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Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Council Chamber, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

County Councillor B. Strong declared a personal and prejudicial interest, pursuant to the Members Code of Conduct, in respect of agenda item 5 – Annual Block Street Trading Consent for Usk Town Centre, as he is an Usk Town Councillor and was involved in the original application at a Town Council meeting.

2.

Confirmation of Minutes pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee dated 12th June 2018 were confirmed and signed by the Chair subject to the following amendment:

 

Remove County Councillor R.J. Higginson as being present at the meeting.

3.

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Minutes:

We resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act, as amended, on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

4.

To consider whether the driver is "Fit and Proper" to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the applicant to the meeting and introduced Members of the Committee and the attending Officers and explained the protocol for the meeting.

 

The applicant confirmed their name and address to the Committee. The applicant confirmed receipt of the report.

 

The key issues and details were read out to the Committee.

 

The applicant was then given the opportunity to address the Committee, to put forward any relevant explanations. Following this, Members of the Committee put forward questions to the applicant and discussion ensued.

 

Following questioning, officers and the applicant left the meeting to allow the Committee the opportunity to deliberate and discuss the findings.

 

Upon re-commencement, the Chairman advised that the Committee had considered the issues and had come to the view that the applicant should retain his license.

 

 

5.

Reinstatement of the Press and Public

Minutes:

We resolved to reinstate the press and public to the meeting.

6.

Annual Block Street Trading Consent for Usk Town Centre pdf icon PDF 564 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

We considered an application to increase the area already granted by this Committee for a Block Street Trading Consent in Usk Town Centre.

 

Councillor Jan Richards, representing Usk Town Council, provided the Committee with the following information:

 

·         It was considered that there was a need to spread the market more across Usk Town making it more accessible to the public and to reduce congestion on Twyn Square.

 

·         An annual block trading licence had been submitted and had been granted in March 2018.

 

·         The Town Council had included some conditions which made local businesses more accessible but also included opportunities for local charities.

 

·         There was an error in the application granted in March 2018 regarding the number of spaces for Twyn Square.  This figure had always been intended as being 52 pitches.

 

·         There has been interest in creating a winter wonderland zone in Maryport Street South car park. Part of the intent for this location is to provide more activities. Traders are supporting this proposal.

 

Having received the presentation by the Usk Town Council representative, the following points were noted:

 

·         A new application has been made by the Town Council.  In terms of interest being shown, it was noted that without appropriate permissions being granted, this could have a detrimental effect on the event.

 

·         There have been no objections, only considerable support for the event.

 

·         Engagement with the public has been undertaken. The Town Council has a very active social media platform and information is also made available to residents not on social media.  A survey had been undertaken whereby a good positive response had been received.  The popularity of the Christmas Festival was evident from data obtained via the survey.  The desire was to make the Festival more of a town event.

 

·         To accommodate visitors coming to the event, there are options available: a request has been made to provide a park and ride facility from the Monmouthshire County Council Car Park, Rhadyr, Usk. Also, there will be the use of a local businessman’s land to provide parking, which was used for last year’s event. The local rugby club has a larger hard standing area, which could also be used for parking. The spreading of the event across the town should enhance the traffic management provision.

 

 

·         The park and ride facility will operate throughout the Saturday and Sunday.  On Friday evening and Monday morning there will be access for local car parking.

 

We resolved to approve Usk Town Council’s request for an Annual Block Street Trading Consent for Usk Town Centre.

 

 

 

 

7.

Statement of Gambling Policy and Proposals for Casinos pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

We considered the approach to be adopted by Monmouthshire County Council with regard to casino premises applications within the County and the proposed ‘Draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2019’ prior to submission to Full Council.

 

In doing so, the Principal Licensing Officer informed the Committee that a response had been received from Jackie Williams of Aneurin Bevan Gwent Public Health Team and also from Dr Sarah Aitken of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

 

We resolved:

 

(i)            to support the retention of the current resolution not to issue casino licences within the County of Monmouthshire prior to it being considered at Full Council in October 2018.

 

(ii)          to support the proposed updated policy statement (changes highlighted in red and following consultation further amendments highlighted in blue), which is attached as Appendix A to the report.   This Policy will then be considered at Full Council in October 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

8.

Public Protection 2017/18 Performance Report pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

We considered a report by the Head of Public Protection regarding service delivery across Public Protection services during the financial year 2017/18, with comparison to previous years.

 

Having received the report, the following points were noted:

 

·         Following the recent dry summer, there have been no instances of private water supplies running out of supply. A contingency plan had been established in case supplies ran out.  There are currently in the region of 160 private water supply sources within the County, varying in size.

 

·         With regard to the A465 Heads of the Valleys construction works, it was noted that there had been no financial support received from Welsh Government to the Council to aid in the additional provision of services being provided by the Authority.  A letter had been written to Welsh Government about a year ago regarding this matter.  County Council officer resources have been stretched over the period of the works.  The Head of Public Protection stated that he would investigate this matter further.  County Councillor J. Pratt informed the Committee that she would be meeting shortly with the Leader of the Council regarding this matter. The Head of Public Protection will send her the previous letter to Welsh Government about the matter, prior to this meeting. County Councillor Pratt will request that the Leader writes to the Welsh Government Minister for additional financial resources to be provided to the Authority whilst these works continue.  Regard must also be had in respect of the proposed M4 relief road, which will again impact on our limited Environmental Health resources.

 

·         Road side parking will become the responsibility of the Authority’s Transport Unit in April 2019.

 

·         The Committee asked the Head of Public Protection to take back to his staff the Committee’s appreciation for the service that the teams provide in difficult financial circumstances.

 

We resolved to receive the report and noted its content.

 

 

 

9.

Next Meeting

Minutes:

The next Licensing and Regulatory Committee will be held on 16th October

2018 at 10.00am.