Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Corcoran, Morris, O’Brien and Anne Thompson.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) which reported the receipt of an objection against a proposal to introduce a disabled person’s parking place for a resident in Seaforth Road, Seaforth.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) which sought approval for changes to two junctions in Crosby town centre.

The principal changes included the introduction of traffic signals to replace the double mini roundabout arrangement at the junction of Islington with Church Road and Coronation Road. The signal-controlled junction would include push button crossing facilities to improve accessibility. Modification would also be introduced to the junction of the A565 Liverpool Road and the By-Pass with Coronation Road to improve safety and accessibility and ensure that both signals worked together.

RESOLVED:

That the Assistant Director of Highways and Public Protection be authorised to implement the following modifications to the highway;

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) which reported on the work carried out during 2022/23 by the Local Licensing Unit.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) updating on applications made under the Licensing Act, 2003 and the Gambling Act, 2005 which had been

determined by Licensing Officers.

The report indicated that Sefton Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy (issued under the Licensing Act 2003) and the Statement of Gambling Policy (issued under the Gambling Act 2005), both followed the recommended delegation of functions contained within the Guidance,

issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and the Guidance issued under Section 25 of the Gambling Act 2005. Where there were no relevant representations to applications, then these matters would be dealt

with by Officers in order to speed matters through the system. The Guidance also recommended that where powers had been delegated, the Committee would receive regular reports on decisions made by Officers in order to maintain an overview of the general licensing situation.

The report indicated that during the period 18 February 2023 to 4 May 2023 the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) had received and determined the following numbers of applications:

Under the Licensing Act 2003:

·       84 Applications made under Premise Licences

·       24 Applications made under Personal Licences

·       43 Notifications of Temporary Event Notices

·       28 Notifications of Late Temporary Event Notices

Under the Gambling Act 2005:

·       1 Applications made under Licensed Premises Gaming Permits

·       1 Notification given for Licensed Premises Automatic Gaming

RESOLVED:

That the report and the fact that further update reports would be submitted as necessary, be noted.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) which reported the progress of the Taxi Licensing service during 2022/23. The Committee were updated on consultations with the trade as well as a summary of determinates made, inspections, prosecutions, service requests and knowledge test pass rates.

The Committee queried the new protocol for dealing with lost property and the complaints process for drivers conduct. The Committee also inquired about the current wait times for taxi licences, any provisions made for members of the Armed Forces and the environmental impact of taxis in Sefton’s Borough.

The Committee discussed the experiences of disabled persons in Sefton and the availability of appropriate vehicles, as well as opportunities for disabled persons to obtain taxi licences.

RESOLVED: That