Agenda and draft minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest made by Members at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Licensing Committee, held on 9 December 2024, were submitted and approved as a correct record, subject to the deletion of Councillor Saunders from the apologies.

The Licensing Manager will provide a verbal update, if applicable, on any licensing appeals that have been made since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Principal Licensing Officer advised that, whilst it was not a matter that had been dealt with by the Licensing Committee, there was a pending driver appeal following an incident involving a licensed driver in November 2024.  Officers had revoked the driver’s licence, with immediate effect, in accordance with delegated powers.  The driver had since lodged an appeal and a directions hearing had been scheduled to take place mid-February.

NOTED

There were no urgent items to consider.

NOTED

To consider passing a Resolution Pursuant to Section 100A (4) Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that if present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information falling within paragraphs 1,2, 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

ORDERED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that, if present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Director of Environment and Community Services submitted an exempt report in connection with an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref: 01/25, where circumstances had arisen which required special consideration by the Committee.

The Chair introduced those present and outlined the procedure to be followed.  The applicant, who was in attendance at the meeting, verified his name and address and confirmed he had received a copy of the report and understood its contents. 

The Principal Licensing Officer presented a summary of the report outlining that the applicant appeared before Members as a result of the offence detailed at 1) in the report.  It was highlighted that the applicant had declared the conviction in his application, and this was confirmed following a check on the status of his DVLA driving licence.

The Principal Licensing Officer spoke to the applicant, by telephone, regarding the matter on 27 and 30 December 2024, at which time the applicant confirmed that there were no other outstanding matters of which the Council was unaware.  He also provided an explanation in relation to the offence at 1).

The offence related to the use of a mobile phone whilst the applicant was driving in October 2023.  He was subsequently stopped by the Police and was fined £200 and issued with six penalty points.  It was confirmed that the applicant was made aware of the Council’s policy guidance in relation to such an offence and that a licence would not usually be granted until a period of at least five years had elapsed.  The applicant had stated he wished to continue with his application, and, on 2 January 2025, he provided a brief statement, via email to the Principal Licensing Officer, that he wished the Committee to consider when determining his application.

The Principal Licensing Officer had further contacted the applicant to clarify a point in his email in relation to the offence.

The applicant confirmed that the report was an accurate reflection of the facts and was invited to address the Committee in support of his application.

The applicant spoke in support of his application and responded to questions from Members of the Committee.

It was confirmed that there were no further questions and the applicant and Officers of the Council, other than representatives of the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services teams, withdrew from the meeting whilst the Committee determined the review. 

Subsequently, all parties returned, and the Chair announced a summary of the Committee’s decision and highlighted that the applicant would receive the full decision and reasons within five working days.

ORDERED that the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref No: 01/25, be refused, as follows:-

Authority to Act

1.    Under Section 51 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 (“the Act”) the Committee may decide to grant a private hire vehicle driver’s licence only if it was satisfied the driver was a fit and proper person to be granted such a licence.

2.    The Committee considered Section 51 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/56