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.

Councillor A Hodson declared a personal interest in Item 8 – Hackney Carriage Driver Licence and Private Hire Driver Licence (MBDG), by virtue of being acquainted with the applicant (minute 42 refers).

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Ford Mondeo, registration number YD12 MHO, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 21 June 2019 and the current licence was due to expire on 24 September 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 24 March 2012.  On 8 April 2022 an application to grant a six month licence 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 YD12 MHO, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Toyota Verso, registration number MK62 KPR, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 8 September 2019 and the current licence was due to expire on 14 September 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 14 September 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 subject to the seat cover being replaced, the application to license the Toyota Verso, registration number MK62 KPR, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Mercedes Vito, registration number LC11 MSY, outside the current age policy for licensing Hackney Carriage Vehicles.  The vehicle had previously been licensed as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle until 10 August 2022 when the licence expired.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 25 July 2011.  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 did not attend the meeting.

Resolved – That the proprietor of the Mercedes Vito, registration number LC11 MSY be advised to attend a future meeting of the Regulatory Panel should they wish to pursue their application.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Renault Master, registration number EX59 GNK, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle since 21 March 2019 and the current licence was due to expire on 19 September 2022.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 21 September 2009.  On 17 September 2021 and 11 March 2022 applications to grant a six month licence were granted by the Regulatory Panel.  If granted a licence, the vehicle would be used exclusively 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 Renault Master, registration number EX59 GNK, as a Private Hire Vehicle be granted for six months.

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to license a Ford Transit, registration number FR12 WWX, outside the current age policy for licensing Private Hire Vehicles.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle from 23 April 2021 until 20 August 2022 when the licence expired.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 20 August 2012. 

This matter had been withdrawn prior to the meeting.

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 Chair, Councillor A Hodson declared a personal interest in this matter and left the meeting during its consideration (minute 35 refers).

Vice-Chair Councillor Clare O’Hagan in the Chair.

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

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

Members of the Panel and their legal advisor questioned MBDG.

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 MBDG’s application for a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence and a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

(2)  That MBDG be permitted to re-sit the knowledge test prior to the standard 6 month period.

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether BAM should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

BAM attended the meeting with his legal representative and made representations. BAM and his legal representative responded to questions from Members and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members considered carefully the responses made by BAM and his legal representative.

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 (3:2) (Councillors M Booth and K Greaney dissenting) –

(1)  That BAM be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence subject to the successful completion of a Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving (Taxi and Private Hire) and the Taxi Driver Retraining Course which must be commenced no later than September 2022.

(2)  That should BAM fail to comply with the above resolution, he be referred back to the Regulatory Panel.

(3)  That BAM be given a written warning as to his future conduct.

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members to consider whether JP should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

JP attended the meeting with his legal representative.

JP’s legal representative advised Members that he had only just received instructions from JP.  The legal representative then requested that this matter be adjourned to a future date.

Resolved – That this matter be adjourned to Friday 23 September 2022.