To appoint a Chair of the Panel.

Resolved – That Councillor S Niblock be appointed 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 K Wood declared a prejudicial interest in respect of item 7 (Private Hire Driver Licence Convictions Incurred), see minute 19 post, by virtue of her knowledge of this private hire driver.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Ford Galaxy, registration number Y634 UEN, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed previously by the Licensing Panel.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 4 June 2004 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 Y634 UEN  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 Focus, registration number MXO2 FYS, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed previously by the Panel.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 12 September January 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 Focus, registration number MXO2 FYS 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.

(Councillor K Wood, having previously declared a prejudicial interest in respect of this matter, left the meeting and took no part in the decision)

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr JB to consider whether he be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr JB attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his conviction.

Resolved (3:2)  -

(1)  That Mr JB be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s licence.

(2)  That Mr JB be given a serious written warning as to his future conduct.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr SJH for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr SJH attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his convictions.

Resolved - That Mr SJH’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 BNWCM for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr BNWCM attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his conviction.

Resolved - That Mr  BNWCM’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 LS to consider whether he be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr LS attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his conviction.

Resolved - That Mr LS be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s licence.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr PKW to consider whether he be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr PKW attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his convictions.

Resolved (4:3) (by virtue of the Chair’s casting vote)(Councillors Taylor, Wood and Wilkins dissenting)  -

(1)  That Mr PKW be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s licence.

(2)  That Mr PKW be given a serious written warning as to his future conduct.