Regulatory Services Committee - 8 March 2022

REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE

NOTICE AND AGENDA

For a meeting to be held on Tuesday 8 March 2022 at 7.30pm in the Penn Chamber, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL

Members of the Regulatory Services Committee:-

Raj Khiroya (Chair)

Donna Duncan

Stephen Cox

Joanna Clemens

David Coltman      Martin Trevett (Vice Chair)

Roger Seabourne

Paul Rainbow

Alex Turner

Kate Turner

Alison Wall

Joanne Wagstaffe, Chief Executive

28 February 2022

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public to aid discussions on agenda items at the Regulatory Services Committee meetings. Details of the procedure are provided below:

For those wishing to speak:

Members of the public will be entitled to register and identify which item(s) they wish to speak on from the published agenda for the meeting.  Those who wish to register to speak (for or against an item) are asked to please notify the Committee team by e-mail ( CommitteeTeam@threerivers.gov.uk ) 48 before the meeting or can come on the night to register to speak from 7pm. Registering before the meeting allows the Committee Team time to prepare the speaker sheet in advance of the meeting.

Please note that contributions will be limited to no more than three minutes.

Please note that, in the event of registering your interest to speak on an agenda item but not taking up that right because the item is deferred, you will be given the right to speak on that item at the next meeting of the Committee.

In accordance with The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 any matters considered under Part I business only of the meeting may be filmed, recorded, photographed, broadcast or reported via social media by any person.

Recording and reporting the Council’s meetings is subject to the law and it is the responsibility of those doing the recording and reporting to ensure compliance.  This will include the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Legislation and the laws of libel and defamation.

The Committee meeting will not being broadcast/livestreamed but a recording of the meeting will be made.

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2.  MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Regulatory Services Committee Meeting that took place on 1 December 2021.

3.  NOTICE OF OTHER BUSINESS

Items of other business notified under Council Procedure Rule 30 to be announced,

together with the special circumstances that justify their consideration as a matter of urgency.  The Chairman to rule on the admission of such items.

4.  DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

To receive any declarations of interest.

5.  AMENDMENTS TO THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL (TRDC’s) EXISTING HACKNEY CARRIAGE, PRIVATE HIRE AND OPERATOR POLICY

The existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2019 (“the Policy”) (see Appendix 1) was effective from 1 October 2019 following a review earlier that year. The Policy is required to be reviewed every three years with the next review scheduled for 2022, if required.

Notwithstanding the above and prior to the forthcoming review, if necessary, a number of immediate changes to the Policy are required which require Committee approval. The changes have come to light over the past year when using the policy, ensuring that certain areas of the Policy are tightened with greater clarification provided for those that use and read the Policy. In addition, the Government will be introducing a new tax check (new legislation in the form of the Finance Bill 2020-21) which will be come into effect from 4 April 2022. This will affect those that drive taxi’s and operate a private hire vehicle business within the District.

The changes to the Policy are set out in more detail within Section 2 of this report.

Following the Regulatory Services Committee in December, a 12 week public consultation commenced and expires on 11 March 2022.

6.  INTRODUCTION OF A STREET TRADING POLICY (LICENSING)

In recent months, following a number of street trading applications, it is evident the Council requires a specific Policy to cover Street Trading and tighter internal processes which would be best achieved by implementing a new Street Trading Policy (“the Policy”).

The aim of the Policy is to create a street trading environment which ensures fair trading, protects the amenity of residents, ensures the safety of those trading, promotes diversity and consumer choice and provides applicants with advice and guidance on the Council’s approach to the administration for street trading consents and licences under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“the Act”).

Currently the licensing department rely on Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (“the Act”) when processing applications as no street trading policy exists. That said, the department does currently have a list of prohibited and consent streets (see Appendix II of the Policy) which were passed by Council on 10 July 2007.  These streets and the designation of streets as prohibited, consent or licence streets have not been reviewed at the current time However, a review of the streets would be undertaken and reported within the next 18 months with amendments made thereafter.

Officers are therefore seeking member agreement in adopting the Policy following a 12 week public consultation which is due to expire on 11 March 2022.

7.  REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME

To consider and make necessary changes to the Committee’s work programme.

8.  OTHER BUSINESS – If approved under Item 3 above.

9.  EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

If any confidential business is approved, it will also be necessary to specify the class of exempt or confidential information in the additional item(s) and a resolution to be passed in the following terms:

“that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A to the Act.”  It has been decided by the Council that in all circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

OTHER BUSINESS – if approved under item 3 above

General Enquiries: Please contact the Committee Team at  committeeteam@threerivers.gov.uk