Agenda and minutes

“I would like to remind everyone that this meeting will be filmed live or recorded, and uploaded to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing.

Therefore, by participating in this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

If any public speakers on MS Teams do not wish to have their image captured, they should ensure that their video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only.

Members and public speakersare reminded to turn on their microphones before speaking and turn them off when they have finished”.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting and introduced the members and officers present. The Chairman also reminded everyone present that the meeting would not be webcast due to private information being discussed.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct.

To note the adopted procedure for the conduct of business by the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business and the Terms of Reference.

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers:  Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or were confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

To consider and determine a new application for a Hackney Carriage driver.

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application to vary an application for a Taxi Drivers License for Mr Elahi. The applicant Mr Elahi was present with his wife Mrs Elahi.

The three councillors that presided over this item were Councillors L Mead (Chairman), S Heather and D Stocker.

Cllr D Sunger observed the meeting.

Also present were L Ridley (Legal Services), Debbie Houghton (Licensing Compliance Officer), P Jones (Licensing Compliance Officer) and T Larsen (Democratic Services).

The Chairman welcomed the applicant and introduced the members and officers present.

The Licensing Compliance Officer presented the application and informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the application could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

The applicant made a short statement in support of the application.

The applicant answered questions from members of the Sub-Committee.

The applicant made their closing statement.

The Panel retired to consider the application.

The Chairman invited the applicant and Licensing Officers back into the chamber and informed the applicant of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

The Chairman advised that this application had been treated on its own merits. The Sub Committee had taken its decision based upon the information given in the report and to this hearing, the relevant representations received and the Council’s policies. The applicant was reminded of the right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date of the written notification of this decision.

Resolved:

The decision was made to refuse the application.

To consider whether an existing Hackney Carriage driver remains a fit and proper person.

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application to vary an application for a Taxi Drivers License for Mr C Jones. The applicant, Mr C Jones, were not present at the meeting despite the Licensing Team repeatedly trying to contact him via phone, letters and e-mail.

The three councillors that presided over this item were Councillors L Mead (Chairman), S Heather and D Stocker.

Also present were L Ridley (Legal Services), D Houghton (Licensing Compliance Officer), P Jones (Licensing Compliance Officer) and T Larsen (Democratic Services).

The Licensing Compliance Officer presented the application and informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the application could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

The Panel retired to consider the application.

The Chairman invited the Licensing Officers back into the chamber and informed them of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

The Chairman advised that this application had been treated on its own merits. The Sub-Committee had taken its decision based upon the information given in the report and to this hearing, the relevant representations received and the Council’s policies. The Chairman informed the Chamber of the right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date of the written notification of this decision.

Resolved:

The decision was made to revoke the applicant’s license.