Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary 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 any interests.

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 1 of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of Director of People and Places (enclosed)

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of People and Places to determine whether or not a driver should be granted a Private Hire Driver's licence.

Members were informed that the Council had received an application on 3 September 2012. The driver had satisfactorily completed the Council's Knowledge Test, the DSA Driver Assessment and the DVLA Group 2 Medical.

The driver’s declaration of convictions and CRB contained a number of driving convictions that had been recorded in 2006 and 2007. The driver had been banned from driving for 20 months that had been reduced to 15 months on the completion of a driver rehabilitation course taken on 17 June 2008. The driver received his entitlement to drive on 18 November 2008 and had not received any further driving convictions since the reinstatement of his licence.

The driver attended the meeting along with a representative who was the joint proprietor for one of the Council’s Operator's Licences. The driver said that he had grown up a lot over the past few years and was now a family man who had a responsibility to provide for his family.

His representative also gave representations in support of his application and stated that the company were prepared to employ the driver if the Private Hire Driver's licence was granted, adding that the driver had shown great determination, commitment and maturity to correct his previous errors and that she had every confidence in him.

Members carefully considered the representations from the driver, his prospective employer and the Public Protection Officer and RESOLVED to grant the application for a private hire driver's licence for the following reasons:

·         The applicant had no convictions since the period of disqualification of the driving licence had expired.

·         Members noted that the driver had admitted to his past mistakes and is now more mature and responsible.

·         Members noted the comments made by the prospective employer that she was satisfied about his reliability.

Report of Director of People and Places (enclosed).

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of People and Places to determine whether or not the licence holder was a suitable person to continue to hold the Sex Shop Licence in light of recent convictions and other matters contained within the report.

Members carefully considered all representations and RESOLVED to request that Public Protection Officers issue a written warning as to the conduct of the licence holder to remain on file.