Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Dodds, D Davidson and A Thompson.

The Committee is asked to approve the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received a report on licensing related appeals and prosecutions during the period 9 January 2016 and 8 February 2016.

RESOLVED - that the information be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received an amended report on new applications for vehicles over 3 years old to be licensed as Private Hire Vehicles/Hackney Carriages.

The Council’s Constitution states that the Regulatory Committee may to grant licenses for Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles where the application does not meet the Council’s standard conditions, but having regard to all relevant information, it is determined that the individual circumstances justify deviation from policy.

RESOLVED -            that the applications be approved.

The Committee may wish to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds indicated:-

Item No                                                           Paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the

                                                                        Local Government Act 1972

6                                                                                              7                                                         

RESOLVED -            That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining business in accordance with paragraph 7 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of the Strategic Director Communities and Environment

            Reference                                                      Issue

1.            RC/02/16                                 Application for the Grant of Private Hire                                                   Driver Licence          

2.         RC/03/16                                 Application for the Grant of Dual (Hackney                                                          Carriage and Private Hire) Driver Licence                                                

RC/02/16 Application for the Grant of Private Hire Driver Licence

The Committee agreed not to grant a Private Hire Driver Licence to the applicant for the following reasons:-

The Committee were not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Driver licence at this time, finding that the individual circumstances did not justify deviation from the Council’s policy, and that to the contrary, the applicant’s pattern of violent behaviour was both serious and recent; and that he had recently and deliberately acted dishonestly in the course of providing Private Hire services for his own personal gain

The Committee noted that in reaching their decision they only had regards to such factors as are relevant to ensuring public safety.

RC/03/16 Application for a Dual (Hackney Carriage and Private Hire) Driver Licence

The Committee agreed to grant the applicant a Dual Driver Licence for a period of one year, with the Private Hire element being subject to the Council’s standard Private Hire Driver licence conditions.

The Committee considered that the applicant had demonstrated himself to be of suitable character and should be capable of achieving the expected standard of driving, and so were satisfied that he is a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Driver licence at this time.

However, in light of the concern about the applicant’s pattern of poor driving and the seriousness of his violence-related conviction, the Committee were minded to grant the applicant a licence for one year in the first instance, on the basis that if the applicant can demonstrate over the duration of that licence that he has remained fir and proper throughout, a longer licence may then be granted.

The Committee noted that in reaching their decision they only had regard to such factors as are relevant to ensuring public safety.