work towards identifying any additional costs in relation to complying with the anticipated legislation.

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

None.