Minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K E Marsh and C L Philpott.

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

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food and Safety referred to authorisation being given to licensing officers on 20^th June 2014 to grant vehicle applications outside of the current age criteria, as long as the vehicle met all other required licensing criteria, had passed the Council’s inspection test and was under 5 years old.

Due to the increasing number of applications of this nature, the General Licensing Committee on 14^th November 2014 requested that consideration be given to authorising licensing officers to grant vehicle licences for any vehicle outside of the current age criteria.

In addition a number of vehicles have been reported for Committee decision as they do not comply with the condition that requires them to be specially adapted for the use for school transport purposes.

Since the decision made at the Special General Licensing Committee on the 20^th June 2014, a further 15 vehicle applications have been presented for consideration to the General Licensing Committee as the vehicles have not complied with the age criteria and/or the requirement to be specially adapted.

14 of these vehicles were granted a licence on their individual merit following inspection by Members of the Committee.  One vehicle was refused at Committee but this vehicle did not comply with other criteria namely that the vehicle was left hand drive and lacked seatbelts in the vehicle.  In total 41 licences have been granted for vehicles that do not meet the current age criteria.

Following a discussion at the General Licensing Committee on 22^nd August 2014, officers now request an up to date vehicle history check and full service history where available.

Members’ asked questions of the Officer who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that Licensing Committee cease to inspect vehicles in the future and rely on written reports from licensing officers in determining applications.

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 and Safety detailed the background details in respect of IRG.

IRG, accompanied by Mr Warren, Solicitor outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offences.

Members’ asked questions of the Officers who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that consideration of IRG’s application for the grant of a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence be DEFERRED until the Licensing Committee meeting on 7 February, 2015 to allow IRG to complete the enhanced taxi test in January, 2015.

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food and Safety detailed the background details in respect of MTR.

MTR outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offences and answered Members’ questions. 

RESOLVED that MTR receive a final warning letter regarding future conduct.

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food and Safety detailed the background details in respect of WAG.

WAG outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offences and answered Members’ questions. 

RESOLVED that WAG’s application for the grant of a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence be APPROVED with a final warning letter regarding future conduct.