Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

There were no changes to Membership of the Committee.

Note:  No other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of business.

Party Whips are not to be used by this Committee in respect of functions concerning the determination of new Licence Applications, Revocations and Appeals.  When considering any other matter which relates to a decision of the Cabinet or the performance of any Member of the Cabinet, in accordance with Regulatory Committee Procedure Rule 9, Members must declare the existence of any Party Whip and the nature of it, before the commencement of the Committee’s deliberations on the matter.

There were no declarations of Party Whip.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of the agenda sheet).

Councillor G Owen declared a pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 12- Application for Private Hire Driver Licence WK/000236453 as the Applicant was known to her personally.

There are no minutes to receive.

There were no minutes to receive.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2017.

RESOLVED:             That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2017 be received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment as contained on pages 449 to 510 of the Book of Reports which informed Members of a public consultation, conducted by the Institute of Licensing, on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trades and to approve a response.

The Commercial, Safety and Licensing Manager outlined the report and responded to comments and questions raised by Members.

RESOLVED:             That the consultation response provided at Appendix 4 to the report be approved for submission to the Institute of Licensing before the consultation deadline of 28 February 2018.

It is recommended that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in disclosing the information.  The nature of the exempt information and the relevant exemption paragraphs are shown in brackets after the report title.

RESOLVED    That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 2 (Identity of an individual) and Paragraph 7 (Criminal Matters) part 1 of Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment Services.

(IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL/CRIMINAL MATTERS-Paragraphs 2 & 7)

Members were asked to consider an Application for a Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000233094 having regard to the content of the Statutory Declaration that accompanied the Application Form and any other relevant information.

RESOLVED:             That Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000233094 be deferred one cycle in order to allow the Applicant to attend.

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment Services.

(IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL/CRIMINAL MATTERS-Paragraphs 2 & 7)

Members were asked to consider an Application for a Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000236716 having regard to the content of the Statutory Declaration that accompanied the Application Form and any other relevant information.

The Applicant attended the meeting and was interviewed by the Committee during which he was advised of his right of appeal to the Magistrates Court if he was aggrieved by the decision.

RESOLVED:             That Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000236716 be REFUSED.

(Note: The Officers from Leisure and Environment Services left the meeting as Members considered their decision in this case).

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment Services.

(IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL/CRIMINAL MATTERS-Paragraphs 2 & 7)

Members were asked to consider an Application for a Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000236453 having regard to the content of the Statutory Declaration that accompanied the Application Form and any other relevant information.

RESOLVED:             That Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000236453 be deferred one cycle in order to allow receipt of the DBS Report.

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment Services.

(IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL/CRIMINAL MATTERS-Paragraphs 2 & 7)

Members were asked to consider an Application for a Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000234945 having regard to the statutory Declaration that accompanied the Application Form and any other relevant information.

The Applicant attended the meeting and was interviewed by the Committee during which he was advised of his right of appeal to the Magistrates Court if he was aggrieved by the decision.

RESOLVED:             That Private Hire Driver Licence Number WK/000234945 be REFUSED.

(Note: The Officers from Leisure and Environment Services left the meeting as Members considered their decision in this case).