Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H. J. Jones, R. E. Lambert, S. A. Robinson, S. M. Evans with Councillor D. J. Nicholl substituting and C. A. Hotham with Councillor B. M. McEldowney substituting.

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 11^th November 2024 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held 11^th November 2024, be approved as a correct record.

The Interim Principal Licensing Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) presented a report on the Primate Keeper Licensing; and in doing so informed the Committee that the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 were made in March 2024 and were due to take effect from 6 April 2025. The regulations introduced a new licensing regime for those that kept primates in England.

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 was due

to come into force in two phases on 6 April 2025 and 6 April 2026. Giving keepers of primates 12 months to get the required licence.

Under these regulations, the Council would be responsible for considering and determining applications for licences as well as undertaking compliance and enforcement activities.

The RSPCA estimated that there were up to 5000 primates that were owned

privately in Britain. The most commonly kept species were believed to be

common marmosets, tamarins and squirrel monkeys.

The Interim Principal Licensing Officer and the Councils’ Legal Advisor both drew Members’ attention to an amendment to the date shown in the recommendation as follows:-

‘That with effect from 1^st July 2025 each time a licence holder renews their licence they must undertake safeguarding training delivered by the Council’s approved training provider prior to submitting their renewal application’.

Following on from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 22^nd July 2024, whereby Members had approved that a 12 week consultation be undertaken, with relevant stakeholders and the public on whether to introduce a requirement, that all drivers who held a licence issued by the Council authorising them to drive hackney carriage and / or private hire vehicles would have to undertake mandatory safeguarding awareness training before renewing their licences.

Members were now being asked to consider the responses received to that consultation.

The Interim Principal Licensing Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) informed Members that consultation on the two proposed policy amendments had taken place, and that it comprised of a survey which was made available to complete online via the Council’s website and was promoted by the Council’s Communications Team, across a range of channels.

Information on the consultation, along with details on how to respond were sent directly to:-

·       Bromsgrove District Council licensed drivers, vehicle proprietors and private hire operators

·       National Private Hire and Taxi Association

·       Licensed Private Hire Car Association

·       West Mercia Police

·       Safer Roads Partnership

·       West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner

·       Worcestershire County Council - Relevant contacts at Worcestershire County Council, including those responsible for safeguarding children and adults and arranging home to school transport

·       Relevant interest groups, including those that represent people with disabilities and the elderly

·       Relevant local business groups

·       District, Town and Parish Councillors

Members were further informed that in total 22 responses had been received to the online questionnaire. Of the 22 respondents, 12 were holders of a taxi/private hire driver licence, 1 response was received from a user of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, 5 were from local councillors. 4 responses had been received from other independent responses from external bodies which included responses from West Mercia Police, the Crime Commissioner and a Police Licensing Officer.

In response to question 3, 40.9% of respondents indicated that they agreed with the Councils proposal to introduce mandatory safeguarding awareness training for all existing hackney carriage and private hire drivers as a requirement for renewing their licence. 54.6% disagreed.

There were 11 detailed responses received in relation to making the training mandatory, with seven of the respondents opposed to the implementation of Safeguarding Refresher Training. Four of the eleven respondents welcomed the proposal believing it offered protection to transport users. The majority of concerns raised were around the training having already been received by the drivers, albeit many years ago. The comments for the proposal had taken into consideration that taxi drivers were our eyes and ears and dealt with the most vulnerable in our society. Therefore, knowing what to do in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27/24

The Committee considered the Work Programme for 2024/2025. 

RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee Work Programme for 2024/2025, be noted.

There was no urgent business.

There were no Enforcement / Appeals updates.