Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Magda Cullens, Keith Iddon and Margaret Lees.

The Chair welcomed the new Licensing Manager, Steve Culleton, to his first meeting of the Committee. 

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.

No declarations of interest were received. 

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee held on 17 October 2007 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee held on 17 October 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Corporate Director of Governance (enclosed). 

Agreed, subject to the necessary notice being advertised and no objections being received.

The Committee considered the report of the Corporate Director of Governance outlining a request made by the local Hackney Carriage Association for an increase in hackney carriage fares.

Hackney carriage fares were last increased in November 2005 and due to the increases in fuel prices and rises in the cost of living, an increase has been requested.  The Committee were also addressed by Mr. Y Illahi.  

It is the responsibility of the Council to set hackney carriage fares, after having considered the request by the hackney association.  Members considered a comparison chart of neighbouring authorities enclosed with the report. 

RESOLVED – That the proposed increase in Hackney Carriage fares be agreed, subject to the necessary notice being advertised and no objections being received.

Report of the Corporate Director of Governance (enclosed). 

Noted.  

The Committee received and noted a report of the Corporate Director of Governance on the activity of the Licensing Section for the period 2 October 2007 to 2 November 2007 under the Licensing Act 2003.

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 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Agreed.  

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 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of Corporate Director of Governance (enclosed).  

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

The Licensing and Safety Committee took a serious view of the number and nature of convictions recorded against the applicant.  The Committee were not satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed since the last conviction in 2005 for the applicant to demonstrate that he was a fit and proper person and could remain free of convictions. 

The Licensing and Safety Committee considered the Human Rights Act and the proportionality principle and considered that the protection of the public was paramount. 

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 took a serious view of the number and nature of convictions recorded against the applicant.  The Committee were not satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed since the last conviction in 2005 for the applicant to demonstrate that he was a fit and proper person and could remain free of convictions. 

3.            The Licensing and Safety Committee considered the Human Rights Act and the proportionality principle and considered that the protection of the public was paramount. 

Report of Corporate Director of Governance (enclosed).  

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

The Committee determined that a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence be granted to the applicant.    

(Councillor Iris Smith declared an interest in the above item and left the room prior to consideration and voting.  Councillor Edward Smith took the Chair for the following item).

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 Committee determined that a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence be granted to the applicant.