Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Macdonald was appointed Chair for this meeting.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare personal and prejudicial interests, including the nature and extent of such interests, in relation to business on the agenda, before any discussion takes place on the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

To pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for item 4 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.”

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part I, Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services.

(Report circulated to Members)

The Licensing Sub-Committee accepted this item as a late addition to the agenda as it required determination as a matter of urgency to ensure there was no prejudice to the applicant following his acquittal in the Crown Court on two charges and to establish whether, in the light of recent events, Mr C was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage Driver’s licence.

The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee Members and Officers.

The Principal Licensing Officer referred to the suspension of Mr C’s licence to drive a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle, as he was the subject of the allegations before the Crown Court. An application had now been made by Mr C with a request to lift the suspension of the said licence. Members were asked to determine if Mr C was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

The licence had been suspended on 1 February 2011. In July 2011 the case concluded and Mr C was found not guilty in relation to both charges. Members also had before them details of other relevant matters which included a conviction in March 2009.

Mr C attended the meeting and spoke in support of his application. He explained the circumstances relating to the more recent incident which gave rise to the proceedings in the Crown Court.

The Sub-Committee retired to make its decision in the presence of the Licensing Solicitor and the Member Services Officer. 

RESOLVED that, notwithstanding the matters disclosed, the applicant was a fit and proper person to drive a Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Vehicle and approved the lifting of the suspension.

(Report circulated to Members)