To appoint a Chair of the Panel.

Resolved - That Councillor Sue Taylor be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members are invited to consider whether they have any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any of the items on this agenda and if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members were invited to consider whether they had any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any of the items on the agenda and if so, to declare them and state what they were.

Councillor S Taylor declared a prejudicial interest in respect of item 6 (Street Collection), see minute 151 post, by virtue of her being a Trustee of the Egg Run.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Rover 75, registration number NK52 LRV, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months under delegated powers on 8 October 2010.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 12 January 2007 and had passed the compliance test necessary for a licence to be issued.

The owner of the vehicle was present at the meeting with his vehicle which members of the Panel inspected.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Rover 75, registration number NK52 LRV be granted for a further six months.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Peugeot 406, registration number DE52 VFV, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months under delegated powers on 7 November 2010.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 9 June 2005 and had passed the compliance test necessary for a licence to be issued.

The owner of the vehicle was present at the meeting with his vehicle which members of the Panel inspected.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Peugeot 406, registration number DE52 VFV be granted for a further six months.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Ford Mondeo, registration number YC52 KTX, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months under delegated powers on 8 October 2010.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 8 April 2008 and had passed the compliance test necessary for a licence to be issued.

The owner of the vehicle was present at the meeting with his vehicle which members of the Panel inspected.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Ford Mondeo, registration number YC52 KTX be granted for a further six months subject to work identified being carried out and a further inspection being undertaken by the Licensing Officer in respect of said work.

Councillor S Taylor declared a prejudicial interest in respect of this matter (see minute 147 above) and left the meeting during its consideration.

(Councillor B Davies in the Chair for this matter).

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received from Ian Hodgson for a Street Collection Permit on behalf of the Wirral Egg Run for Sunday 17 April 2011. The collection was to take place along the route of the Egg Run from New Brighton to Clatterbridge Hospital.

The matter had previously come before Members on 11 March 2011.

Mr Ian Hodgson attended the meeting and presented the application.

Resolved - That the application for a Street Collection Permit in respect of the Wirral Egg Run be granted to take place on 17 April 2011.

To consider any other business that the Chair accepts as being urgent.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Ford Galaxy, registration number YG52 0PH, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months under delegated powers on 26 October 2010.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 27 October 2006 and had passed the compliance test necessary for a licence to be issued.

The owner of the vehicle was present at the meeting with his vehicle which members of the Panel inspected.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Ford Galaxy, registration number YG52 0PH be granted for a further six months.

The following items contain exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION:  That, under section 100 (A) (4) 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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) 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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.  The Public Interest test had been applied and favoured exclusion.

Councillor Bill Davies left the meeting.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr JB for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr JB attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr JB’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr TAB for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr TAB attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr TAB’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr STC for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr STC attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved -

(1)  That Mr STC’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

(2)  That Mr STC be given a warning as to his future conduct.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr SAG for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr SAG did not attend the meeting.

Resolved - That Mr SAG be instructed to attend a future meeting of this Panel should he wish to pursue his application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr MM for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr MM attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr MM’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr CWM for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr CWM attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved (4:1) - That Mr CWM’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be refused.

In determining the matter Members heard representations from Mr CWM regarding his application and took a serious view of the nature of the previous convictions and cautions recorded against him and the fact that these were not all disclosed when the application was submitted.  Members considered their duty with regard to the protection of members of the public and referred to the Council’s policy in this regard.  Members concluded that the application be refused as they did not consider Mr CWM to be a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.  In coming to this view Members considered the proportionality principle under the Human Rights Act 1998 and felt that the protection and safety of the public was of paramount concern.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr SJS to renew his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.  Mr SJS attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application to renew his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr SJS’s application to renew his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence be approved.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr AJW for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.  Mr AJW attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr AJW’s application for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence be approved.