In the absence of the Chair, it was –

Resolved – That Councillor C Davies be appointed Chair for this meeting.

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.

This application had been withdrawn prior to the hearing.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Mercedes Vito, registration number SE65 KKD, outside the current age policy for licensing Hackney Carriage Vehicles.  The vehicle had previously been licensed as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle until 3 September 2022 when the licence expired and the licence was unable to be renewed at that time as the applicant had been unable to obtain the necessary parts in order for the vehicle to pass the MOT and Compliance Test.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 31 December 2015.  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 attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members.

Resolved – That the application to license a Mercedes Vito, registration number SE65 KKD as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle be granted.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Ford Focus, registration number VN62 EPL, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 8 March 2017 and the current licence was due to expire on 19 October 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 19 October 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 Ford Focus, registration number VN62 EPL, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Ford Mondeo, registration number SP12 TFU, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle from 1 November 2018 to 1 October 2022 when the licence expired.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 1 April 2012.  On 8 April 2022 an application to licence the vehicle for six months 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 Ford Mondeo, registration number SP12 TFU, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Ford Tourneo, registration number CP10 WHJ, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 2 July 2010. 

Members of the Regulatory Panel were also asked to consider licensing the vehicle outside the current criteria which states that side and rear windows must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted through.

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 Ford Tourneo, registration number CP10 WHJ, as a Private Hire Vehicle be refused.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Peugeot 508, registration number ML62 NLU, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 2 March 2017 and the current licence was due to expire on 25 October 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 25 October 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 unable to attend the meeting however two representatives were in attendance with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Peugeot 508, registration number ML62 NLU, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Peugeot 308, registration number DU65 GAA, 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.

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 date of first registration of the vehicle was 16 September 2015.

The applicant was unable to attend the meeting, however two representatives attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Peugeot 308, Registration Number DU65 GAA, 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 be deferred to a future meeting of the Regulatory Panel when the applicant is able to attend.

The Head of Legal Services reported upon an application received to license a Lexus ES, registration number LT69 MHN, 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.

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 date of first registration of the vehicle was 2 September 2019.

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

Resolved – That the application to license the Lexus ES, Registration Number LT69 MHN, 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 be refused.

This application had been withdrawn prior to the hearing.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involves 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 Head of Legal Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether PRD should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

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

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned PRD.

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 PRD’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

The Head of Legal Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether LA should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

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

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned LA.

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 LA’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted until 27 April 2023.

The Head of Legal Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether HY should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

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

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned HY.

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 –

(1)  That HY’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

(2)  That HY must attend the next available Safeguarding Course.