Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 September 2018 as a true and correct record.

The Sub-Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 September 2018.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Resolved: That under Section 100 (A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the whole item, including the decisions referred to at Agenda item 4 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

(This item contains personal information regarding applicants and licence holders which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972)

Members were informed of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver applicant who had given sufficient cause for concern as to be referred to the Sub-Committee for consideration.

E.M.L (New Private Hire applicant)

Mr R Ratcliffe, Licensing Officer was in attendance and outlined the relevant information. Mr Ratcliffe highlighted that E.M.L not withstanding a previous good record when previously licensed had subsequently been convicted of a violent offence.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant was not in attendance but that they had been notified of the date of the meeting and had not communicated with the Licensing Service. The Sub-Committee agreed to hear the application in E.M.L’s absence given they had not contacted the Council to give a reason behind their absence.

The Sub-Committee considered carefully the application and the details of E.M.L. It noted that the applicant had been convicted of an offence of a violent nature within the last three years. The Sub-Committee noted that the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy stated that an application will not normally be granted where the applicant has a conviction for an offence involving violence. The Sub-Committee considered that the offence had been a serious one involving violence and there was no reason to mitigate the serious nature of offence  and there were no reasons to deviate from the policy, in the absence of these the Sub-Committee concluded that E.M.L would not be a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence.

Resolved:

1.      To consider the application in E.M.L’s absence given that they had been notified of the hearing and not given any justifiable reason for absence.

2.      To refuse to grant the Private Hire Driver’s Licence on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person.

Background papers: exempt

To note the date of the next meeting as 6 November 2018.

The Sub-Committee noted the date of the next meeting as 6 November 2018.