To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016, be approved.

Members of the Committee were requested to declare whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

All Members declared a non pecuniary interest in respect of item 4 on the agenda (Conferment of the Title of Honorary Alderman – minute 4 refers) by virtue of being acquainted with the former Councillors recommended to receive the title.

The Head of Legal and Member Services reported that Standing Order 33(1) required that Committees should keep the need for panels under review and, in particular, the position must be reviewed at the first meeting of a Committee in each municipal year.

He set out the terms of reference of the Licensing Panel and indicated that if it was to be retained in 2016/17 with seven members, the allocation of those places would be 4 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat.

He reported that only named deputies may attend panel meetings in place of a permanent member. Standing Order 25(6)(a) permits appointment of up to a maximum of eight deputies for each political group and deputies would normally be called to serve in the order in which they are nominated.

Unless appointed as full members, the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of the three largest political groups represented on the Council are entitled to attend meetings of all Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels, with the right to speak at the Chair’s invitation, but not to vote (Standing Order 25(5) refers).

Resolved -

(1)  That the Licensing Panel be re-appointed for 2016/2017 with the terms of reference identified until amended or otherwise changed by the Committee and until such time as a new Panel is appointed.

(2)  That the following members be appointed to serve on the Licensing Panel in 2016/2017:-

  All Members of the Committee declared a non pecuniary interest in this matter by virtue of being acquainted with the former Councillors recommended to receive the title.

The Strategic Director of Transformation and Resources requested that Members give consideration to former Councillors Harry Smith and Pat Williams being recommended to Council for the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Members were informed that Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides that the title of Honorary Alderman may be conferred by the Council on persons who have, in its opinion, rendered eminent service to the Council as past Members of the Council, (or a predecessor Council), but who are no longer Councillors.  The title is to be conferred by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members voting on it at a meeting of the Council specially convened for the purpose.

Honorary Aldermen would be invited to attend Council meetings in a non-participating capacity, they would also be invited to attend and take part in civic ceremonies and their names would be inscribed on a Roll of Honour board in Wallasey Town Hall.  They do not receive any allowances or payments under Sections 173 to 176 of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was reported that the Council had determined that former Members who have served twenty years on the Council or a predecessor Council are eligible for nomination to this Award and that currently former Councillors Harry Smith and Pat Williams were the only persons eligible to be appointed as Honorary Aldermen.

The Chair agreed that each former Member be considered separately.

It was moved by Councillor R Abbey and seconded by Councillor D Mitchell that -

“Former Councillor Harry Smith be recommended for the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman.”

The motion was put and carried (5:3) (1 abstention).

It was moved by Councillor R Abbey and seconded by Councillor D Mitchell that –

“Former Councillor Pat Williams be recommended for the conferment of the title of Honorary Alderman.”

The motion was put and carried (9:0).

Resolved – That the Council be recommended to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on former Councillors Harry Smith and Pat Williams in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Assistant Chief Executive requested that Members consider an amendment to the timeframe within which a completed Medical Assessment Report may be accepted as part of a valid application for a new Private Hire or Hackney Carriage Driver Licence or the renewal of that licence.

Members were advised that the number of appointments for medicals are restricted at a number of medical practices resulting in drivers having difficulty complying with the current requirement to produce a medical report no more than 28 days prior to the expiry of the licence.  It was therefore proposed that the timeframe requirement be amended to two calendar months to allow drivers a longer period of time in which to attend a medical appointment with their GP.  It was further proposed that this requirement would also be applied to the grant of new licences.

Resolved –

That the following amendment to the requirements for the grant and renewal of a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage Driver Licence be agreed:

·  Satisfactory Medical Assessment Report must be presented to the Licensing Authority dated no more than two calendar months prior to the date a licence is granted or renewed.