Agenda and minutes

Councillor Endaf Edwards and Caryl Roberts apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.

None.

It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 24 April 2022.

Matters arsing

Minute 7- Members sought confirmation that parents/guardians outside schools were informed not to run their engine unnecessarily while that vehicle was stationary on a public road. It was reported that the Education service had informed all schools; and this message had been cascaded down to parents by parent mail. It was also reported that the Corporate Transport Unit should be informed of this request to inform bus companies to also deter from running their engines.

Consideration was given to the General Update report on Taxis and other matters (Non-Statutory). The report had been presented in order to advise Members of activity undertaken by the Licensing Section since the last Committee meeting and also advise on current work being undertaken.

An update on the following was provided:-

• Taxi Hearings – Fitness to retain Dual Driver Licence
• (Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976)
• Ceredigion Taxi Trade Meeting 07/03/2022
• Review of Taxi Fares
• Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022

Following questions from the floor, it was AGREED to note the update provided.

Consideration was given to the Report upon the New Holiday Caravan Site Licence Conditions. The report had been presented in order to inform Members of the current conditions were in excess of 30 years old and were needed to be brought up to date at least to reflect the changes brought about by The Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005. It was reported that these were an an improvement to the current conditions as they were more concise, simplified and clarified the requirements placed on site owners.

They had been considered and drafted by members of The Four Licensing Counites Forum with input from the Fire Authority, and they would lead the way for a consistent approach across the Dyfed-Powys Four Counties area.

Following questions from the floor, it was AGREED

(i) to approve the proposed standard licence conditions in Appendix C and D  of the report; and

(ii) to approve the need to consult with the relevant trade namely existing site licence holders as part of an 8-week consultation process in accordance with the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

It was reported that the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (the legislation) were introduced in order to provide greater welfare protections for animals sold as pets.  These bring in more private sellers of pets under a requirement to be licensed, to ensure the welfare protections of the animals were applied.  They also replace existing Pet Shop licensing legislation.  The new legislation brings more sellers of pet animals within the licensing regime, and as such introduces a wider fee structure.  These new fees require agreement in order to be introduced and pet sellers licensed.

An introduction to the new legislation was presented through the Democratic process in 2021.The process of calculating fees was based upon a cost recovery basis only, and they follow the process used across the licensing function.  A review of other authorities had found the fees were consistent in level.

The enforcement fee was included in the 2022/2023 fees in order to cover the additional work the authority had to undertake in identifying operators who are operating without a license.  As the operators previously not subject to licensing are “onboarded”, then the need for this fee would decrease.  The charging for additional enforcement fees was listed in the legislation.

Following question from the floor, it was AGREED

(i) to note the report for information;

(ii) that the Healthier Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider the fees at their next meeting, and that the service provided specific examples of dog breeders fees in relation to licence type;

(iii) to note that there were health benefits for female dogs to have a single litter in her lifetime and that a license was not required for the one-off sale in that instance; and 

(vi) that the public be advised of these new legal requirements by a press release and on the social media platform of the Council