Resolved – That Councillor S Niblock be appointed Chair for this meeting.

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.

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 Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr ATB for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. 

The applicant did not attend.

Resolved - That Mr ATB’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be deferred to a future meeting of the Licensing Panel.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr WAO’C for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr WAO’C attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Members considered the representations made by Mr WAO’C regarding the circumstances and the nature of his conviction as well as other material information relevant to his application.

Members gave consideration to their Policy in determining Mr WAO’C’s application, in particular paragraph 11 in that they would expect there to have been a period of at least 10 years before considering granting a licence in these circumstances.  Members therefore considered that Mr WAO’C was not a fit and proper person to be a Private Hire Driver due to the conviction recorded against him and were not provided with any information that persuaded them to act outside of their Policy.

The Panel considered the Proportionality Principle under the Human Rights Act 1998 but that the protection and safety of the public outweighed this and was of paramount concern to Members.

Resolved - That Mr WAO’C’s application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be refused.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr JG for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr JG attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Members gave due consideration to Mr JG’s representations and gave serious consideration to the nature of the convictions recorded against him.

After careful consideration of the representations made, Members exercised their right to consider each case on its own merits and on this occasion Members were persuaded to act outside of their Policy in determining this application.

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr DIMcC for the grant of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  Mr DIMcC attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Members considered the representations made by Mr DIMcC and took a serious view of the number and nature of the convictions recorded against him.

Members considered their duty with regard to the protection of members of the public and referred to the Council’s Policy in this regard, in particular, paragraphs 6, 11 and 12 and were not provided with any information that persuaded them to act outside of their Policy.  Members therefore considered that Mr DIMcC was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

The Panel considered the Proportionality Principle under the Human Rights Act 1998 but that the protection and safety of the public outweighed this and was of paramount concern to Members.

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr PJA to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Mr PJA attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved –

(1)  That Mr PJA’s application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment submitted a report for Members to consider whether Mr AEHJ should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Mr AEHJ attended the meeting and made representations in respect of this report.

Members gave due consideration to Mr AEHJ’s representations and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

On this occasion Members were persuaded to act outside of their Policy in determining this matter.

Resolved -

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

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment submitted a report for Members to consider whether Mr AS should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Mr AS attended the meeting and made representations in respect of this report.

Members gave due consideration to Mr AS’s representations and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

On this occasion Members were persuaded to act outside of their Policy in determining this matter.

Resolved -

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

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

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment reported upon an application received by Mr BT to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Mr BT attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Resolved –

(1)  That Mr BT’s application to renew his Private Hire Driver’s Licence be approved.

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