Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J. R. Boulter, J. S. Brogan, S. J. Dudley, R. J. Shannon and S. P. Shannon.

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 24th June 2013 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered a report on the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 which received Royal Assent on 28th February 2013 and would come into force on 1st October 2013. 

The main aim of the 2013 Act was to raise standards within the scrap metal industry.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner introduced the report and in doing so highlighted that in order to meet the implementation date of 1st October 2013 a report had had to be presented to Council at the meeting held on 25th September 2013.  The report sought Members approval to set the fees so that the legislation could be implemented and to delegate authority to the Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services to carry out all other functions and exercise all other powers provided under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, as detailed at section 3.20 of the report.  Council resolved that Licensing Sub-Committees would consider any representations made by the applicant or licensee and that authority be delegated to Licensing Sub-Committees to refuse applications and to revoke or vary licences.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner responded to Members’ questions with regard to existing scrap metal dealers and mobile collectors.  Members were informed that all known scrap metal dealers within the district had been notified of the requirement to apply for a site licence.  A site licence would identify all sites in the authority’s area at which the licensee was authorised to carry out business and would be displayed on site.  Worcestershire Regulatory Services, licensing officers had received a number of enquiries from mobile collectors.  In order to carry on business as a mobile collector, mobile collectors would have to apply for a collector’s licence from each of the authority areas they intended to collect in.  A mobile collector would be issued with a collector’s identity card and their licence should be displayed on their vehicle.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner highlighted that the site licensee was required to keep more robust and detailed records and documentation.  A site licensee could only purchase scrap metal by means of an electronic transfer and not by cash payment.

Further discussion followed on ‘suitability’ with officers informing the Committee that further guidance was still to be issued by the Government.  Once received and if officers were of the opinion that the guidance was not descript enough officers would report back to a future meeting of the Committee.  Councillor M. T. Buxton drew Members’ attention to page 17 of the report – suitable person.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner informed Members that press releases would be issued in order to raise public awareness of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and the requirement to hold a site licence and for mobile collectors to hold a collector’s licence.  The Chairman further informed Members that she had requested additional press releases in order to raise public awareness.

RESOLVED that the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 report be noted.

The Committee considered a report that provided an update regarding the proposal to amend the Worcester Road Hackney Carriage stand to incorporate a further 7/8 ranks spaces.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner introduced the report and in doing reminded Members of the report that had been presented to the Licensing Committee at the meeting held on 20th May 2013, where Members had agreed to the proposal to amend the Worcester Road Hackney Carriage stand to incorporate a further 7/8 ranks spaces and that a public consultation be carried out.

As detailed in section 3.10 of the report, the funding for the works to the carriageway necessary to facilitate the extension of the stand was anticipated to be provided as part of the project to regenerate the High Street in Bromsgrove.  The start of the public consultation was delayed in order to allow officers extra time to confirm the availability of this funding.  Following a number of discussions and meetings between officers it was subsequently confirmed that the funding would be made available. 

Now that the funding had been confirmed for the required works, the public consultation on the extension of the Hackney Carriage stand had commenced and the required public notice was published in the Bromsgrove Standard newspaper on 13th September 2013.  Consultation letters have been delivered to residents and businesses in the vicinity and all the proprietors of vehicles licensed by Bromsgrove District Council for use as Hackney Carriages.  The consultation would run until the 11th October 2013.  Any representations or objections received would be brought back to the next meeting of the Licensing Committee.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme for the current municipal year 2013/2014.

The Committee considered the Work Programme for 2013/2014.

Following further discussion on Street Collections it was 

RESOLVED:

(a)  that the Senior Licensing Practitioner be tasked to provide Members with detailed information on street collection licences issued by Worcestershire Regulatory Services during the last 12 months; and

(b)  that the Work Programme be updated to include the items discussed and agreed by the Committee during the course of the meeting.