Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Roxanne Ellis, Martin Smith and Towsey-Hinton.

None.

RESOLVED:

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

Report of the Head of Environment.

Consideration was given to a report of the Community Protection Manager, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, updating Members on the extension of the pavement licensing regime under the Business and Planning Act 2020.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the content of the report and the statutory obligations of Local Authorities under the Business and Planning Act 2020; and

2)    Agree to introduce an application fee of £100 for pavement café licence applications with immediate effect.

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.

Report of Corporate Director of Environment, Communities & Leisure

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Director of Environment, Communities and Leisure, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, regarding a change of circumstances following information received about the holder of a Joint Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

CW attended the meeting and addressed the Committee. CW had provided a written explanation of the circumstances leading to his appearance before the Committee.

In making its decision, the Committee found that there were exceptional mitigating circumstances surrounding the offences which allowed for departure from the Council’s approved Policy and Guidelines.

RESOLVED to:

Issue a warning to CW that such conduct fell short of the expected standard for Hackney Carriage Drivers and that further such incidents would result in another appearance before the Committee.

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Director of Environment, Communities and Leisure, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, regarding an application for a one year joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence for SH.

SH attended the meeting and addressed the committee.

In making the decision the Committee applied the Council’s approved Policy and Guidelines.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve SH’s application for a one year Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence; and

2)    Issue a warning that the applicant should ensure that all necessary paperwork is presented correctly when applying for future licences.

Report of Corporate Director of Environment, Communities & Leisure

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Director of Environment, Communities and Leisure, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, regarding an application for a one year joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence for SPS.

SPS attended the meeting and addressed the committee.

The Committee found that there had been no change in the applicant’s circumstances since his last appearance in July where his licence was revoked.

RESOLVED:

To refuse SPS’s application for a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

SPS was advised of the right of appeal against the decision of the Committee.