Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared:

Councillor C Anderson – Minute No. 9 – Town Police Clauses Act 1847 – Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 – Application for Grant of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence – LM - Personal – I know the LM’s father.  

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on 11 May, 2018 and 24 May, 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food & Safety advised that Mr Jones had submitted a request for an exemption from displaying the door stickers and licence plate on the exterior of his restricted private hire vehicle, RV 305.  The reason for the request was that he had recently set up a business as Gower Executive Travel with his wife and they only had one licensed vehicle which was used for airport travel, executive private hire and as their own private car.

Mr Jones was also hoping to do wedding transport and feels that by placing the badges on the exterior of the vehicle it would spoil the opportunity for photographs for the hirers and would therefore lose him business.  Mr Jones has confirmed that he has no intention of using the vehicle for school runs.

Members’ noted the current condition and asked questions of both the Officer and Mr Jones.  Members’ also examined photographs of the vehicle.

Resolved that Mr Jones request for an exemption from displaying the door stickers and licence plate on the exterior of his restricted private hire vehicle, RV 305 be Granted with the following conditions:

1.     The restricted licence issued by the Council must be displayed in the front windscreen of the vehicle on the nearside. It must be clearly visible at all times when the vehicle is being used for executive hire and airport travel  The vehicle licence must be returned to the Council on expiry;

2.     This exemption does not apply if the vehicle is to be used for school transport;

3.     Members further resolved that restricted private hire vehicle condition 23 be reviewed and reported back to a future meeting.

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during the consideration of the items of business identified in the recommendations to the report on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item of business as set out in the report.

The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding to exclude the public from the meeting for the items of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant, as set out in the report.

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following items of business.

(Closed Session)

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food & Safety detailed the background in respect of LM’s application for the grant of a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.

LM, accompanied by Mr W, Solicitor, explained the circumstances relating to the application and answered Members’ questions.

Resolved that LM’s request for the grant of a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence be approved.

The Immediate Action Update was noted.