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Agenda and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Usk - Remote Attendance

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

None.

2.

To confirm the following minutes:

2a

Licensing and Regulatory Committee dated 18th May 2021 pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee dated 18th May 2021 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

2b

Licensing and Regulatory Sub Committee dated 24th May 2021 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Licensing and Regulatory Sub Committee dated 24th May 2021 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

2c

Special Meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee dated 2nd August 2021 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee dated 2nd August 2021 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

3.

Application to waiver the fee for a charitable, non-commercial event(s) for The Hood Memorial Hall pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing and Regulatory Committee considered an application to waiver fees for future applications submitted by The Hood Memorial Hall Committee, for day block street trading consent at The Hood Memorial Hall.

 

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 and was content to proceed with no legal representation.

 

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. In doing so, the following points were noted:

 

·         The Hood Memorial Hall is a successful local charity with a good stream of income to cover costs.

 

·         A number of headline events are run via the Hood Memorial Hall. Some of these events charge for entry whilst others are free to enter.

 

·         Over the years the management of events has been improved. This includes risk management and providing medical facilities for larger events.

 

·         With regard to the fete, the cost of consent would result in a tax on the income raised from this event. In the region of 20% of the profits would be taken by the fees. Hence, the request to waive the fees.

 

Following this, Members of the Committee put forward questions to the applicant and discussion ensued. 

 

It was noted that:

 

·         There is a mixture of non-commercial and commercial stall holders. Commercial stall holders are charged more.

 

·         It is important to keep fees low for non-commercial traders.

 

·         Going forward, applications should be considered on a case by case basis.

 

Following questioning, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee and the Legal representative left the meeting to deliberate and discuss the findings.

 

Upon re-commencement, the Chair advised that the Committee had resolved to grant the application submitted by the Hood Memorial Hall to waive the fee for non-commercial and charitable events but it would continue to be considered on a case by case basis and should the nature of events change to commercial and non-charitable status then it should be brought back to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for further consideration.

 

 

 

4.

Application to Amend the Block Street Trading Consent for Chepstow High Street pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing and Regulatory Committee considered an application to consider the amendments requested to the current block street trading consent held by the Clerk of Chepstow Town Council (Consent Number STR016). The initial consent was granted on 30th September 2014. The Consent lasts for a 12 month period and the consent holder has renewed the consent each year since that date.

 

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 and was content to proceed with no legal representation. 

 

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. In doing so, the following points were noted:

 

·         In recent years Chepstow Town Council handed over responsibility to a Community Interest Company (CIC) and the market has grown over this period.

 

·         The CIC had requested an increase in the number of pitches due to there being a waiting list of traders.

 

Following this, Members of the Committee put forward questions to the applicant and discussion ensued.  

 

It was noted that:

 

·         Chepstow Town Council does not gain financially from the Block Street Trading Consent.

 

·         Initially, the Chamber of Commerce was consulted on regarding the Block Street Trading Consent.

 

·         With regard to disabled access, Chepstow Town Council works closely with the organisers to alleviate any issues.  There is also a full road closure in place for the market.

 

·         Disabled access and parking provision is available.

 

·         There is adequate space available to accommodate the additional stalls.

 

·         A one-way system is in operation through the High Street and a full risk assessment is in place.

 

Following questioning, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee and the Legal representative left the meeting to deliberate and discuss the findings.

 

Upon re-commencement, the Chair advised that the Committee had resolved to grant the application and the amendments to the current consent and amended trading hours, namely:

 

·         Beaufort Square – Currently 4 pitches to be amended to 8 pitches.

 

·         Bank Square – Currently 2 pitches to be amended to 6 pitches.

 

·         Cormeilles Square – Currently 5 pitches to be amended to 10 pitches.

 

·         Manor Way – Currently 3 pitches to be amended to 15 pitches.

 

·         To amend the trading hours for Fridays from 09:00-18:00 to 09:00-19:00.

5.

Statement of Gambling Policy and Proposals for Casinos pdf icon PDF 144 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 2022’ prior to submission to Full Council.

 

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 November 2021.

 

(ii)          to support the proposed updated Gambling policy statement for the period 31 January 2022 to 30 January 2025. This Policy will be considered at Full Council in November 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy and Conditions pdf icon PDF 461 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

We received a report regarding the review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy and Conditions.

 

In doing so, it was noted that the update service will accommodate DBS checks, resulting in no delay in applications.

 

We resolved to amend Monmouthshire’s Taxi and Private Hire Policy and Conditions 2020, to change the medical and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.  The amendment to the policy to be approved as follows:

 

·         The changes to come into force on 1st October 2021. 

·         The transition of such changes, referred to in Section 3.10 of the report, be approved.

 

7.

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Minutes:

We excluded 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 1972, 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.

8.

To determine the application to re-instate Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Drivers Licence following the decision to revoke the licence in July 2021

Minutes:

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

 

The driver confirmed their name and address to the Committee. The driver confirmed receipt of the report and Committee procedure.  The driver also confirmed that they were content to proceed without legal representation. 

 

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

 

The driver 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 driver and discussion ensued. The driver was then given the opportunity to sum up.

 

Following questioning, the Committee and the Committee’s legal representative  left the meeting to deliberate and discuss findings. 

 

Upon re-commencement, the Chairman advised that the Committee had considered the issues and had come to the view that the driver is deemed fit and proper to hold a licence with the licence re-instated.

 

 

 

9.

Next Meeting:

Minutes:

Tuesday 19th October 2021 at 10.00am.