Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters under consideration.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, Wednesday 22 November 2023 and Monday 4 December 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 and Wednesday 22 November 2023 were confirmed as a correct record by those who were in attendance.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4 December 2023 were deferred to the next meeting.

Report of the Corporate Director Environment.

The Corporate Director Environment submitted a report to the committee to provide members with information to assist them in setting the levels of discretionary fees and chargers for licences, permits, registrations and consents, which would be effective from 1 April 2024 for various licensing activities.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report. He clarified whether the members in attendance had had an opportunity to review the report prior to the meeting. He invited questions from members.

There were questions from the committee regarding:

·         the increases in animal welfare and who was required to have a licence;

·         animal welfare licensing time and motion studies;

·         renewal costs for animal welfare;

·         licensing of dogs;

·         the licensing fees and chargers with 0% adjustment;

·         charging higher fees;

·         breeding of dogs;

·         unlicensed operators;

·         Animal Welfare Act 2006;

·         dog wardens.

Agreed:

1.    That the proposed fees and charges set out in Appendix 1 were approved and implemented from 1 April 2024.

2.    That the Senior Licensing Officer made arrangements and placed a public notice in the press in respect of the proposed fees for licensed vehicles and private hire operators, in accordance with s.70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.