To appoint a Chair of the Panel.

Resolved - That Councillor Bill Davies 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 th agenda and if so, to declare them and state what they were.

No such declarations were made.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Ford Mondeo, registration number VE52 UTM, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months on 3 November 2010.  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 3 November 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 Mondeo, registration number VE52 UTM be granted for a further six months subject to work identified being carried out and a further inspection being undertaken by the Licensing Officer prior to renewal of the Licence.

This application had been withdrawn prior to the hearing.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Toyota Avensis, registration number RX02 JKE, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had already been re-licensed for a further six months on 27 December 2009.  Upon expiry of that licence on 27 June 2010 a further six month licence had been granted by the Licensing Panel and subsequently a further six month licence was granted on 14 January 2011..  It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 27 December 2009 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 Toyota Avensis, registration number RX02 JKE 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 involved 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.

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

Resolved - That Mr NAW 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 SMO for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr SMO attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr SMO’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 IMH to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr IMH attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved - That Mr IMH’s application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved with a written warning as to his future conduct.

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

Members gave due consideration to Mr RW’s representations.

Members also had regard to the number of years that Mr RW had been a licensed driver with the Authority and in light of this took the view not to revoke his licence, however, Members have gave serious consideration to the nature of the convictions and the implications involved with public safety which was their paramount concern.

Members took into account the fact that Mr RW had enrolled to take the VRQ with Wirral Satellite in August of this year and expected satisfactory completion.

Resolved -

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

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