Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Mohammed Ishtiaq.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting held on 27^th October 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27^th October 2017 were approved as a correct record.

To consider questions, statements or petitions from members of the public.

Councillor Alan Hosker addressed the Committee under the Council’s Right to Speak Policy on

To consider the adoption of new policy guidelines (Appendix ‘A’) to be considered when determining whether new applicants or current drivers are ‘fit and proper’ persons.

Appendix B shows the where the amendments to the policy have been made through track changes.

Members gave consideration to the adoption of new policy guidelines when determining whether new applicants or current drivers are ‘fit and proper’ persons to hold hackney carriage or private hire drivers’ licences.

The adoption of the new policy guidelines would ensure that Council Policy was aligned to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) ‘Example Taxi and PHV Licensing Criminal Convictions Policy’ which was published in March 2017.  It would also strengthen the Council’s principal licensing objective to protect the safety of the public. 

The convictions policy aids a consistent approach when considering whether an applicant or existing licence holder is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to the Policy Guidelines to Fitness and Propriety including Convictions.

2.    That the revised Policy be applied immediately for new applicants for drivers’ licences and for existing drivers on renewal, though reserving the right to apply the updated policy to existing drivers before renewal in appropriate circumstances.

To obtain approval of the Licensing Committee for sub delegation of functions to a Licensing Act 2003 Sub Committee and to Taxi Licensing Sub Committees and for the appointment of Licensing Committee members to these sub committees on a rotational basis and subject to their availability.

Consideration was given to the sub delegations of function to a Licensing Act 2003 Sub Committee for a final hearing procedure and to Taxi Licensing Sub Committees for functions relating to taxi licences.

RESOLVED

1.    That a Licensing Act 2003 Sub Committee be established for the sub delegation of functions under the Licensing Act 2003 for a final hearing procedure;

2.    That two Taxi Licensing Sub Committees be established for the sub delegation of functions vested in the Licensing Committee relating to taxi licensing functions as set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution; and

3.    That members be appointed to the sub committees on a rotational basis subject to their availability.