Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Edward Smith (Vice-Chair), Magda Cullens, Margaret Lees, Marion Lowe and Stella Walsh. 

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillors Judith Boothman, Tom McGowan and Ralph Snape declared a personal interest in relation to the Street Collection Permits reported on the agenda at Item 5.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing and Safety Committee held on 11 July 2007 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee held on 11 July 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive Minutes of the Licensing Liaison Panel held on 13 August 2007

The minutes were noted. 

The Committee received the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Liaison Panel held on 13 August 2007.

Members discussed the issue of taxi drivers sounding their horns late at night causing a nuisance to residents.  This would be brought to the attention of the Panel members at the next meeting. 

RESOLVED – That the minutes be noted.

Report of Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services (enclosed)

The report was noted.

(Councillors Judith Boothman, Tom McGowan and Ralph Snape declared a personal interest in the following item).

The Committee received a report of the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services on the various licences and permits issued and registrations effected by the Licensing Section between the period 28 June 2007 and 31 August 2007.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services (enclosed)

The Licensing and Safety Committee are not satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person on the basis of their driving record and were of the view that not sufficient time has elapsed since the DVLA license was restored to demonstrate that the driving ability and attitude of the applicant have improved.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services requesting the Committee to consider an application for a licence to drive Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicles within the Borough of Chorley.

The applicant attended the meeting to make representations and answer questions from the Committee. 

RESOLVED

1.                  The Licensing and Safety Committee considered carefully the representations made in support of the application.

2.                  The Licensing and Safety Committee considered that drivers licensed by it should act in a responsible manner to both their passengers and other road users. 

3.                  The Licensing and Safety Committee noted that the applicant had three speeding offences including whilst operating as a private hire driver.  The Licensing and Safety Committee took into account that the applicant had a no Insurance conviction and had been allowed to continue to hold his DVLA license on the basis of undue hardship.  Nevertheless the applicant subsequently incurred a further offence and received a six-month disqualification. 

4.                  The Licensing and Safety Committee are not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person on the basis of his driving record and were of the view that not sufficient time has elapsed since his DVLA license was restored to demonstrate that his driving ability and attitude have improved.