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 Bill Davies declared a prejudicial interest in item 7 (minute 59 post) by virtue of his acquaintance with the applicant’s representative.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Vauxhall Vectra, registration number KY02 LSX, 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 28 February 2010. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 7 November 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.

Councillor Taylor referred to the criteria that must be met in that the vehicle must be in exceptional condition in order for the application to be granted and noted that a number of matters needed to be addressed.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Vauxhall Vectra, registration number KY02 LSX be granted for a further six months subject to the necessary work referred to being carried out and a further inspection undertaken by the Licensing Officer.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Peugeot 406, registration number SK02 CXM, 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 25 March 2010. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 26 March 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.

Councillor Taylor referred to the criteria that must be met in that the vehicle must be in exceptional condition in order for the application to be granted and noted that a number of matters needed to be addressed.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Peugeot 406, registration number SK02 CXM be granted for a further six months subject to the necessary work referred to being carried out and a further inspection undertaken by the Licensing Officer.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Vauxhall Astra, registration number SN51 AVO, 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 22 January 2010. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 4 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.

Councillor Taylor referred to the criteria that must be met in that the vehicle must be in exceptional condition in order for the application to be granted and noted that the following matters needed to be addressed:-

• The interior of the vehicle needed cleaning, in particular the interior door panels
• There was some damage to the front bumper

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Vauxhall Astra, registration number SN51 AVO be granted for a further six months subject to the necessary repairs mentioned above being carried out and a further inspection undertaken by the Licensing Officer.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence a Volkswagen Passat, registration number BK02 SXZ, 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 18 March 2010. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 19 April 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.

Members considered that the vehicle was in exceptional condition.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Volkswagen Passat registration number BK02 SXZ be granted for a further six months.

Councillor Bill Davies declared a prejudicial interest in this matter (see minute 54) and left the meeting during its consideration.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received to re-licence an Audi A6, registration number J5 AYP, 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 5 March 2010. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 5 May 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.

Councillor Taylor referred to the criteria that must be met in that the vehicle must be in exceptional condition in order for the application to be granted and noted that a number of matters needed to be addressed.

Resolved - That the application to re-licence the Audi A6, registration number J5 AYP be granted for a further six months subject to the necessary work referred to being carried out and a further inspection undertaken by the Licensing Officer.

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.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon an application received by Mr PL for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Mr PL did not attend the meeting.

Resolved - That Mr PL be instructed to attend a future meeting of the Licensing Panel should he wish to pursue his application.

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

Resolved - That Mr AF be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence with a warning as to his future conduct.

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

Resolved - That Mr RCG be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence with a stern warning as to his future conduct.

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

Resolved - That Mr ROI be allowed to continue to hold a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence with a warning as to his future conduct and subject to production of his insurance documents to the Licensing Officer.

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

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

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

Resolved - That Mr PAPP’s application for the grant of a Home School Contract Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

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

Resolved - That Mr JAS’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 NAW for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr NAW attended the meeting and explained the circumstances of his convictions.

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