Agenda and draft minutes

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

The Committee will be requested to pass the following resolution:

Resolved that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test as defined in Part 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Resolved that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 12A the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Committee considered a report which outlined the background to a referral relating to the holder of a Private Hire Drivers Licence, Mr C.  The Committee was requested to assess Mr C’s continued suitability to carry out the duties of a licensed driver.

Mr C attended the meeting along with his representative.

The Licensing Officer presented the report to the Committee which included information on the reason for the referral and Mr C’s criminal and licensing record. 

Members of the Committee and Mr C had the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer.

Mr C and his representative then addressed the Committee.  Members and the Licensing Officer then had the opportunity to ask questions of Mr C.

Following a summing up from the Licensing Officer and Mr C, both parties left the meeting room to enable consideration of the matter to be undertaken in private.

The options available to the Committee were to:

·         take no action;

·         issue a warning as to the driver’s future conduct;

·         suspend the driver’s licence; or

·         revoke the driver’s licence.

Resolved that Mr C be issued a warning as to his future conduct.

(At this point Cllr J O’Shea left the meeting).

The Committee considered a report which outlined the background to a referral relating to the holder of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence, Mr E.  The Committee was requested to assess Mr E’s continued suitability to carry out the duties of a licensed driver.

Mr E attended the meeting.

The Licensing Officer presented the report to the Committee which included information on the reason for the referral and Mr E’s criminal and licensing record. 

Members of the Committee and Mr E had the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer.

Mr E then addressed the Committee.  Members and the Licensing Officer then had the opportunity to ask questions of Mr E.

Following a summing up from the Licensing Officer and Mr E, both parties left the meeting room to enable consideration of the matter to be undertaken in private.

The options available to the Committee were to:

·         take no action;

·         issue a warning as to the driver’s future conduct;

·         suspend the driver’s licence; or

·         revoke the driver’s licence.

Resolved that Mr E’s licence be revoked as the Committee was no longer satisfied that he was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

The Committee received a report which outlined the background to an appeal by Mr W against the decision of the Authority to refuse to grant his renewal application for a Private Hire Driver’s licence on the grounds that the Licensing Authority was not satisfied he was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Mr W attended the meeting.

A Licensing Officer presented the report to the Committee which included the reasons for the refusal of Mr W’s application and a summary of his criminal and licensing record.  The appeal form submitted by Mr W was also included. 

Members and Mr W had the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. 

Mr W then addressed the Committee and answered questions from Members.

Following a summing up from the Licensing Officer and Mr W, all parties left the meeting to enable consideration of the matter to be undertaken in private.

The options available to the Committee were:

·         Uphold the appeal and agree to re-issue the licence; or

·         Dismiss the appeal and refuse to re-issue the licence.

Resolved that Mr W’s appeal be upheld and his licence granted with a warning as to his future conduct.

The Committee received a report which outlined the background to an appeal by Mr M against the decision of the Authority to refuse his application for a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence on the grounds that the Licensing Authority was not satisfied he was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Mr M attended the meeting along with his representative.

A Licensing Officer presented the report to the Committee which included the reasons for the refusal of Mr M’s application and a summary of his criminal and licensing record.  The appeal form submitted by Mr M was also included. 

Members and Mr M had the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer. 

Mr M and his representative then addressed the Committee and answered questions from Members.

Following a summing up from the Licensing Officer and Mr M, all parties left the meeting to enable consideration of the matter to be undertaken in private.

The options available to the Committee were:

·         Uphold the appeal and agree to re-issue the licence; or

·         Dismiss the appeal and refuse to re-issue the licence.

Resolved that Mr M’s appeal be dismissed and his licence not granted on the grounds that the Committee was not satisfied that he was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.