Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Hailstones and Hailstones.

Councillor Robinson (Chair) having previously tendered his apologies, arrived late to the meeting during consideration of item 6.  He took no part in the discussion on that item and did not vote.  With his approval it was agreed that Councillor Proctor should remain in the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 August, 2014

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 4 August 2014 be approved as a correct record.

Resolved:  That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items because there was likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Private Hire Driver – Mr PM

The Committee considered an application from Mr PM for the grant of a Private Hire Drivers Licence.

Resolved:  (a) That the application be approved and a Private Hire Drivers Licence be granted to Mr PM.

                      (b) That a letter be sent to Mr PM warning him of his future conduct.

Private Hire Driver – Mr BS

The committee considered an application from Mr BS for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Drivers Licence.

Resolved:   That based on the number, nature and severity of convictions and taking into account the additional information provided by Staffordshire Police the application be refused because the committee did not consider Mr BS to be a fit and proper person to which a Hackney carriage Drivers Licence should be granted.

Authorisation was sought to institute legal proceedings against the Fixed Penalty Notice Holders listed in the appendix to the officer’s report.

Resolved:  That legal proceedings be so authorised.

Authorisation was sought to institute legal proceedings in respect of a flytipping offence in Enderley Street, Newcastle.

Resolved:  That legal proceedings be so authorised.

Authorisation was sought to institute legal proceeding in respect of a flytipping offence in Howle Close, Newcastle.

Resolved:  That legal proceedings be so authorised.

The Committee considered the following non-confidential reports in open session.

Consideration was given to a detailed report setting out the options available to the Council to control direct debit face to face fundraisers in terms of their activities in the Boroughs town centres and surrounding areas.

Resolved:  (a)  That the Council continues to permit self regulation for direct debit face to face fundraisers.

                     (b)  That, if necessary, this matter be brought back to a subsequent meeting for further consideration.

The Committee gave consideration to an emerging draft taxi Licensing Policy and was asked to make comments and recommendations having regard to the representations received from the taxi and private hire trade in the borough and to agree a timetable for implementation of the policy.

The Committee was also asked to provide feedback and suggestions on the draft document to assist with the production of an updated draft policy that, it was proposed, would go out for consultation on 1 November 2014.

Specifically the Committee was invited to comment on options for a vehicle age policy and tinted windows on vehicles.

In respect of the vehicle age policy the committee expressed a preference for adoption of option B, as set out in the officer’s report.  It was agreed that the officers should undertake further investigations into the question of tinted windows and report their findings to a future meeting.

Resolved:  (a) That the draft policy and comments and recommendations made by representatives of the taxi and private hire trade in the Borough be noted.

                     (b) That the Committee agrees to the timetable set out in the officer’s report for implementation of the policy.

                     (c)  That the proposed dates for additional meetings of this Committee in October 2014 and February 2015 be agreed.

                     (d)  That, in the light of the above, the previous policy resolution relating to the age of Hackney Carriage vehicles, as agreed by Council on 16 April 2014, be not implemented on 1 January 2014

Consideration was given to a report proposing changes to the cycle of meetings for this Committee.

The three options available to the Committee were set out in the officer’s report.

Resolved:  That the agenda setting meeting be incorporated into the actual meeting by the inclusion of a Work Plan and that the practice of holding a chairs briefing session prior to publication of each agenda be discontinued.