Agenda item - Licensing Fees 2017/2018

Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy  attached)

17.1    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing setting out the proposed licence fees and charges for 2017/18 relating to Street Trading, Sex Establishments and Sex Entertainment Licences, Gambling premises, taxi licensing and other licensing functions.

17.2    Councillor Simson referred to Bingo Halls requesting confirmation regarding the way in which different levels of fees and charges were required in respect to different business models/services. Councillor Deane sought clarification of time spent by officers in processing the different types of licences.

17.3    Councillor Cobb referred to fees payable by market stall holders and by those operating Farmers Market stalls.

17.4    Councillor Wares stated referred to paragraph 3.11 stating that he was in favour of supporting the costs of carrying out enforcement activity in so far as it was practicable to do so. He was concerned that if effectively a reduction in operational capacity was to occur this would not be desirable and requested that the manner in which the legislative requirements were written and could possibly be interpreted for future reference. The Chair, Councillor O’Quinn, agreed that this would be appropriate  

17.5    RESOLVED - That the committee approves the following licence fees:

·         All Hackney Carriage and Private Hire, Driver, Vehicle and Operator fees remain the same.

·         Sex entertainment venues and sex establishments – decreased by -8.6%.

·         Street trading fees– remain unchanged.

·         All Gambling Act 2005 fees – remain unchanged.

            A list of agreed fees for 2016-17 and proposed fees for 2017-18 is included in Appendix 1-2.