Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting.

Decision

That Councillor Tim Grogan be elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

(Councillor Grogan in the Chair)

There were no apologies for absence.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest, however, in the interests of transparency, Councillors Grogan and Lee advised the Sub-Committee that they had been present at a previous Sub-Committee hearing for the applicant in September 2025, but that this would have no bearing on the decision-making at the hearing today.

To confirm the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

Decision

The Sub Committee agreed the procedure for the meeting as outlined by the Chair.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of item 6 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.

The decision

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item of business at minute no 6 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as the Panel was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Corporate Director, Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Options available to the sub-committee

·       If the Sub-Committee is satisfied that, on the balance of probability, the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, it may grant the licence.

·       If the Sub-Committee is not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, it must refuse to grant the licence.

Decision

The Sub-Committee members considered all written and oral representations and taking everything into account, agreed that the applicant was not a fit and proper person and that the application for renewal of their Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers licence should be REFUSED; this refusal to renew by virtue of section 61(1)(b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.