Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denton and Milton.

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer advised the Committee that Councillor Hunt would be late to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2024 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(a)  Recent Incidents in Barnstaple

The Chair advised the Committee that there had been recent incidents involving theft and anti-social behaviour that had taken place in Barnstaple. She advised that Barnstaple Councillors had received an email from a local retailer regarding thefts and an attack on a shop keeper.  Inspector Andy Wills and the Town Centre, Pannier Market and CCTV Manager had responded to this email.  Shop lifting and anti-social behaviour would be considered at the next meeting of the Community Safety partnership which was taking place on 25 April 2025.  The Anti-Social Behaviour Steering Group had met the previous week with security staff and the manager of Marks and Spencer, due to similar incidents occurring.

Declarations of Interests. (Please telephone the Corporate and Community Services team to prepare a form for your signature before the meeting. Interests must be re-declared when the item is called. A declaration of interest under the Code of Conduct will be a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, an Other Registrable Interest or a Non-Registrable Interest.  If the item directly relates to your interest you must declare the interest and leave the room for the item, save in the case of Other Registrable Interests or Non-Registrable Interests where you may first speak on the item as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak.  If the matter does not directly relate to your interest but still affects it then you must consider whether you are affected to a greater extent than most people and whether a reasonable person would consider your judgement to be clouded, if you are then you must leave the room for the item (although you may speak as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak) or, if you are not, then you can declare the interest but still take part).

There were no declarations of interest received.

Report by Lead Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Lead Environmental Health Officer, Commercial Regulation (circulated previously) regarding the Hackney Carriage Rank Review.

The Lead Environmental Health Officer, Commercial Regulation outlined the report to the Committee and provided an update as follows:

·       Following consultation with the taxi trade, there had been no consensus on the timing for the Barton Road, Woolacombe taxi rank, albeit all drivers were content for the rank timing to cease at 6am. As such  it was proposed with Devon County Council Highway Authority consent that the timing for “no waiting” be reduced from 10 am to 6pm to 6 am to 4pm and the proposed not waiting except taxis be changed to 4pm to 6 am (except taxis). An amended plan for map 19 was circulated at the Committee.

·       Following discussions with Devon County Council Highways Authority in relation to the Castle Street, Barnstaple taxi rank, it was proposed that the proposed no waiting be amended to between 8 am to 6pm.  An amendment plan for map 4 was circulated at the Committee.

·       Therefore, it was proposed that recommendation 2.1.2 be amended to also include reference to the amended map 19 for the taxi rank at Barton Road, Woolacombe and the amended map 4 for the taxi rank at Castle Street, Barnstaple.

In response to questions, the Lead Environmental Health Officer, Commercial Regulation advised the following:

·       The proposed changes would be included in a notice in a local newspaper, which was a requirement of section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

·       She was unable to confirm the timing for the whole process for implementing the changes as Devon County Council were responsible for lining of the taxi ranks.

RESOLVED:

(a)  that the responses received from the taxi trade in response to the consultation on their preference for changes to the Woolacombe ranks as detailed in Appendix B of the report be noted;

RECOMMENDED:

(b)  that the Lead Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation be instructed to advertise proposals for amendment of the hackney carriage ranks in line with section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 as per Appendix C and shown on the maps at Appendix D of the report subject to the replacement of maps, number 4 for the taxi rank at Castle Street, Barnstaple and number 19 for the taxi rank at Barton Road, Woolacombe (circulated separately)

Lead Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation to report.

The Lead Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation provided an update to the Committee on the workload of the Licensing team as follows:

·       Business Information Systems Manager had provided a Verso Licensing Software update for the purposes of the meeting which was read by the Lead  Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation – the software had been live now for some 5 weeks with Taxis on Verso. Broadly, it had gone very well; with an amazing take up by the Taxi community. We started off with some 490 orphaned records (no user account attached), to less than 120 now. 75% of customers have set up their client accounts to manage their licensing relationship with NDC online.  There have been some teething problems, but this was to be expected and were working with the supplier to resolve those most affecting customer service as a priority.  There had been some positive feedback received from applicants that they like seeing everything in their portal in one place.  The Licensing Team were able to process applications far more efficiently, as the form is populated by the applicant, the fees paid and required documents uploaded as part of the online application. An update would be received shortly for the public-facing web pages, which will have a fresher and more modern feel.  Work would be starting shortly on reviewing forms for Liquor/Gambling by the end of April.

·       Tobacco and Vapes Bill – had been recently announced by the Government in relation to the sale of products.  It was currently uncertain as to the impact this would have on the Licensing Authority. The regime used similar themes as the Licensing Act such as personal and premises licences.  Enforcement would be undertaken by Devon County Council.  The Bill would be subject to consultation. It had been placed on the Council’s Risk Register, as there would be a significant impact if it became the responsibility of the Licensing Authority.

·       De-regulation of the Licensing Act Mayor of London has been granted new ‘call in’ powers to review blocked licensing applications in nightlife areas. GOV.UK had published that if successful this approach could be rolled out further. The Lead Environmental Health Officer Commercial Regulation advised she would keep the Committee updated on any future announcements.

·       Animal licensing – it was currently very busy and there was a backlog on dealing with animal licensing. Inspectors are now required to be Level 3 Edexcel qualified.  The inspection and risk rating process is onerous for the Council, as is record keeping on the licensed community. The Council had received complaints regarding the length of time taken to have their licence determined. Additional information had been included on the Council’s website detailing the pending applications that had been received by the Council to assist the trade and public

·       Licensing applications – there had been a number of high profile applications that had been taking considerable amount of officer time to consider, some of which had then resulted in the applications being withdrawn by the applicants. In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To consider the approval as a correct record the minutes of the following Sub-Committee meeting (attached):

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Community Safety Sub-Committee D held on 25 November 2024 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Sub-Committee.