Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting the Cabinet Member is asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests that they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting the Cabinet Member was invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests he might have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the last meeting of the Crime and Community Safety Decision Session held on 1 November 2011 be approved and signed by the Cabinet Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is Monday 6 February 2012 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on -:

·        An item on the agenda

·        An issue within the Cabinet Member’s remit

·        An item that has been published on the Information Log since the last session. Information reports are listed at the end of the agenda.

Please note that no items have been published on the Information Log since the last Decision Session.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The purpose of this report is to enable the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety to review the results of legal actions (prosecutions, cautions and fixed penalties) undertaken by Environmental Health, Trading Standards, and Licensing Services in the Communities and Neighbourhoods Directorate for the period 1^st July 2011 – 30^th September 2011 and approve the continuation of the current enforcement policy.

RESOLVED:       That the report and the continuation of the current enforcement policy be approved.

REASON:            So that the Cabinet Member reviews formal enforcement activity undertaken by Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing Services.

The Cabinet Member considered a report that provided information to enable him to review the results of legal actions (prosecutions, cautions and fixed penalties) undertaken by Environmental Health, Trading Standards, and Licensing Services in the Communities and Neighbourhoods Directorate for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2011.  The Cabinet Member was also asked to approve the continuation of the current enforcement policy.

Officers gave details of formal enforcement action that had been taken.

RESOLVED:       That the report and the continuation of the current enforcement policy be approved.

REASON:            So that the Cabinet Member reviews formal enforcement activity undertaken by Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing Services.

The purpose of this report is to inform the Cabinet Member of the existing legislative controls on street trading and to seek approval to amend the Enforcement Policy for Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing, and Street Environment and Enforcement Services to highlight that formal action will be taken against illegal activities. 

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the amended Enforcement Policy, as set out in Annex 2 of the report, be approved.

(iii)     That a report be presented to the Cabinet Member on options available to address issues in respect of litter caused by leaflets and flyers¹.

REASON:            To improve transparency in taking formal enforcement action against illegal street traders.

The Cabinet Member considered a report that informed him of the existing legislative controls on street trading and which sought approval to amend the Enforcement Policy for Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing and Street Environment and Enforcement Services to highlight that formal action would be taken against illegal activities.  A copy of an amended policy was included as Annex 2 to the report.

The Cabinet Member expressed concern at the impact that promotional flyers and leaflets had in terms of increasing litter in the city centre.  He stated that he would welcome further information as to the measures that could be implemented to address this issue.  He would also make the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhood  Services aware that he was seeking further information as to the regulations or other options that could be utilised.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the amended Enforcement Policy, as set out in Annex 2 of the report, be approved.

(iii)     That a report be presented to the Cabinet Member on options available to address issues in respect of litter caused by leaflets and flyers and the potential consequences of the  “late night levy” introduced with the amendment of the Licensing Act¹.

REASON:            To improve transparency in taking formal enforcement action against illegal street traders.