Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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. Equality Act 2010 – Passengers in Wheelchairs – Request for an Exemption Certificate – MAJ – Applicant is known to me.  Councillor V M Evans left the meeting prior to consideration of the item.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on   11 December 2015, be agreed as a correct record.

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 MAJ.

Members’ asked questions of the Officers and MAJ who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that MAJ’s application for an exemption from carrying wheelchair users in MAJ’s hackney carriage vehicle BE APPROVED for a period of 12 months.

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food & Safety, reported on the request from KE for an exemption certificate from carrying wheelchairs. 

Members’ asked questions of KE who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that KE’s application for an exemption from carrying wheelchair users in KE’s hackney carriage vehicle BE APPROVED for a period of 12 months.

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

CWJ outlined the background details and circumstances relating to the convictions and answered Members’ questions.

RESOLVED that CWJ’s application for a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence be BE APPROVED.

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food & Safety advised that JJBT had requested a deferment of consideration of the matter due to ill-health.

RESOLVED that consideration of JJBT’s application BE DEFERRED until the next Committee meeting.

OPEN SESSION

The Divisional Officer, Licensing, Food & Safety reported that an application for the grant of a hackney carriage vehicle licence had been received from Mr Patwal.  The vehicle was a black Mercedes Vito Registration Mark DF55 CCV and was capable of carrying 7 passengers.

The vehicle did not comply with the current licensing criteria set out by the Authority due to its age.

Members’ noted the background, relevant issues in relation to Hackney Carriage Vehicles, Department for Transport – Taxi and Private Hire Licensing; Best Practice Guidance; March 2010 and legislation relating to the licensing of Private Hire Vehicles.

Members asked questions of the Officer who responded accordingly.

Members asked questions of Mr Patwal who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that the application made by Mr Patwal for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence in respect of the Mercedes Vito vehicle registration mark DF55 CCV be GRANTED.

[Members’ discussed the benefits of delegating decisions of this matter to Licensing Officers and following agreement from the Committee it was agreed that the Vice Chair examine the matter further in the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee].