Councillor Stephen Bennett took the Chair as Vice Chair of the parent committee.

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.

Councillor Stephen Bennett declared a personal interest in item 15 (Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence - Vauxhall Vivaro, registration number DX68 WKD) in that he had spoken to the appellant about a year ago regarding taxi matters.

The Chair varied the order that items were dealt with to suit the availability of participants. The minutes remain in the order of the agenda.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to consider whether to license a BMW 7 Series, registration AE22 NXF, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside of the criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles as the proprietor had requested an exemption from the legal requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and the conditions relating to displaying door signs on the vehicle. There had originally been a request to an exemption to the policy in that the vehicle’s windows did not comply with the minimum light transmission set out in the Council’s Policy, but after inspection they were considered to be compliant.

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

The proprietor of the vehicle had provided a business plan to Members of the Panel which was outlined at the meeting confirming that he wished to provide an executive travel service.

Resolved: That exemptions be granted from the requirements to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and door signs on the vehicle, subject to the following conditions being applied to the Private Hire Vehicle Licence and Private Hire Operator Licence:

All bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

· Payment for all bookings must be requested through an invoicing system.

· The operator must communicate with customers for each booking taken, by text or email, with the following information:

- Private Hire Driver name

- Private Hire Driver photograph

- Private Hire Driver badge number

- Private Hire Vehicle registration number

 For the avoidance of doubt, the above conditions also apply in respect of drivers and vehicles undertaking work for bookings subcontracted to other private hire companies.

The Chair declared a personal interest in that he had spoken to the applicant about taxi matters about a year previously. The applicant was content for the Chair to remain.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report to consider an application to amend a condition attached to a current Private Hire Vehicle Licence namely a Vauxhall Vivaro, registration number DX68 WKD to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle from seven to eight.

The proprietor attended the meeting with the vehicle which the Licensing Panel inspected. The proprietor explained to the panel that they only undertook school contract work and airport transfers, and the increase was to accommodate more passengers for these purposes.

Resolved – That the application to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the Vauxhall Vivaro registration number DX68 WKD, from seven to eight be granted.

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 1 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 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

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

PB attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the application.  PB responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members gave due consideration to the representations made, including additional information supplied prior to the meeting, and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

Resolved - ThatPB’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

This matter was deferred to a future meeting of the Licensing Panel.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether JCD was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

JCD attended the meeting with their representative and made representations in respect of the matter.  JCD and their representative responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

Members gave due consideration to the representations made, including additional information supplied prior to the meeting, and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

Resolved –

1. That JCD be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

2.  That JCD be issued with a written warning from the Licensing Panel.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider an application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver Licence.

SC attended the meeting and responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

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 SC’s application for a Private Hire Driver be granted.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider an application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver Licence.

DT attended the meeting and responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

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

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider an application for the grant of a Private Hire Driver Licence.

LP attended the meeting and responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

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

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider an application for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

WMC attended the meeting and responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

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 WMC’s application for a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence be refused.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to consider whether to license a Mercedes-Benz E Class, registration number OU69 RGO, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside of the criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles which states that the front windscreen must allow at least 75% of light through, the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through and the windows rear of the B-pillar must allow a minimum light transmission of 30%. The proprietor had also requested an exemption from the legal requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and the conditions relating to displaying door signs on the vehicle.

The proprietor attended the meeting with the vehicle which the Licensing Panel inspected. The proprietor of the vehicle explained that they currently provided an executive travel service and that the application had been made as they had had to purchase a new vehicle due to a major fault with the vehicle that they currently have licensed. The proprietor responded to questions from Members of the Panel.

Resolved – That a Private Hire Vehicle Licence be granted with the following conditions:

All bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

·  Payment for all bookings must be requested through an invoicing system.

·  The operator must communicate with customers for each booking taken, by text or email, with the following information:

- Private Hire Driver name

- Private Hire Driver photograph

- Private Hire Driver badge number

- Private Hire Vehicle registration number

For the avoidance of doubt, the above conditions also apply in respect of drivers and vehicles undertaking work for bookings subcontracted to other private hire companies.