Agenda and minutes

Venue: Astley Room - Castle

Contact: Geoff Durham 742222 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO LICENSING MATTERS

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

2.

MINUTES OF A PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 207 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:     That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 October, 2022 be

agreed as a correct record.

3.

FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR THE LICENSING OF SCRAP METAL DEALERS, GAMBLING, SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUE LICENSING 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 485 KB

Minutes:

Members considered a report regarding the proposed fees to be charged in relation to Scrap Metal Dealers, Gambling and Sexual Entertainment venues for 2023/24, as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

 

It was asked, how many scrap metal dealers licences there were in the Borough and also, why the fees for bingo and track betting had not changed when they were big business.  There were currently 17 scrap metal dealer’s licences in the Borough.  The bingo and track betting fees were already at the maximum amount that the Council was allowed to charge.

 

It was queried why the figure of 4% was chosen for the increases.  This was due to the figure relating to the Council’s Financial Plan.

 

Resolved:     That the fees to be charged for the licensing of Scrap Metal

Dealers, Gambling and Sexual Entertainment Venues for 2023-24, be agreed.

 

Watch the debate here

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO PUBLIC PROTECTION MATTERS

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within the agenda

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

5.

PRIVATE HIRE & HACKNEY CARRIAGE FEES & CHARGES 2023/2024 pdf icon PDF 333 KB

Minutes:

Members considered a report regarding the proposed taxi and private hire fees, as set out in paragraph 2 of the report, prior to their being sent out for consultation.

 

Resolved:     (i)         That the proposed fees be sent out for consultation.

                        (ii)        That, following consultation a further report be brought to

Committee.

 

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6.

CLEAN AIR ACT 1993 AS AMENDED - REVIEW OF SMOKE CONTROL AREAS AND ENFORCEMENT POWERS pdf icon PDF 672 KB

Appendix to follow

Minutes:

Members considered a report seeking authority to review the effectiveness of the existing smoke control areas, in force, within the Borough and enforcement powers to achieve improvements in air quality.

 

The reference PM2.5 was queried. This was referred to as being forty times smaller than a grain of sand.  This tiny particle can find its way into the bloodstream and could cause a host of diseases.

 

A question was asked regarding the Council’s approach on enforcement for residential properties emitting a lot of smoke.  Currently the Council was reliant on existing Smoke Control Orders.  Where a complaint was received, householders would be advised of their legal responsibilities, the smokeless fuels that were available and also that they could use a DEFRA approved appliance.  Should this fail then enforcement could follow.

 

Resolved:                 (i)         That an officer led review of the options available

to the Council to achieve improvements in air quality emissions from chimney’s serving buildings across the Borough in order to protect health, be approved.

 

(ii)        That a report be brought to the 21 March, 2023

meeting outlining options to achieve improvements in air quality emissions from chimney’s serving buildings across the Borough in order to protect health.

 

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7.

ENVIRONMENT ACT 1995 - PART IV LOCAL AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT - ANNUAL STATUS REPORT 2022 pdf icon PDF 555 KB

Minutes:

Members considered a report regarding the findings of the statutory Annual Status Report (ASR) for 2022 in respect of air quality within the Borough.  The report covered the action being taken to monitor and improve local air quality in respect of Nitrogen Dioxide levels and particulate matter.

 

It was suggested that movement towards electric cars and more people working from home had made a difference to air quality.  There had been a dramatic improvement in air quality during lockdown, which had been reflected nationally.  However, due to the current economy, people were keeping hold of older cars for longer, therefore improvements were not as quick as had been anticipated.

 

An explanation was sought on paragraph 2.10 of the report.  The Ministerial Directive was concerned with where people walked as opposed to where people lived.  

 

Resolved:     (i)         That the contents of the ASR 2022 be noted and that it be

submitted to DEFRA

 

(ii)        That a further report be brought to Committee, should

DEFRA’s appraisers not accept the ASR 2022.

 

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8.

ENVIRONMENT ACT 1995 Part IV- CONSULTATION ON REVOCATION OF LITTLE MADELEY AQMA pdf icon PDF 538 KB

Minutes:

Members considered a report seeking authority to consult with relevant stakeholders on the revocation of the Little Madeley Air Quality Management Area. The air quality in this area had been compliant for a number of years.

 

Resolved:     (i)         That officers be authorised to enter into a four week

consultation exercise with relevant stakeholders with

a view to revocation of the Little Madeley AQMA

 

(ii)        That Committee receive a further report at its March

2023 meeting containing proposals for the Little Madeley

AQMA along with details of consultee responses.

 

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9.

MINUTES OF PUBLIC PROTECTION SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS pdf icon PDF 186 KB

To consider the minutes of the Public Protection Sub-Committees which have met since the previous Licensing and Public Protection Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:     That the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 July, 2022 be

received.

10.

URGENT BUSINESS

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972

Minutes:

The following item was considered urgent in light of new Committee members and the items now being brought to Committee on Air Quality

 

Air Quality Training

 

It was proposed that Members receive formal training on Air Quality.  This would be arranged and carried out via Teams

 

11.

DISCLOSURE OF EXEMPT INFORMATION

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the attached report, 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.

 

Minutes:

There were no confidential items