Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Ralph Snape.

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to 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 the 20 September 2006 (enclosed)

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee held on 20 September 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Committee received a report of the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services on the various licences and permits issued and the registration effected by the Licensing Section for the period 1 September 2006 to 22 September 2006.

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.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve 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)

Further to Minute 06.LS.51, 20 September 2006, the Committee received a report of the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services bringing Members attention to a complaint that had been received against a Private Hire driver regarding an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.

The Committee was requested to consider the allegations and determine whether he was a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence.

The Private Hire Driver attended the meeting to put forward his explanation, and the Committee carefully considered the representations he made.

RESOLVED – That the Committee viewed the complaint very seriously, however, it was agreed that the Private Hire Driver be allowed to continue to drive in Chorley and a letter be sent informing him that his conduct must be exemplary and should there be any further concern or complaints he be brought back to a meeting of the Committee.

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

Further to 06.LS.52, 20 September 2006, the Committee received a report of the Director of Customer, Democratic and Legal Services bringing to the attention of Members that a private hire vehicle had been presented for a taxi test in a dangerous condition.

A Vehicle Supervision Notice had been served on the operator of the vehicle and attended the meeting to explain how the licensed vehicle was allowed to be used in such a dangerous condition and to explain what, if any measure he had put in place to ensure that all licensed vehicles operated under his operator’s licence were adequately maintained.

RESOLVED -  1) That the Committee considered that the licensed private hire operator was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence and agreed that the licence be suspended until the whole private hire fleet have been subjected to a vehicle test to be carried out during the next week by an accredited MOT testing station.

2)         That a system of daily defect sheets be implemented for each vehicle of the private hire fleet and signed by each driver with detected faults to be rectified immediately.

3)         That regular checks be made by the Council’s Licensing Enforcement Officer to ensure that the daily defect sheet process is being complied with.

4)         That the operator be asked to a future meeting to inform the Committee that the required tests have been carried out on the vehicles and the vehicle checking process is operating.

5)         That a report be submitted to a future meeting on the outcome of an investigation to be carried out on the MOT testing of the people carrier in question and the suitability of the accredited testing station that had carried out the four month test on the vehicle and whether a satisfactory standard of service is being provided by the testing stations.