Agenda, decisions and draft minutes
PDF 212 KBVenue: Conference Room 1a, County Hall, Ruthin
Contact: Committee Administrator (KEJ) Email: democratic@denbighshire.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES Decision: Councillors Stuart Davies and Barry Mellor Minutes: Councillors Stuart Davies and Barry Mellor |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting. Decision: No declarations of interest had been made. Minutes: No declarations of interest had been made. |
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URGENT MATTERS AS AGREED BY THE CHAIR Notice of items which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972. Decision: No urgent matters had been raised. Minutes: No urgent matters had been raised. |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC RESOLVED that
under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be
excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds
that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in
Paragraphs 12 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Act. |
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REVIEW OF A LICENCE TO DRIVE HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES - DRIVER NO. 509601 To consider a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ review of a licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles in respect of Driver No. 509601. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED that
the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence issued to Driver
No. 509601 be revoked. Minutes: A confidential report by the Head of Planning
and Public Protection (previously circulated) was submitted upon – (i)
the
suitability of Driver No. 509601 to hold a licence to drive hackney carriage
and private hire vehicles after failing to attend the mandatory Child Sexual
Exploitation (CSE) Awareness training introduced by the Council in 2016; (ii)
the
Licensing Committee held on 8 March 2017 having resolved to convene a special
meeting to hear representations from existing drivers who had not attended the
training; (iii)
details
of the opportunities offered to Driver No. 509601 to attend the relevant
training (correspondence details having been attached as appendices to the
report), and (iv)
the
Driver having been invited to attend the meeting in support of his licence
review and to answer members’ questions thereon. Members were advised that the Driver was not
in attendance and no communication had been received by way of explanation of
his absence. Consequently members agreed
to proceed with the review in the Driver’s absence. The Public Protection Business Manager (IM)
presented the report and opportunities offered to the Driver to participate in
the mandatory CSE training. It was noted
that the Driver had been booked to attend training on 25 January 2017 but had
failed to appear and had also failed to attend the latest training session held
on 29 March 2017. In response to
questions the Public Protection and Business Manager advised that the Driver
remained the only existing licensed driver who had not attended the relevant
training with the other previously outstanding drivers either having attended
subsequent training or had surrendered their licences. Assurances were provided that every effort
had been made to contact the Driver regarding the mandatory training and
subsequent licence review. At this juncture the committee adjourned to
consider the application and it was – RESOLVED that
the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence issued to Driver
No. 509601 be revoked. The reasons for the Licensing Committee’s
decision were as follows – Members considered that the Driver had been
provided with ample opportunity to attend the mandatory training but had failed
to attend or engage with the authority regarding his non-attendance or to provide
an explanation in mitigation. Members
considered the Driver had shown a blatant disregard of an important licensing
requirement by repeatedly failing to attend the mandatory CSE training and
given that the committee’s overriding consideration was protection of the
public, members did not consider the Driver to be a fit and proper person to
hold a licence. Consequently it was
agreed that the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence be
revoked. It was noted that the Driver would be informed
of the decision and reasons therefore in writing and would be advised of his
right of appeal against the decision to the Magistrates Court within 21 days. The meeting concluded at 9.45 a.m. |