Agenda item - Chair's Communications

Thank you all for being here today. We have an exceptionally short agenda of one report, so I will keep my Chairs comments just as short.

This is, as you know, my first committee as chair of Licencing and I am delighted to be able to take up the role as the previous chair, Cllr Deane is now Mayor Deane.

We all realise the circumstances to which this came about were difficult for some, but I am sure you will all agree that Cllr Deane will be and has already proved to be an excellent Mayor and I am sure we all wish her our best over the next year.

I am delighted to be joining a committee with such knowledge and experience, already proved to me by my attendance to a hearing panel this week. It is thanks to the skill and dedication in this room that contribute towards Brighton being a city for both residents and businesses to thrive in.

Despite coming out of lockdown, businesses including the taxi trade face huge challenges with the cost of living. I know just how vital the taxi trade is for the city, particularly as we move into our busy summer period, not just in keeping the city moving but also safeguarding the vulnerable and being the eyes and ears of the city.

The taxi licensing team play a key role facilitating and maintaining this and I welcome today’s paper, updating the committee on the monitoring and enforcement for the hackney carriage and private hire drivers in the city. I know this will be of great interest for all on the committee and I look forward to learning from both officers reporting and member discussion.