Agenda and minutes

(Director of Governance) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

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

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

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 the attached report.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence from Mr L Pascovitch. The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors and Mr S Neville (Chairman), A Lion and P Stalker. Members noted that officers did not have delegated authority to determine this and, as a result, the application had to be considered by the Sub-Committee.

The Chairman welcomed the Applicant and Mr P Nelson from Sadlers Taxis and introduced the Members and Officers present. The Licensing Compliance Officer informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the Licence could not be dealt with under delegated authority.

The Applicant made a short statement in support of his application before answering a number of questions from Members of the Sub-Committee. The Chairman requested that everyone, except the Licensing Sub-Committee members and advising officers left the Chamber whilst they considered the application.

The Chairman invited the Applicant and Licensing Officer back into the Chamber and informed the Applicant of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

The Chairman advised that during their deliberations in private session they had received no advice from officers whilst determining the application.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That as the Sub-Committee recognised the effort and commitment of Mr Nelson to employ Mr Pascovitch at Sadlers Taxis and to limit his working hours, the application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence be granted for a period of three years, as the Sub-Committee were satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a driver’s licence; and

(2)   That if a reoccurrence of any driving offences occurred, the Licensing Sub-Committee would take a serious view of any further transgressions.