Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Kenna-Victoria Martin, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

6.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 31 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 8 July 2014

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of Licensing Committee, held on 8 July 2014, were approved as a correct record.

7.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business declared.

8.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

9.

Adoption of legislation to allow for improved regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis within Thurrock pdf icon PDF 40 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Public Protection introduced the report to Members explaining that the report was asking the Committee to recommend that Full Council agree to adopt the model bylaw under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act.

 

Members were informed that by having the bylaw in place it would enable the Council to register any persons and premises undertaking activities as skin piercing within the borough. It was explained to Members that the rationale behind the decision to introduce the legislation was that activities such as skin piercing and tattooing carried a risk of infection and having premises registered firstly made them aware to the council and secondly enabled officers to carry out visits and ensure that training was adequate and that hygiene standards are being correctly applied.

 

It was notified to the Committee that the aim of the work being carried out by officers was to reduce the possibility of blood born infection which could be transmitted by these types of activities.

 

Officers clarified for Members that the model bylaw excluded acupuncture activity taken by a dentist or someone being supervised directly by a dentist.  The rationale behind the decision was that dentists should have sufficient training and knowledge to prevent the transmission of infection and infection control procedures.

 

Members enquired as to whether the model bylaw was up and running within Thurrock and as to whether the Council would be adapting it. It was further enquired as to how much the fee for registration would cost. Officers explained that as infection issues in relation to skin piecing had been recognised a series of model bylaws had been drafted to be used by Local Authorities. Members were informed that the fee for skin piecing registration would be a one off fee of £120.

 

Following further questions from Members, the Committee were informed that once a premise had registered with the Council they would have an initial visit during which officers would check training and hygiene standards. Any subsequent visits would be on a level of risk basis.

 

The Committee were advised that officers had a schedule of works to complete should Council agree to adopt the bylaw, consultation with businesses would be incorporated and would be carried out in a variety of different ways including advertising in local publications and speaking with people working in such premises.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Licensing Committee:

 

1.           Recommend Council agree to adopt Sections 14-17 inclusive of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by the Local Government Act 2003 Section 120, which deals with the regulation of Acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis 

 

2.           Recommend to Council that following the implementation period for the adoption of the resolution in relation to Sections 14-17 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by The Local Government Act 2003 Section 120, the Council adopt the model bylaw which can be found in Appendix 2.

10.

Setting of licensing Fees for Consultation pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report was introduced to the Committee by the Head of Public Protection, who explained to Members that licensing fees were varied from time to time and that there were a number of ways officers could set fees they were, a statutory set fee, a locally set reasonable fee that has by statute, a capped maximum amount and a locally set reasonable fee with no maximum cap.

 

Members were advised that the licences which held a fee were listed within the report at pages 28-31 and although the Council may not currently need all of the licences listed, it was felt that it would be best practice to have them approved should the Council receive an application in the future.

 

It was queried by the Committee as to the length of the consultation, Officers informed Members that the consultation period varied between the different legislations, however the consultation would be planned for the longest period stated. 

 

Members enquired as to how the Council would correspond with the different parties involved and were notified that Officers would advertise the consultation within local publications and would write to those parties who represented any licence holders.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Licensing Committee agree for consultation with local stakeholders on all fees that are subject to an increase or decrease as detailed in appendix A, with the results of the consultation to be reported to the next Licensing Committee.