Agenda and minutes

As this meeting of the Licensing Committee was the first held during the municipal year of 2026/ 27, Members present were required to elect a Chairman.

RESOLVED that Councillor A. M. Dale be elected as Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year of 2026/ 27.

As this meeting of the Licensing Committee was the first held during the municipal year of 2026/ 27, Members present were required to elect a Vice- Chairman.

RESOLVED that Councillor J. Elledge be elected as Vice- Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year of 2026/ 27.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 16^th March 2026 were received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 16^th March 2026 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee received an overview of the Hackney Carraige Rank Review which was provided by the Principal Officer (Licensing), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS).

The report had been produced following the Committee meeting in March 2026, at which information on the locations and use of taxi rank provision was requested.

It was outlined that there were four official taxi ranks within Bromsgrove Twon Centre and these were:

• Crown Close (Market Street Service Road) near the Bus Station
  • This rank was in full time operation and had five taxi spaces. It was reported that this rank was well used due to its proximity to the bus station and town centre.
• High Street outside the Golden Cross Hotel
  • Two taxi spaces on this rank were in full time operation, with a further three spaces in use during the hours of 7pm- 7am. This rank was believed to be moderately well used.
• Worcester Road (Junction with George Street)
  • This rank was in operation during the hours of 11pm- 5am, with six taxi spaces.
• Worcester Road (Junction with Station Street)
  • This rank was in operation between the hours of 7pm- 7am, with four taxi spaces. Both taxi ranks on Worcester Road were under used, believed to be due to a lack of demand as a result of a decreased night time economy.

It was highlighted that there was a further taxi rank at the Strand, outside Oceans Fish Bar, which held two spaces. The Principal Officer (Licensing) undertook to investigate whether there was a taxi rank at this location and report back to Licensing Committee Members.

In compiling the report, the views of the trade and public had not been sought.

From the comments and questions by members of the Committee, the following responses were made, and issues highlighted:

• Members consensed that a taxi rank at Bromsgrove Train Station would be desirable, and queried whether this was feasible and if there was demand amongst rail commuters.
• Members queried if taxi ranks which were not well used could be re- purposed to provide parking spaces for the general public.
• It was questioned whether shoppers at ASDA faced challenges accessing taxis.
• Conducting a taxi rank demand survey via a third party would be too expensive.

It was acknowledged that taxi ranks could only be used by hackney carriage drivers who hold a licence issued by Bromsgrove District Council.

It was agreed that input from the trade would help to inform demand for taxi rank provision in the District and the Principal Officer (Licensing) was requested to informally survey hackney carriage drivers.

RESOLVED that

(a)  An informal survey of the trade in relation to demand and utilisation of existing taxi ranks in the District be conducted, the outcome of which is reported to a future meeting of the Licensing Committee.

(b)  The feasibility of establishing a taxi rank at Bromsgrove Train Station be explored.

The Committee discussed the Council’s Street Trading Policy.

Members expressed concern that the Street Trading Policy was no longer current, having been in effect since Dember 2017, and was required to be updated.

Members consensed that the policy needed to be revised and updated as a matter of urgency.

It was noted that due to local government reorganisation, it may be beneficial to have a policy largely harmonised with other North Worcestershire local authorities. The Principal Officer (Licensing) was requested to have regard to neighbouring Council’s Street Trading Policy’s, when revising and updating the Council’s Policy.

It was agreed that the revised Street Trading Policy is to be presented before the Committee at its meeting in September 2026.

It was acknowledged that the updated policy would then be subject to a consultation, before re- appearing before the Licensing Committee for consideration of any findings identified via the consolation, and approval.

RESOLVED that

(a)  The Street Trading Policy be revised as per the above and Minute No. 21/25 (meeting held on 16^th March 2026).

(b)  The revised Street Trading Policy be brought back to a future meeting of the Licensing Committee.

The Principal Officer (Licensing) addressed the Committee and outlined that the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy had been refreshed.

As part of this refresh, sections of the policy had been combined to reduce repetition and make it easier to understand,

It was confirmed that no changes had been made to policy detail or licensing requirements.

It was agreed that the refreshed policy would be circulated to committee Members.

RESOLVED that the refreshed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be circulated to members of the Licensing Committee.

The Work Programme set out the items which were to be considered by the Committee for the 2026/ 27 municipal year.

It was agreed that the Work Programme 2026/ 27 be updated to incorporate future items, namely:

• Hackney Carriage Ranks – Feedback from the Trade.
• Revised Street Trading Policy

RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee Work Programme 2026/ 27 be updated and noted.

Additional Items of Business were considered by the Committee.

Acknowledgment of Gratitude

Licensing Committee Members noted that the Director of Worcestershire Regulatory Services was retiring after a period of long- service.

Members acknowledged his dedication to the role and his considerable efforts to ensure that a high- quality service was provided to the residents of Worcestershire and noted him for his hard work and dedication.

Board Members in attendance paid tribute to his hard work and wished him the best for the future.

"RESOLVED: that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, the relevant paragraph of that part, in each case, being as set out below, and that it is in the public interest to do so:-