Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A M Cook, C L Philpott, P Downing and H M Morris.

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

Councillor V M Evans - Minute No.  – Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 – Application to Licence a Restricted Private Hire Vehicle, Ford Galaxy, Registration Mark WA06 NFC - I know the applicant as he works in my Ward - personal and prejudicial and left the meeting prior to discussion on these items.

Councillor P Lloyd - Minute No.  - Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 – Application to Licence a Restricted Private Hire Vehicle, Ford Galaxy, Registration Mark WA06 NFC - I know the applicant as he works in my Ward - personal and prejudicial and left the meeting prior to discussion on these items.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the:

·       General Licensing Committee held on 14 August, 2015; and

·       Special General Licensing Committee held on 21 August, 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the:

General Licensing Committee held on 14 August, 2015 be agreed as a correct record subject to J E Marsh being amended to K E March;  and

the Special General Licensing Committee held on 21 August, 2015, be agreed as a correct record subject to an amendment to minute no.35 – Resoluti9on ‘ temporary repair kid’ being amended to ‘temporary repair kit’.

The Divisional Licensing Officer advised that an application to license a restricted private hire vehicle had been received from Mr D Jones.  The vehicle was Ford Galaxy, registration mark WA06 NFC and was capable of carrying six passengers. 

The vehicle did not comply with the current licensing criteria set out by the Authority due to its age and Mr Jones wished to use the restricted private hire vehicle, if licensed, for the purposes of school transport, airport travel and/or executive hire only. 

Members noted the inspections and documents, Department of Transport, Taxi and Private Hire Licensing: Best Practice Guidance: March 2010; and the legislation relating to the licensing of private hire vehicles.

Members asked questions of Mr D Jones who responded accordingly. 

RESOLVED that the application made by Mr D Jones for a restricted private hire vehicle licence in respect of the Ford Galaxy, vehicle registration mark WA06 NFC BE GRANTED and renewed on merit.

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 Licensing Officer detailed the background information in respect of DP.

The Lawyer advising the Committee confirmed that the Driver’s Licence was clean,

DP outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offences and answered members’ questions.

RESOLVED that:

1)    DP’s hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence application BE GRANTED; and

2)    DP be issued with a strong warning letter regarding future conduct.

The Divisional Licensing Officer detailed the background information in respect of AM.

The Lawyer advising the Committee confirmed that the Driver’s Licence was clean.

AM outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offence   and answered members’ questions.

RESOLVED that:

1)    AM be issued with a final warning regarding future conduct; and

2)    no action be taken in respect of AM’s Hackney Carriage Licence.

The Divisional Licensing Officer detailed the background information in respect of KDO.

The Lawyer advising the Committee confirmed that KDO had a clean Driver’s Licence.

KDO, accompanied by Mr Warren, Solicitor, outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the offences and answered members’ questions.

RESOLVED that:

1)    KO’s Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence BE RENEWED; and

2)    KO be issued with a warning letter regarding future conduct.