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 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.

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 Licensing Sub-Committee considered the report and appendices of the Corporate Director of Environment which asked Members to consider whether the Licence Holder was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence.

The options available to the Sub-Committee were:

·       The Sub-Committee may conclude that the Licence Holder was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence, in which case, it should revoke the licence on the grounds of any reasonable cause.

·       The Sub-Committee may conclude that the appropriate sanction should be

something less than complete revocation.  For instance, a suspension may, in the opinion of the Sub-Committee, constitute sufficient sanction to best serve the interests of the public.  The Sub-Committee may therefore suspend the licence for a specified period of time on the grounds of any reasonable cause.

·       The Sub-Committee may conclude that an informal reprimand would constitute sufficient sanction to best serve the interests of the public. The Sub-Committee may therefore decide to issue a written warning.

·       The Sub-Committee may conclude that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing, in which case, it may decide to take no action.

Decision

The Sub-Committee concluded that an informal reprimand would constitute sufficient sanction to best serve the interests of the public and decided to issue a written warning.

To pass a resolution to return to public session.

Decision

Members voted to return to public session during consideration of the item of business at minute number 8.

The Corporate Director, Environment sought the determination by the Sub-Committee of an application for the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence that did not comply with the standard criteria as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The options available to the Sub-Committee were

·       To grant the application for one year.

·       To grant the application including additional conditions; or

·       To reject the application.

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence vehicle Volkswagen Touran SE, licence number 324B for a period of one year.

The Sub-Committee reminded the Licence Holder that pursuant to paragraph 47 of the policy, the vehicle would now be subject to a mechanical inspection three times per year.

After considering the written report and hearing verbal presentations from both the Licensing Enforcement Officer and the Licence Holder, and conducting a physical inspection of the vehicle, the Sub-Committee determined that the vehicle, a Volkswagen Touran SE, was in immaculate condition.  The Members were therefore satisfied that the Licence Holder had provided sufficient justification for an exception to be made to Paragraph 47 of the policy in respect of this vehicle.