Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Duckett and M McCartney.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 5 August 2019.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 5 August 2019.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 5 August 2019.

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already entered in their Register of Interests. Councillors should leave the meeting and take no further part in the consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring Officer.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To confirm the procedure to be followed at the meeting, including the Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy.

The Committee noted the Licensing Committee procedure and the Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy.

A discussion took place regarding the Taxi Licensing Policy, it was suggested by the Chair that Councillors Sweeting and Grogan make a submission to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, and bring any response back to the Licensing Committee.

The Committee were informed that from October 2019 the Council would be required under The Air Quality (Taxi and Private Hire Database) (England and Wales) Regulations 2019, to provide information to the Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) about all Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles licensed by Selby District Council.  It was explained that the information to be given would be the registration details of vehicles, information relating to the licences and, other information the Council held for purposes of ensuring the accurate identification of vehicles. The information was to enable (DEFRA) to create a database to support the operation of charging clean air zones by local authorities or other air quality plans.

Members noted that the Council’s enforcement officers were one of the partners involved in a multi-agency enforcement visit which had taken place at a licensed premise in Selby Town on Friday 6^th September 2019. It was noted that an investigation was ongoing and the Licensing Committee would be updated once it was complete.

An update was provided on a Taxi Licence appeal which had been due to go before York Crown Court Friday on 6September 2019; the appellant had withdrawn the appeal after costs were agreed with the Council.

Lastly, members noted that the Mint Festival was due to take place on Saturday 28 September 2019, the Licensing Manager would be present at the event during the evening, working alongside North Yorkshire Police Licensing.

That, in accordance with Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, the meeting be not open to the Press and public during discussion of the following items as there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

It was proposed, and seconded, that the Committee sit in private session due to the nature of the business to be transacted.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted the meeting be not open to the press and public during discussion of the following items as there will be disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act.

To receive the report, which asks the Committee to consider an application for a Private Hire Driver licence.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which asked the Committee to determine an application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.  It was noted that the application had been brought before the Committee due to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check highlighted a previous conviction during the application process.

The applicant was present and was able to respond to questions asked by the Committee concerning the report including the previous conviction.

The applicant and Licensing Manager left the meeting whilst the Committee considered the application.

The Committee considered that the conviction was of concern however it had occurred a long time ago, and that the applicant had learned from his mistake.  The Committee considered that the evidence presented demonstrated that the applicant was a ‘fit and proper person’ to be a licensed Private Hire driver.

RESOLVED:

To grant the application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Committee was satisfied that the applicant was a ‘fit and proper’ person in accordance with the Council’s Licensing Policy.