Agenda and minutes

Resolved that Councillor Robinson be appointed Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the municipal year 2018/19.

Resolved that Councillor Lynn Walmsley be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the municipal year 2018/19.

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters under consideration.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 22 March 2018, attached.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on Thursday 22 March 2018, were confirmed as a correct record

In accordance with Paragraph 11 of the Access to Information Rules in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive has determined that the reports submitted under Items 7 & 8 of this agenda are “Not for Publication” because items 7 & 8 contain “exempt information” as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

If the Committee agrees that the public and press should be excluded for these items, then it will need to pass the following resolution:-

“That the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst agenda items 7 & 8 are being considered, because it refers to exempt information as defined in category 1 (information relating to any individual) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act, 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst agenda items 7 & 8 were being considered, because they referred to exempt information as defined in category 1 (information relating to any individual) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act, 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Service Director Health and Wellbeing attached.

The Service Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report to provide members of the Licensing committee with information to assist them at a hearing.

The Applicant was present at the meeting, but he was not legally represented.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report.

The applicant spoke to the Committee, explaining the circumstances of his convictions, as referred to within the report with regard to his past conduct.

Members of the Committee and the Licensing Manager asked questions of the applicant, and he provided explanations of the incidents and then up to the present date.

The applicant, the Taxi Licensing Officer and the Licensing Manager then left the room whilst the Committee Members considered the application in closed session.

The Licensing Committee then reconvened and the Chairman announced the Committee’s decision to everyone.

RESOLVED that the applicant be granted a one year Wyre dual driver’s licence.

The reasons for the decision were:

The Committee were satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a dual driver’s licence after considering his explanations of the matters and the motoring offences referred to within the report. It was explained to the applicant how seriously Wyre Council take background checks, together with the duty of the Council to protect the travelling public and Wyre Councils requirement to assure the public that all drivers of Wyre licensed vehicles are checked and scrutinised to an appropriate high standard. He was also informed that his progress would be monitored throughout the year and if he should commit any offences whatsoever, then he would be brought back before Licensing Committee for consideration.

The Service Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report to provide members of the Licensing committee with information to assist them at a hearing.

The Applicant was present at the meeting and supported by his Wife and a colleague that worked as a Taxi Driver, but he was not legally represented.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report.

The applicant spoke to the Committee, explaining the circumstances of his motoring offences, as referred to within the report with regard to his past conduct.

Members of the Committee and the Licensing Manager asked questions of the applicant, and he provided explanations of the incidents and then up to the present date.

He also produced a certificate of an Advanced Driving Course taken and completed 10 years prior.

The applicant and his supporters, the Taxi Licensing Officer and the Licensing Manager then left the room whilst the Committee Members considered the application in closed session.

The Licensing Committee then reconvened and the Chairman announced the Committee’s decision to everyone.

RESOLVED that the applicant be granted a three year Wyre dual driver’s licence.

The reasons for the decision were:

That the Committee were satisfied after hearing all the evidence presented and that there were exceptional circumstances that warranted them departing from the policy and granting a licence.

The Committee were satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a dual driver’s licence after considering his explanation of the motoring offences referred to within the report. It was explained to the applicant how seriously Wyre Council take background checks, together with the duty of the Council to protect the travelling public and Wyre Councils requirement to assure the public that all drivers of Wyre licensed vehicles are checked and scrutinised to an appropriate high standard. He was also informed that his progress would be monitored and if he should commit any offences whatsoever, then he would be brought back before Licensing Committee for consideration.