Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground 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.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of People and Places (enclosed).

The Sub-Committee considered a report from the Director of People and Places, seeking Members’ instructions on an application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

The application could only be determined by the General Licensing Sub-Committee as the applicant had not met the Council’s licensing policy that stated an applicant was required to have a minimum of three years driving experience on a full UK driving licence as set out in the Council’s Guidance to Taxi Licensing.

Members noted that the applicant had held a full UK drivers’ licence since 9 August 2008.

The Public Protection Officer confirmed that the applicant’s Criminal Records Bureau check, convictions declaration, medical and knowledge test had satisfied the Council’s requirements.

The applicant and his employer attended the meeting to put forward representations in support of the application.  The applicant informed Members that he was the holder of a PSV licence and that he had been employed, for the previous twelve months, as a driver of a fourteen seat vehicle.  Members were further informed, if they were minded to grant the application, the applicant would continue to drive for his present employer as a Private Hire Driver.

The Sub-Committee considered all aspects of the application, including representations from the applicant, the applicant’s employer, the Public Protection Officer, and the Council’s Guidance to Taxi Licensing.

After careful consideration of all the relevant factors, the Sub-Committee unanimously RESOLVED to grant the application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.