Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

Cllr Eastwood declared that he had an interest in relation to item 9 on the agenda as he was currently sitting on a licensing sub-committee that was dealing with an application for a review of the premise licence. Cllr Eastwood declared that he would leave the room during discussion of the item.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 April, 2014.

Resolved:    That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 April, 2014 be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:     That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1,2, and 7 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Private Hire Driver – Mr CT

The Committee considered an application from Mr CT for the grant of a  Private Hire Drivers Licence.

The chair invited the applicant to address the Committee.

References were provided by the applicant to support his application and  were read out to the Committee.

Resolved:    a)       That the application be refused as the Committee could not be satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Drivers’ Licence in view of the number and nature of the convictions disclosed.

b)       That the applicant be invited to reapply in 24 months but it was made clear that this would not mean an automatic grant of the licence.

Private Hire Driver Mr AR  (Details to follow)

The Committee considered an application received from Mr AR for the grant of a Private Hire Drivers’ Licence.

The Chair invited the applicant to address the Committee.

Resolved:    That the application be refused as the Committee could not be satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Drivers’ Licence in view of the nature, number and severity of the convictions that had been disclosed.

A report was submitted in connection with the Crewe Arms, Madeley Heath. The report sought approval for the instigation of legal proceedings following the revelation of serious contraventions of food safety legislation.

Members considered the report and agreed that action needed to be taken to protect the health and wellbeing of residents in the Borough.

Resolved:    That legal proceedings be instituted against the Food Business Operator.

A report was submitted to advise the Committee of action taken in respect of littering offences within the borough and to seek authorisation to institute legal proceedings against the Fixed Penalty Notice holders listed in the appendix.

Resolved:     That legal proceedings be instituted in the relation to the cases detailed in Appendix A.

A report was submitted to inform Members of the key issues and activities undertaken by the Environmental Health Service in 2013/2014.

The report enabled the Committee to be informed of the nature and extent of routine and enforcement work undertaken by environmental health services and endorse the priorities for 2014-2015.

The Head of Environmental Health highlighted the objectives and priorities for each enforcement team and the additional projects and priorities listed below:

•         Business perception survey of environmental health service delivery,

•         Progress mobile and agile working,

•         Participate in the regulatory services review with the Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Local Enterprise Partnership, including signing up to a regulatory charter,

•         Review the Councils enforcement policy in accordance with the regulatory charter,

•         Publish service standards in relation to environmental health,

•         Participate in public health agenda and undertake specific projects.

Members thanked Officers for the well written and comprehensive report and commended the work undertaken to keep the Borough safe.

Resolved:    That the Committee receive the report and support the priorities for the 2014/2015 work plan.

A report was submitted to advise the Committee of the action taken in respect of Littering offences within the borough.

Members thanked Officers for their efforts in this conviction and highlighted the importance of publicity in respect of littering offences and the actions being taken by the Council.

Resolved:    That the report be received