Agenda item - Licence Fees 2012/13

Report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy attached)

15.1         The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing introduced the report and stated that he was aware of the difficulties in setting licence fees in a fair and transparent way and noted that last year the council had given a commitment to the taxi trade and trade unions to endeavour to set the fees at a fair level.  The proposed taxi fees had been reported to the Taxi Forum and others would need to be advertised and consulted on before being implemented.  He also noted that it was not intended to increase the fees for sex establishments.

15.2         Councillor J. Kitcat welcomed the report and commented on the level of detail and transparency of the fee setting process and thanked the officers involved for their work.

15.3         Councillors Duncan and Simson also welcomed the report and expressed their support for Councillor Kitcat’s comments.

15.4         RESOLVED:

(1)   That taxi licence fees: Hackney Carriage Vehicles be reduced by 1%, Hackney Carriage Drivers be increased by 4%, Private Hire Vehicles be reduced by 3% and Private Hire Drivers be increased by 2%;

(2)   That Street Trading licence fees be increased by 1%;

(3)   That Sex Shops, and Sex Cinemas licence fees be increased by 3%;

(4)   That Other discretionary licence fees be increased by 4%;

(5)   That no increase be applied to Gambling Licensing licence fees; and

(6)   That no increase be applied to Sex Entertainment Venues licence fees.