Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absense.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 December 2014.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:     That the public be excluded.

Private Hire Driver – Mr AJ

A report was submitted to inform the Committee of the recent motoring convictions imposed on Mr AJ who held Licences issued by the Council.

Mr AJ was not applying for a licence but it was relevant for the Committee to have regard for the Council’s Guidelines for the relevance of convictions.

Having regard to the Council’s Guidelines for Convictions and the information provided, the Committee resolved:       

Resolved:     That a warning be issued to the Mr AJ in relation to the condition of his vehicle.

Private Hire Driver – Mr BA

A report was submitted to inform the Committee of an application for the grant of a private hire drivers licence from Mr BA.

Mr BA had previously held a Private Hire Drivers Licence with this Council which was issued in September 2010 and would have expired in September 2013 when Mr BA was in prison. On his release from prison Mr BA applied to renew his (expired) licence. This application was refused by the Public Protection Committee on the 7th October 2013.

Having regard to the Council’s Guidelines for convictions and the information provided, the Committee resolved:

Resolved:     That the application be refused in line with the Council’s Guidelines on Convictions

Hackney Carriage Driver – Mr SH

A report was submitted to inform the Committee of information provided by West Midlands Police force in respect of Mr SH who holds a Hackney Carriage drivers licence issued by this authority. 

Mr SH had failed to attend the Committee but due to the serious nature of the issues highlighted in the report the Committee resolved to consider the report and the recommendations in his absence.

The Clerk to the Committee provided details regarding the steps that the Committee could take.

Having regard to the Council’s Guidelines for Convictions and the information provided the Committee resolved:

Resolved:     That the licence be revoked with immediate effect.

A report was submitted to inform the Committee of two objections that had been received from operators in relation to the proposed increase in the licensing fee for a private hire operator licence as part of the 2015/16 budget process, from £82 to £85 per vehicle.

The report set out options for the future charging of this fee, which took into account the objections received and also sought to ensure that the costs to the Council of administering the processes underpinning the setting and collection of the fee were covered by the amount charged, together with seeking to ensure – so far as is possible – that the setting of such fees was fair and equitable for all concerned

Members considered the report, the objections and the options but considered that the existing option was most equitable and fair to all those applying for a private hire operator’s licence. The Committee considered that the alternative option would provide a monopoly for the larger companies and could result in smaller operators being adversely affected.

Resolved: That the proposed licensing fee of £85 per vehicle (as set out in the budget proposals for 2015/16), up to a maximum of 50 vehicles per operator (resulting in a maximum of £4250 in total per any single operator, as per the Borough Council’s existing approach) be maintained and ratified

There was no urgent business.