Members of the Panel are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Panel were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to license a Toyota Auris Estate, registration number DE14 VFR, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles. The vehicle had first been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle between 18 April 2019 and the current licence was due to expire on 22 April 2024. The date of first registration of the vehicle was 22 April 2014.

The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the MOT and Compliance pass certificates had been provided to Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected.

RESOLVED:

That the application to license the Toyota Auris Estate, registration number DE14 VFR, as  Private Hire Licence Vehicle  be granted for six months. It was further resolved that the front plate on the vehicle be replaced.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to license a Mercedes-Benz E220, registration number GU69 UDM, outside the current criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles, which stated that the side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through. The proprietor had also requested an exemption from the requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on the vehicle, as well as to exempt the driver of the vehicle from wearing their licensed Private Hire Driver badge.

The proprietor of the vehicle Mersey Chauffeurs Ltd had requested to change the vehicle on their Private Hire Vehicle Licence from a Mercedes V220D, registration FX72 OCH to a Mercedes E220, registration GY69 UDM.

 The current licence relating to the Mercedes V220D was due to expire on 5 December 2024.

The date of the first registration of the vehicle Mercedes E220, registration GU69 UDM, was 7 October 2019.

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected.

RESOLVED:

That the application to license aMercedes-Benz E220, registration number GU69 UDM, be granted. The panel also resolved to grant the exemption from the requirement to display PHVL plates on the vehicle and to exempt the driver of the vehicle from wearing their licensed Private Hire Driver Badge.

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 1 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 paragraph 1 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 and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether ERS should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

ERS attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the review. ERS responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members gave due consideration to the representation made.

RESOLVED:

That ERS’s Private Hire Driver Licence be suspended with immediate effect until ERS successfully completes theNVQ Level 2 in Road Passenger Transport VRQ. That ERS be issued with a written warning from the Licensing Panel in respect of his future conduct.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether PJ should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence. This item had been deferred from a previous meeting, held on 12 April 2024.

PJ attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the review. PJ responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members gave due consideration to all representations made in respect of PJ.

RESOLVED:

That PJ’s Private Hire Driver Licence be revoked with immediate effect.