Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Holland was appointed as Chair for this meeting.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of 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 items and on the grounds that if involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 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 items on the grounds that they involved 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 Licensing Officer.

The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee and the Apprentice Solicitor set out the procedure for the hearing advising of the Council’s policy and the requirements under Section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and Section 47 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

The Licensing Officer presented the application for a licensed dual driver to renew a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence in relation to a Toyota Prius, which was 10 years old. The vehicle was first registered on 26 September 2014.The Applicant had submitted a current vehicle MOT certificate dated 2 August 2024 with a mileage of 236,037 miles and the MOT history showing that the vehicle had failed 3 times since 2017. An independent mechanical inspection report, was also submitted, dated 7 August 2024, along with photographs of the vehicle. The vehicle was also inspected by a Licensing Officer and was considered to be in reasonable condition.

The Applicant was in attendance and spoke in support of their application and responded to questions from Members, the Apprentice Solicitor and the Licensing Officer.

RESOLVED that the application for the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence be granted for 12 months. A further MOT should also be carried out after six months and evidence of such provided to the Licensing Officer.

To consider the report of the Licensing Officer.

The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee and the Solicitor set out the procedure for the hearing advising of the Council’s policy and the requirements under Section 48(1) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

The Licensing Officer presented the application for a licensed Private Hire Vehicle in relation to an 8 passenger, Citroen relay, which was 9 years old. The vehicle was first registered on 15 October 2014 and had been licensed since 4 September 2018. The Applicant had submitted a current vehicle MOT certificate dated 20 August 2024 with a mileage of 163,573 miles and the MOT history showing that the vehicle had failed 4 times since 2018. An independent mechanical inspection report, was also submitted, dated 28 August 2024, along with photographs of the vehicle. The vehicle was also inspected by a Licensing Officer and was considered to be in reasonable condition for its age.

The Applicant was in attendance and spoke in support of their application and responded to questions from Members, the Apprentice Solicitor and the Licensing Officer.

RESOLVED that the application for the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle licence be approved for 12 Months.