Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mandy Moore, G. Thomas and D. Wilkshire.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To consider the report of the Team Manager Licensing & Commercial.

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager Licensing.

The Team Manager Licensing and Commercial advised that the report outlined the work of the Licensing Team for the third quarter from 1^st October to 31^st December, 2019 in respect of general licensing duties.

The Team Manager noted that six complaints had been received during quarter 3 in relation to taxi drivers and referred Members to the summary of complaints and outcomes as detailed in the report. She further outlined the key points in relation to the Operational and Management Reports.

At this juncture questions were invited from Members.

In response to a question raised in relation to displaying identification for scrap metal collectors, it was advised that ID Badges must be displayed in the vehicle window. However, ID Badges are only issued to applicant and any persons employed would not have identification.

The Member added that he had received complaints that scrap metal collectors had entered gardens without permission. The Team Manager suggested that any such complaints be report to the Licensing Team for investigation.

A discussion ensued around the lack of multi-agency approach to police scrap metal collectors in a similar way to taxis, street traders, etc. A Member noted the importance of an enforcement policy for scrap metal collectors and indicated that they had examples of people trespassing onto private property to take scrap.

The Team Manager Licensing and Commercial advised that there were very complaints received in respect of scrap metal collectors and that a multi-agency approach would need to include the Police and Natural Resource Wales. The Team Manager continued that the Team’s work programme was based on data and was evidence based, therefore if complaints were received for scrap metal collectors then consideration could be given to add this function to the Licensing Team’s work programme.

In response to further issues raised around scrap metal collectors, the Team Manager encouraged Members to report complaints to the Licensing Team and also ask their constituents to report complaints in order for incidents to be recorded.

Another Member stated that residents are informed to report these incidents to the Police and asked if the Licensing Team worked with the Police as she felt that this evidence would be available from them. The Team Manager advised that dialogue was regularly undertaken with the Police in terms of licensing matters and stated that no such complaints had been received recently that she was aware of. It was agreed as an action point that a request would be made to Gwent Police to identify if any complaints had been received directly by them in respect of this area of work.

The Member added that residents are encouraged to report matters to the Police and felt that they would not report complaints to both the Council and Police. The Team Manager reiterated that licensing matters are reported to the Council by the Police and she had not been aware of any significant increase in complaints against scrap metal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider.

No area for member’s trainings or briefings were requested.