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 3 – Private Hire Vehicle Licence Application – Volvo V50, Registration Number GJ61 RVP (minute 84 refers) by virtue of being acquainted with the applicant’s representative.

Councillor A Hodson declared a personal interest in Item 4 – Private Hire Vehicle Licence Application – Mercedes Benz E Class, Registration Number V60 RCR (minute 85 refers) by virtue of having attended the same youth club as the applicant.

  The Chair declared a personal interest in this matter (minute 83 refers).

The Director of Law and Governance reported upon an application received to re-license a Volvo V50, registration number GJ61 RVP, beyond the normal overage date for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle.  The vehicle had been licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle from 20 January 2015 until 18 October 2021 when the licence expired.  The date of first registration of the vehicle was 18 October 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 was represented by her partner at the meeting with the vehicle which Members of the Panel inspected. 

Resolved – That subject to the front registration plate being renewed and a full valet of the vehicle being carried out and being verified by a Licensing Officer, the application to license the Volvo V50, registration number GJ61 RVP, 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 Benz E Class, registration number V60 RCR, 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.  The applicant stated that he had previously undertaken executive transportation work in another vehicle and intended to operate the same model of business with this vehicle. 

Resolved – That the application to license the Mecedes Benz E Class, Registration Number V60 RCR, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside the current criteria be granted with the following conditions to be applied to the Private Hire Vehicle Licence and the 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, this includes drivers and vehicles undertaking work for bookings subcontracted to other private hire companies.

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 JDE should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

JDE attended the meeting made representations in respect of the application.

Members questioned JDE.

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 be required to provide further supporting information in respect of his application for a Private Hire Driver Licence and the representations he made.

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

MAL attended the meeting made representations in respect of the application.

Members questioned MAL.

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