Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Barnes.

Councillor Prew-Smith attended as substitute for Councillor Parr, who gave his apologies.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager, Public Protection, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, seeking approval to increase taxi licensing fees, subject to advertisement requirements being satisfied, and approval to increase General Fees for the 2015/16 financial year.

A revised Appendix 1 was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED to:

1.     Approve the fees and charges detailed in Appendix 2 of the report for 2015/16 with effect from 1^st April 2015;

2.     Approve the fees for taxi operators and vehicle licences as detailed in the revised Appendix 1, as circulated at the meeting, for 2015/16 for advertisement in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, such fees to automatically come into force if no objections are received within the statutory period; and

3.     Approve the proposed fees for taxi driver’s licences detailed in the revised Appendix 1, as circulated at the meeting, for 2015/16 for advertisement and the Corporate Director in consultation with the Chair of Environment and Licensing Committee be authorised to agree the final fees after taking into account any comments received during the consultation period.

None.

To move that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ensuing report on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That, the Members being satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the ensuing reports on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee considered a report from Corporate Director, David Wakelin, regarding an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence from SJ.

SJ attended the meeting and addressed the Committee.

In making its decision, the Committee applied the Council's approved Policy and Guidelines and took into consideration the circumstances of the event. On the basis of what it heard, the Committee was satisfied on balance that no exceptional circumstances existed which warranted departure from this policy.

RESOLVED:

To approve SJ’s application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence, with a warning as to the necessary consequences of failure to declare any convictions or pending prosecutions to the Licensing Department.

The Committee considered a report from Corporate Director, David Wakelin, regarding an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence from JA.

JA attended the meeting and addressed the Committee.

In making its decision, the Committee applied the Council's approved Policy and Guidelines and took into consideration the circumstances of the event. On the basis of what it heard, the Committee was satisfied on balance that no exceptional circumstances existed which warranted departure from this policy.

RESOLVED:

To approve JA’s application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence.

MR did not attend the meeting.

RESOLVED:

To treat the application from MR as withdrawn as a result of a failure to attend Committee on two occasions.

The Committee considered a report from Corporate Director, David Wakelin, regarding an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence from KAQ.

KAQ attended the meeting accompanied by his Father who addressed the Committee on his behalf.

In making its decision, the Committee applied the Council's approved Policy and Guidelines and took into consideration the circumstances of the event. On the basis of what it heard, the Committee was satisfied on balance that no exceptional circumstances existed which warranted departure from this policy.

RESOLVED:

To approve KAQ’s application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence.

MMS did not attend the meeting, but did inform the Licensing Department of his inability to attend Committee on this occasion and requested that the application be considered at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

To defer consideration of the application to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered a report from Corporate Director, David Wakelin, regarding an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence from IM.

IM attended the meeting and addressed the Committee.

In making its decision, the Committee applied the Council's approved Policy and Guidelines. On the basis of what it heard, the Committee was satisfied on balance that no exceptional circumstances existed which warranted departure from this policy.

RESOLVED:

To refuse IM’s application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence on the grounds that he is not a fit and proper person.

IM was advised of his right to appeal against the decision of the Committee.