Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting and the Chairman to present and explain the procedure for the meeting.

Proposed by Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Wheller.

Decision: that Cllr Emma Parker be elected chairman of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Jon Andrews,  Cllr Kate Wheller had replaced him for the sub-committee meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

Proposed by Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Wheller

Decision: That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report starting with the Institute of Licensing Safe and Suitable Guide regarding taxi drivers’ suitability for the task in hand.  She referred members to paragraph 10.1 of the report and their duty to ensure that any person to whom they grant a taxi or private hire vehicle driver’s licence is a ‘fit and proper’ person to be a licence holder.  Members were advised that the function of licensing is the protection of the public and that licensing has an onerous responsibility in making decisions regarding the grant and renewal of licences

it is, in effect, holding out the licensee as someone who can be trusted to convey the passenger from A to B in safety.  The Licensing Team Leader stated that the fit and proper test at 5.12 - 5.14 of the new Statutory Guidance and contained at paragraph 10.1 of the report. You must be certain this applicant is fit and proper with no doubts at all.

The applicant was given the opportunity to put their case forward.

The sub-committee then asked questions of the applicant.

Once they had gathered all the information required to make a decision and the applicant, Legal Officer and the Licensing team Leader had had an opportunity to sum-up their case, the sub-committee adjourned to make their decision.

Decision: - The Sub-Committee carefully considered all of the evidence presented to it by all parties and concluded that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence or a Private Hire Driver Licence.

Taxi Driver Application.