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 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

i.           The Sub-Committee may conclude that the driver is 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.

ii.          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.

iii.        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.

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

Decision

The applicant was no longer a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence, and it was in the interests of public safety to revoke the licence with immediate effect.