Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s).

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved: -              That the public be excluded from the meeting during

consideration of the following matter because it is likely that there will 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

Driver – Mr  SM

The Committee considered a report regarding a new driver application for Mr SM.

Mr SM was given the opportunity to address the Committee

Resolved:     That Mr SM be granted a licence for a period of 12 months to allow for his conduct to be monitored and that Mr SM be required to return to this Committee within 12 months for a review.

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Driver – Mr Mr MAK

Resolved:     That consideration of an application by Mr MAK be deferred to allow for him to attend the Committee.

Driver – Mr SK

The Committee considered a report for a new driver application from Mr SK.

Mr SK was given the opportunity to address the Committee.

Resolved:     That, due to the nature, number and severity of the convictions, Mr SK’s application for a dual driving badge be refused.

Driver – Mr ADC

The Committee considered a report for a new driver application for Mr ADC for conversion of his existing Private Hire drivers licence to a dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle drivers licence.

Mr ADC and was given the opportunity to address the Committee.

Resolved:     That due to the nature and severity of the offence the Committee saw no reason to depart from its policy and agreed that Mr ADC’s application for a dual driving badge be refused and that his existing Private Hire drivers badge be revoked.

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Driver – Mr AA

The Committee considered a report regarding a renewal driver application from Mr AA.

Mr AA was given the opportunity to address the Committee.

Resolved:     That, due to the nature of the offence, Mr AAs application for a licence be refused.

The Head of Environmental Health Services presented this report which informed members of the key issues and activities undertaken by the Environmental Health Service in 2015/2016 together with the priorities for 2016/17.

Members of the Committee thanked the officer for the report which explained the work undertaken by the Service as a whole and indicated the plans for the future.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Head of Environmental Services submitted a report which referred to a decision which had been made in April 2016 to stop issuing separate private hire and hackney carriage driver’s licences.

As part of this change a driver was able to apply for the transfer of their existing drivers badge to a dual badge for a fee of £30 and was not required to complete the full application process.  

The demand for this discretionary service to be carried out had been higher than anticipated and was placing a burden on the service, particularly as the administrative work was similar to that undertaken for a full application. In addition this transfer process relied upon information which may be out of date.    

In view of this it was considered that the transfer of an existing drivers licence to a dual badge under the current scheme be temporarily suspended until 1 April 2017 pending a further review.  The report clarified that this course of action would not prevent a driver who wished to hold a full dual badge from making an application for a full 3 year licence, which for an existing driver would mean the surrender of his current licence in favour of the granting of a dual one.

Resolved: -  (i)         That the Council temporarily suspends the activity of transferring existing driver’s private hire, hackney carriage or both drivers’ badges into a dual licence with immediate effect until April 2017.

(ii)        That the Council only processes full applications for dual drivers badges

(iii)       That valid applications received by the date of this decision continue to be processed

(iv)       That further updater report be presented to Committee  

There was no Urgent Business.