Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for non-attendance.

There were none

There were none

(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Friday, 5 August 2022. The total time for deputations in favour and against shall not exceed 10 minutes)

There were none

(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Friday 5 August 2022)

There were none

The current taxi tariff came into force in April 2015 following consultation with the trade.  This matter was considered by the Board at the time and an increase was granted. The trade approached the Council for an increase earlier this year and in July this year, a consultation was undertaken with the trade and the public regarding the current Taxi Licensing requirements including revision to the tariff. This consultation gave an option on a potential taxi tariff increase, which was devised following consultation with the trade. A further proposal was made by the trade later and this is also included within the report. The details of the consultation and outcome are detailed within this report. The Board is requested to consider the report and determine the level at which the tariff should be set.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Licensing and Environmental Health detailing a proposed increase to the taxi tariff.  The current taxi tariff came into force in April 2015 following consultation with the trade.  This matter was considered by the Board at the time and an increase was granted. The trade approached the Council for an increase earlier this year and in July this year, a consultation was undertaken with the trade and the public regarding the current Taxi Licensing requirements including revision to the tariff. This consultation gave an option on a potential taxi tariff increase, which was devised following consultation with the trade. A further proposal was made by the trade later and this is also included within the report. The details of the consultation and outcome are detailed within this report. The Board is requested to consider the report and determine the level at which the tariff should be set.

The Board was advised that the report detailed the proposal that had been consulted on, and also detailed a subsequent proposal by the trade.

The Board was advised that 83% of the drivers supported the increase. The Board was also advised that East Hants District Council had increased their pull off fee to £4 since the publication of the report and that Gosport were currently lowest.

The key changes requested were a change in the pull off amount, a reduction in waiting time, a reduction in distance per 20p, an amendment to time and a half so that it begins at 23:00 and an increase in spoiling and dog charges.

The Board was advised that it was for them to make a decision on the tariff.

Members advised that it was the pull off fee that was important to the drivers and that they felt it was unreasonable to make time and a half from 23:00 as it was felt that this could discourage people from getting home safely.

It was clarified that the fee in place was the maximum fee a Hackney Carriage could charge and that they could charge less if they wished to.

Members acknowledged that the peninsular made long journeys harder as they would need to travel back to the rank, eg a journey to Fareham from the Ferry.

Members were advised that Gosport was currently 294/355 authorities for taxi tariffs and that drivers had to display the tariff in their cabs.

The Board was advised that the all Hackney Carriage drivers and owners had been written to in consultation  

It was proposed and seconded that the tariff be amended as follows

·         Pull off £3.00 for the first 153 metres
20p each 153 metres thereafter

·         The waiting time be changed to additional 20p for every 40 seconds (currently 50 seconds) 

·         For each dog, (except guide, hearing and assistance dogs) 50p (Currently 20p)

·         Fouling of vehicle £70 (Currently £50)

RESOLVED: That the Taxi Tariff for Hackney carriages be amended as follows.

·         Pull off £3.00 for the first 153 metres
20p each  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Consideration of the report of the Development Manager.

Consideration was given to the report of the Development Manager detailing the Hazardous Substances Consent Application - modification of existing

Consent to decrease storage capacity of part a no.34 petroleum

Products from 47,430 tonnes to 47,312 tonnes and update tank

Reference numbers (amplified by site plans, consequence assessment / site

Details received 09.05.2022 and f44 / f76 fuel data sheets received 07.07.2022)

Oil Fuel Depot Gosport Forton road Gosport Hampshire PO12 4TH

The Board was advised that this is a long established depot serving the military. Our role as Local Planning Authority is to assess the risk to people and the environment. We receive specialist advice from the Health and Safety Executive who have been considering the request for the past 1.5 years. Their view is that decreasing the storage capacity and updating the tanks numbers, subject to conditions listed at the end of the report, there would be minimal risk to people and the environment and the Local Planning Authority can safely grant consent.

RESOLVED: That application 21/00138/HSC be granted Hazardous Substances Consent subject to the conditions in the report of the Development Manager. 

The Chairman acknowledged that the Senior Planning Officer, Nick Smith was leaving the Council to retrain in a new career. Members thanked Nick for all of his work and professionalism over the years and wished him well.