Agenda item

6.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report containing (a) a review of current licensing fees and (b) proposals to increase the fees in respect of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers and Vehicles, Animal Health, Street Trading and Motor Salvage Operations.  The report also made reference to those systems where no increase in the fees had been proposed at the present time, together with details of those systems of which the fees were governed by the Secretary of State.

6.2

Steve Lonnia, Chief Licensing Officer, stressed that the increases in the licence fees were necessary mainly due to inflation and the increased costs of processing applications and that the level of the proposed increases had been set solely so as to enable the Licensing Service to recover its costs of processing applications.  He also stressed that if a decision was made by the Committee to increase the fees in respect of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers and Vehicles, full consultation would then take place with the trades representatives.

6.3

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, it was reported that the large increase in the fees in terms of applications for licences to hold marriage and civil partnership ceremonies had been made due to changes in legislation in December, 2011, with the core reason being the responsibility of the Licensing Service to place an advert in the local press relating to the application.  The proposed increase in fees regarding consents for street trading activities in the vicinity of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United Football Grounds had been based on the cost of last year’s service and any likely increased costs in connection with this  function this year was likely to result in further proposed increases the following year.

6.4

Hafeas Rehman, Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, stated that he objected to the proposed increase regarding Hackney Carriage vehicles and drivers, indicating that, although it was only a minor increase, he considered that drivers were being punished as opposed to the operators, which he did not consider fair.  He also stated that he would have liked to have seen a full detailed breakdown of the costs of the service to give him the opportunity of commenting on such detail at this meeting, prior to a decision being made.

6.5

Mohammed Yasim, Yorkshire Professional Drivers’ Association, stated that he also objected to the proposed increase in the fees relating to Private Hire Drivers’ Licences and also considered it unfair that drivers were having to pay the increased charges whereas the operators, particularly the two main operators in the City, who were earning considerable amounts of money, were not being asked to pay any increased charges.

6.6

In response, Steve Lonnia stated that officers spent a considerable amount of time dealing with issues or queries regarding Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles and drivers in comparison to dealing with private operators and this was the reason behind the need to increase the fees.

6.7

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in Paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

6.8

The Solicitor to the Sub-Committee reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects of the proposals in the report.

6.9

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees

6.10

RESOLVED: That (a) in the light of the information contained in the report now submitted and the representations now made, authority be given for the Chief Licensing Officer to increase the licensing fees and keep the remaining fees as they are currently, as detailed in the report now submitted; and

(b) the Chief Licensing Officer be requested to make arrangements for formal consultation on the increase in the fees set out in Appendix ‘A’ to the report now submitted, relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles and drivers, with the taxi trade associations.