General Licensing Committee Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 8th October, 2019
Time:
10:00 am
Place:
Council Chamber, High Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1AJ
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Paul Kirton(Chairman), Cllr Jacky Bright, Cllr Chris Clough, Cllr Ken Dixon, Cllr Clare Gamble, Cllr Mick Moore, Cllr Mrs Jean O'Donnell, Cllr Maurice Perry, Cllr Hilary Vickers, Cllr Bill Woodhead MBE
Officers:
Michael Henderson, Leanne Maloney, Margaret Waggott (MD); Jonathan Nertney (HR, L&C)
In Attendance:
Councillor Steve Nelson
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Tina Large, Cllr Julia Whitehill, Cllr Evaline Cunningham,
Item Description Decision
Public
GLC
16/19		 EVACUATION PROCEDURE
Preamble
 
GLC
17/19		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble
 
GLC
18/19		 MINUTES FROM THE GENERAL LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH WAS HELD ON THE 27TH AUGUST 2019
Preamble
RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.
GLC
19/19		 PRIVATE HIRE & HACKNEY CARRIAGE
LICENSING POLICY AMENDMENTS - CONSULTATION
Preamble
RESOLVED that:

1. the Committee recommend to Cabinet and Council that vehicles that were insurance category write offs, but had not sustained structural damage, to the frame, or chassis, and issues were cosmetic only (Cat D and N), be licensed going forward.

2. the above requested information be provided to a special meeting of the Committee and taxi trade representatives be invited to that meeting.
GLC
20/19		 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
 RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Confidential
GLC
21/19		 PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER 000884
  • Committee Report
  • |
    Appendix 1
  • |
    Appendix 2
  • |
    Appendix 3
  • |
    Appendix 4
  • |
    Appendix 5
  • |
    Appendix 6
Preamble
RESOLVED that Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884 be refused a Private Hire Drivers Licence for the reasons as detailed above.

Preamble

ItemPreamble
GLC
16/19		The evacuation procedure was noted.
GLC
17/19		There were no declarations of interest.
GLC
18/19		Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 27 August 2019 for approval and signature.
GLC
19/19		Members were reminded that the taxi trade had requested a number of amendments to Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy, including a reduction in the length of time a new applicant had to hold a DVLA licence, licensing of vehicles recorded as insurance ‘write offs’, and light transmission of vehicle tinted windows.

The Committee had been consulted on the requested amendments, at its meeting held on 27 August 2019, and had made the following comments , that the Committee recommended:

- to retain the current three year driver’s licence policy.

- to retain the current insurance write off policy i.e. that a vehicle recorded as a an insurance write off would not be licensed.

- a change to the wording relating to light transmission on vehicle tinted windows.

Members were provided with additional information, at this meeting, relating to the areas of consultation.

Members considered the additional information provided and made the following comments, to be recommended to Cabinet and Council, namely that:

- Vehicles that were insurance category write offs, but had not sustained structural damage to the frame or chassis, and issues were cosmetic only (Cat D or N), should be licensed going forward.

In respect of the other issues of consultation members asked for further information, namely:-

- Insurance statistics relating to claims made by / against drivers with 1, 2, and 3 years driving experience

- Information on road traffic accidents and the ages/ experience of drivers involved.

- Information relating to driving licences issued outside the UK.

Members also requested that the above information be presented to a special meeting of the Committee and that representatives of the taxi trade, who had requested the policy changes, be invited to attend.
GLC
21/19		Members were asked to consider a report and determine what action to take in relation to the fitness of Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884 who was revoked by the licensing committee in September 2015.

Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884 was not in attendance at the meeting.

Committee papers and reports had been provided to all relevant parties prior to the meeting.

The report detailed the following:

- A copy of Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884's application together with his DVLA licence.

- A copy of a committee decision letter which was given to Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884 on 3 September 2015.

- A copy of a suspension letter to Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884

- A copy of a referral form and various letters to Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884.

- A copy of committee minutes relating to Private Hire Driver applicant - Ref 000884.

The Committee were asked to determine whether Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884 was a ‘fit and proper person’ to be granted a Private Hire Driver's Licence with this Authority.

The Committee noted Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 00084 was not in attendance at the meeting and had submitted a letter asking to cancel his application, which was received after the agenda had been published and members had received committee papers.

The Committee considered all of the evidence presented to them including the reasons of the previous revocation of Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884's private hire driver licence on the 8 September 2015.

Under Section51(1)(a) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 the Committee resolved to refuse Private Hire Driver Applicant - Ref 000884's application for a licence as he was not deemed to be a fit and proper person, owing to his previous history.

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