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.

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 8 appendix D 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.

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 8 appendix D 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 to grant an application for a private hire vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer and written submissions from the applicant

·       Oral submissions by the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral submissions by the applicant

·       A physical inspection on vehicle PHV016E by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The mileage of the vehicle

·       The mechanical and maintenance history of the vehicle, including the record of MOTs, defects and advisories

·       The condition of the vehicle during the inspection

·       The applicant’s presentation to the Licensing Authority, including the restricted use of the vehicle by applicant

·       The absence of complaints relating to the vehicle

·       The absence of complaints relating to the applicant

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence private hire vehicle PHV016E for 12 months and will be inspected by the Council every four months in accordance with the Council’s policy for licensed vehicles over ten years old.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether to grant an application for a private hire vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer and written submissions from the applicant

·       Oral submissions by the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral submissions by the applicant

·       A physical inspection on vehicle PHV243F by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The mileage of the vehicle being high but not excessive each year

·       The mechanical and maintenance history of the vehicle, including the record of MOT defects and advisories and the maintenance routine for the vehicle

·       The condition of the vehicle during the inspection

·       The applicant’s presentation to the Licensing Authority

·       The absence of complaints relating to the vehicle

·       The absence of complaints relating to the applicant

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence private hire vehicle PHV243F for 12 months and will be inspected by the Council every four months in accordance with the Council’s policy for licensed vehicles over ten years old.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether to grant an application for a hackney carriage vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer and written submissions from the applicant

·       Oral submissions by the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral submissions by the applicant

·       A physical inspection on vehicle HCV098C by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The mileage of the vehicle

·       The mechanical and maintenance history of the vehicle including the record of MOT defects and advisories

·       The absence of a maintenance routine for the vehicle

·       The applicant’s focus on pre-MOT checks

·       The applicant’s focus on his career plans

·       The condition of the vehicle during the inspection

·       The applicant’s presentation to the Licensing Authority

·       The absence of complaints relating to the vehicle

Decision

To REFUSE the application to licence hackney carriage vehicle HCV098C for 12 months.