Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor H M Morris and T H Rees.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on 6 March, 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on 6 March, 2015, be approved as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Councillor V M Evans.

The Chair referred to the report which sought to consider the proposal to introduce the National Inspection Standards for Inspection of taxi and private hire vehicles licensed by the City and County of Swansea subject to consultation with the taxi and private hire trade and other interested parties.

Members asked questions of the Officer who responded accordingly.

Members discussed the frequency and timescales of Council tests.

RESOLVED that:

a.     A consultation be undertaken with the taxi and private hire trades and other interested parties on the proposal to introduce the National Inspection Standards for inspection of taxi and private hire vehicles licensed by the City and County of Swansea;

b.     A further report detailing the outcome of the consultation be presented to Members for consideration and decision regarding the way forward; and

c.     Officers to examine the feasibility of increasing the Council testing frequency and report back to a future meeting of the Committee.

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.

It was RESOLVED that the public be excluded for the following items of business.

(CLOSED SESSION)

The Divisional Officer Licensing, Food & Safety, detailed the background information in respect of KG.

Members asked questions of the Officer who responded accordingly.

KG outlined the background details and circumstances of her request and answered Members’ questions. 

RESOLVED that KG’s request for a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence be APPROVED by Officers subject to confirmation from her GP regarding her ability to operate as a taxi driver.