To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no named substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors CM Bartrum and BA Durkin.

Councillor GA Powell declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 6 and left the meeting when this item was considered.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 5th July, 2011.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5th July, 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider implementing the revised Policy for private hire and hackney carriage licensing.

A report was presented by the Licensing Officer about proposed changes to the Council’s hackney carriage & private hire licensing policy.  She said that since the report had been prepared, additional representations had been received from the Herefordshire Taxi Association.  She therefore suggested that consideration of the report should be deferred to enable the licensing section to consider these representations and undertake any further consultation that was necessary.

In view of this, the Committee was agreeable to the suggestion of the Licensing Officer

RESOLVED THAT

Consideration of the report about the proposed amendments to the Council’s hackney carriage & private hire licensing policy be deferred to enable the Licensing Officer to consider additional representations received from the Herefordshire Taxi Association and to undertake any further consultation found to be necessary.

To consider a review of Hackney Carriage fares.

The Licensing Officer presented a report about proposed increases to the hackney carriage fares set by the Council, following a request from the local trade.  The Licensing Officer said that the fares had last been increased in 2008 and she provided the Committee with details of the increase in operating, fuel and insurance costs the trade had been faced with since that time.  She said that the proposed increase had been advertised in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate legislation and that no objections had been received. 

The Committee approved the proposed increase.

RESOLVED THAT

the increase to the hackney carriage fares set out in the report of the Licensing Officer be approved for implementation on 17th November, 2011.

To note the main regulatory activities of Environmental Health & Trading Standards service for the period 1st April – 30th September 2011)

The Licensing Officer presented a report about the main regulatory activities of Environmental Health & Trading Standards service for the period April to September 2011 and outlined the salient points.

The Acting Head of Environmental Protection and Licensing outlined the recent investigation of the death of a cow near to Bartonsham Farm, Hereford which had originally been suspected to have been caused by anthrax. This had created a considerable amount of out of hours work by the department but fortunately the investigations revealed that anthrax had not been the cause of the mortality and the all-clear had been given.

A question was asked by Councillor C Nicholls about the impact of a high leylandii hedge on the amenity of the owner of a property in his area. The Acting Head of Environmental Protection and Licensing explained the steps that could be taken and asked Councillor Nicholls to contact him after the meeting about the matter. 

Councillor PJ McCaull expressed his appreciation for the speedy action carried out by the Gypsy Team regarding a matter in his Ward.

RESOLVED THAT

The report be received and noted and that the team be thanked for the important work they were undertaking.

To provide an update on the main activities of the Community Protection Team.

The Committee Manager presented an information report about the main activities of the Community Protection Team for the period June to August 2011.

Members asked about ‘fly posting’ and the Acting Head of Environmental Protection and Licensing provideddetails about the Council’s enforcement policy for the Community Protection team and the Environmental Health and Trading Standard Department to deal with this matter.

The Committee expressed concerns about the advertising of events and other matters which appeared on the roadside, junctions and roundabouts. Concerns were also expressed about the advertising of private motor vehicles on the highway and car parks. The Committee Manager said that he would take this up with the appropriate departments.

RESOLVED THAT

The report of the community Protection Team be received and noted and that the team be thanked for the important enforcement work they were undertaking.