In the absence of the Chair, it was –

Resolved – That Councillor P Stuart be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members stood in silent tribute to the late Councillor Walter Smith, who had died recently.

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 Managing Director for Delivery reported upon an application received to re-licence a Vauxhall Vectra, registration number MF57 ZYJ, beyond the normal over-age date for a licensed private hire vehicle. The vehicle had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since 25 June 2015 and the current licence was due to expire on 30 October 2017, however it had been extended to the date of this meeting. The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificate was available for Members.

The owner of the vehicle was present at the meeting with his vehicle which members of the Panel inspected.  The driver of the vehicle was also in attendance.

Resolved – That the application to re-licence the Vauxhall Vectra, registration number MF57 ZYJ be granted for a further six months.

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 Managing Director for Delivery submitted a report for Members to consider whether Mr ML should be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Operator Licence.

The applicant’s solicitor had advised him not to attend the meeting.

Resolved – That the applicant be requested to attend a meeting of this Panel scheduled to be held on 29 November 2017, when this matter would be considered.

Members observed a two minutes’ silence in respect of Remembrance Sunday.

The Managing Director for Delivery submitted a report for Members to consider whether Mr GH should be allowed to continue to hold his Private Hire Driver Licence.

Mr GH attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the complaint made against him. 

Members viewed CCTV footage that had been provided in respect of the most recent complaint.

Members had regard to the representations made by Mr GH, however they raised concerns in respect of public safety.

Resolved (3:1) (Councillor C Meaden dissenting) - That Mr GH’s Private Hire Driver Licence be revoked with immediate effect.

The Managing Director for Delivery reported upon an application received by Mr BTD for the grant of a Private Hire Driver Licence.  Mr BTD attended the meeting and made representations in respect of his application.

Members considered the representations made by Mr BTD.

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

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