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 Governance reported upon an application received to re-license a Vauxhall Meriva, registration number DG12 VBD, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 28 February 2020 and the current licence was due to expire on 27 February 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 13 March 2012.  The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificates were available for Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle was present at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Vauxhall Meriva, registration number DG12 VBD, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to re-license a Toyota Prius, registration number PN61 LDJ, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 20 October 2016 and the current licence was due to expire on 1 March 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 1 September 2011.  On expiry of a previous licence on 13 August 2021 a six month licence was granted by the Regulatory Panel.  The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificates were available for Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle was present at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Toyota Prius, registration number PN61 LDJ, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to re-license a Toyota Avensis, registration number FP11 BYV, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle from 12 December 2018 until 4 February 2021 and from 14 July 2021 until 13 January 2022 when the licence expired.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 9 May 2011.  On expiry of a previous licence on 9 July 2021 a six month licence was granted by the Regulatory Panel.  The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificates were available for Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle was present at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Toyota Avensis, registration number FP11 BYV, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months subject to the advisories on the MOT being carried out and proof of this being provided to a Licensing Officer.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to re-license an Iveco Ford Daily, registration number WA60 EWG, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 29 August 2019 and the current licence was due to expire on 11 February 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 22 December 2010.  On expiry of a previous licence on 29 January 2021 and 9 July 2021 six month licences had been granted by the Regulatory Panel.  The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificates were available for Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle was present at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Iveco Ford Daily, registration number WA60 EWG, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to re-license an Iveco Ford Daily, registration number LT52 PXZ, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 3 September 2018 and the current licence was due to expire on 1 March 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 2 December 2002.  The vehicle was used to undertake work exclusively under and in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of a contract issued by the Council to transport children to and from educational establishments.  The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the pass certificates were available for Members.

The proprietor of the vehicle was present at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Iveco Ford Daily, registration number LT52 PXZ, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months subject to concerns relating to the tailgate being addressed by the applicant and the vehicle being subsequently presented to a Licensing Officer for inspection.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Peugeot 508, registration number DG17 FSN, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside the current criteria which states that side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through.

In September 2017 Members of the Licensing Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee approved criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles. A copy of the criteria was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Paragraph 36 of the criteria states that: The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and all other windows must let at least 70% of light through.

The applicant attended the meeting with his vehicle which was inspected by Members. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Peugeot 508, Registration Number DG17 FSN, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside the current criteria be granted subject to the drop windows at the rear of the vehicle being replaced by glass that complies with the current criteria which states that side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Mazda 6, registration number XJZ 3928, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside the current criteria which states that side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through.

In September 2017 Members of the Licensing Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee approved criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles. A copy of the criteria was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Paragraph 36 of the criteria states that: The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and all other windows must let at least 70% of light through.

The applicant attended the meeting with his vehicle which was inspected by Members. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Mazda 6, Registration Number XJZ 3928, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside the current criteria be granted subject to the drop windows at the rear of the vehicle being replaced by glass that complies with the current criteria which states that side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through.

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 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 Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether JBC should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

JBC attended the meeting and made representations. JBC responded to questions from Members and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members considered carefully the responses made by JBC.

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

Resolved (4:1) (Councillor D Burgess-Joyce dissenting) –

(1)  That JBC be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence subject to the completion of the next available Driver Awareness Course.

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

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether CPT should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

CPT attended the meeting together with his legal representative and made representations in respect of the application.

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned CPT and his legal representative.

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

Resolved – That CPT’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether KJW should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

KJW attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the application.

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned KJW.

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

Resolved – That KJW’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether JDE should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

JDE attended the meeting together with his legal representative and made representations in respect of the application.

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned JDE and his legal representative.

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

Resolved – That JDE’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.