Agenda item

To provide the Committee with an overview of the regulatory activity as applicable to the Regulatory Committee undertaken by the Licensing Team during the first half of 2025/26.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a report * from the Team Leader, (Commercial), Public Health of the Regulatory Update Report.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·       The report gave an overview of the activity undertaken during the first half of 2025/2026.

·       The contextual data contained within the report also included a number of charts as requested at the previous Committee meeting.

·       A total of 32 taxi inspections had been carried out in the first half of the year.  This was a significant increase on the year before for the same period due to proactive checks of vehicles following the introduction of the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy and the new requirements.

·       A total of 91 drivers attended the Safeguarding and Disability Awareness Training.

·       A consultation had taken place to consider whether the taxi trade wished for a review of the Hackney Carriage tariff.  A total of 23 licenced proprietors were consulted with and a total of six responses had been received.  All of which confirmed they would like an increase in the tariff.  Due to the poor response further work would be carried out to establish how to take it forward.

·       A tariff increase would be proposed which would be taken to Cabinet and the Regulatory Committee would be informed of any changes at the next meeting.

·       There was a total of 52 animal related licences currently active across the District.

·       Dog breeding, home boarding and dog day care had showed the largest increase.

·       There had been an increase in complaints received relating to animal welfare premises, both licenced and unlicenced.  A total of eight complaints had been received, three of which were related to premises that were licenced.

·       The complaints predominately related to the alleged unlicenced breeding and the sale of pets.

·       Resources were available to recruit a part time Animal Welfare Officer and a full time Regulatory Officer.

·       Currently this work was undertaken by an external contractor as a specific qualification was required under the current legislation to carry out those visits.  Going forward, this work would be carried out in-house as following interviews the role has been offered to someone who had a huge amount of experience and had worked for the RSPCA for many years.

·       There had been one Regulatory Sub-Committee which related to a Hackney Carriage Operator.  The outcome of the Hearing was that the Operator would be monitored for a period of three months to ensure they complied with the licensing conditions.

·       A budget announcement introduced the 3p per mile or 1.5p per mile charge for electric vehicles and for plug in hybrid vehicles from 2028.  The Licensing Team had received a representation from a licence holder, indicating that they believed that this charge would have an impact on the taxi trade particularly in view of the new Hackney Carriage and Prive Hire Policy which had a commitment to move towards zero emissions by 2030 in line with central Government.

·       A piece of work would be undertaken to see whether or not there was likely to be a direct impact on compliance when all vehicles would need to comply with zero emissions in 2030.

Discussion took place regarding:-

·       The Licensing Authority had a licence for a dangerous animal – what animal was this?  It was confirmed that it was for a camel.

Note: * Report previously circulated.