Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 29 June 2022 (copy enclosed).

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2022.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

To approve the Draft Charitable House to House Collections Policy (report of the Head of Public Protection enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Public Protection which sought the approval of a Charitable House to House Collections Policy.

The Head of Public Protection introduced the report and stated that the Policy had previously been considered by the Committee back in June and was in front of the Committee again for final approval following consultation.

There had been 2 responses received to the consultation regarding concerns about cold calling homes of vulnerable residents in darkness. While the House to House Collections Act 1939 that underpinned the Policy did not allow for prohibition of this but amendments had been made to the Policy to advise against this.

AGREED:

That the Charitable House to House Collections Policy be approved.

To approve the Draft Charitable Street Collections Policy (report of the Head of Public Protection enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Public Protection which sought the approval of a Charitable Street Collections Policy.

The Head of Public Protection introduced the report which formalised local requirements regarding the Police, Factories, etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. The legislation does not require a formal policy to be adopted but the policy enabled a transparent and consistent approach while also protecting the general public.

One response had been received to the consultation relating to the use of animals to support collections. The Policy had been amended to reflect that animals were not permitted to be used to support collections.

AGREED:

That the Charitable Street Collections Policy be approved.

Officers had received question from a Member who was unable to attend the meeting, pertaining to:

• Taxi companies in Donington had been parking inappropriately outside schools, could the Licensing Committee write to these companies to make them aware of what their drivers were doing and the standards of behaviour for taxi drivers.
  • Officers confirmed that it depended on where they were parked and what restrictions were in place. Officers had previously written to operators but would write to them again. SHDC had also offered to conduct a visit at the site in conjunction with LCC.
  • Further investigation was required for this particular situation.
• Members asked whether taxis should be parking in disabled bays in Spalding Town Centre.
  • Officers commented that this issue had come up periodically in the past. If Members were aware of a particular taxi firm regularly parking in disabled, they needed to contact the Licensing team who could conduct further enquiries.
• If a taxi driver was disabled themselves and were unable to help a customer, does this need to be made known to the customer prior to the journey being made?
  • Officers confirmed that under the Equality Act 2010, drivers must give reasonable assistance, but medical exemptions could be given to drivers who were unable to give assistance.
  • Any drivers with medical exemptions needed to be notified to SHDC but the team were not aware of any disabled taxi drivers in the District who had applied for an exemption.
• Were Animal Welfare inspections back on track and was there still and issue with vet availability and staff training to carry out the inspections?
  • Officers responded to confirm that the team were up to date with programmed inspections and there were currently 5 premises to follow up with.
  • There had been 17 new applications for animal welfare licences, 9 since November which all required an inspection prior to issuing of a licence.
  • The Licensing Officer had recently completed the BTEC Level 3 Certificate qualification to carry out animal welfare inspection and it was envisioned that the Assistant Licensing Officer would also undertake the same qualification in the near future.
  • The team were now working with a vet in Peterborough to carry out inspections.
  • Officers also noted that there had been an unprecedented increase in all types of Licensing applications over the last 6 months which was putting additional pressure on the Licensing team.