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FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1985
AMENDMENT PLAN SUPPORTED
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THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS GIVEN SUPPORT TO A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE TO EMPOWER THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS UPON THE RENEWAL OF ANY REGISTRATION, LICENCE OR PERMIT.
THE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 125 OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH WAS DISCUSSED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, WOULD ALSO EXTEND FROM SEVEN DAYS TO 14 DAYS THE PERIOD FOR THE LODGING OF AN APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITY.
SECTION 125 OF THE ORDINANCE GOVERNS THE MANNER IN WHICH LICENCE, REGISTRATION AND PERMIT ISSUED UNDER THE ORDINANCE ARE TO BE GRANTED, RENEWED, REFUSED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED, A REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE IMPOSITION OF NEW LICENSING CONDITIONS OR CHANGES TO EXISTING ONES UPON THE RENEWAL OF A LICENCE.
IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE TO UPGRADE THE HYGIENE STANDARD OF A RESTAURANT, THERE IS OFTEN A NEED TO IMPOSE NEW CONDITIONS OR TO VARY EXISTING ONES UPON THE RENEWAL OF A LICENCE OR PERMIT. THE PRESENT PROCEDURE IS FOR THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO SERVE A 90 DAYS' NOTICE STATING THE INTENTION TO REFUSE RENEWAL AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND AT THE SAME TIME TO ISSUE ANOTHER NOTICE INVITING A FRESH APPLICATION, SO THAT WHEN A NEW LICENCE IS ISSUED THE NEW CONDITIONS MAY BE INCLUDED, HE SAID.
THE COUNCIL WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROCEDURE IS CUMBERSOME AND IS NOT WELL-UNDERSTOOD BY THE AVERAGE LICENSEE. IT IS THEREFORE PROPOSED TO AMEND SECTION 125 TO EMPOWER THE LICENSING AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE NEW CONDITIONS, OR VARY EXISTING ONES, WHEN ANY LICENCE, REGISTRATION OR PERMIT ISSUED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE IS DUE FOR RENEWAL.
THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREAS AND THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS ARE THE LICENSING AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF JURISDICTION.
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