Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council House

Contact: Democratic Advisor  Email: democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

27.

Declarations of Interest

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by Councillors in accordance with the code of conduct.

28.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 155 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2022.

Minutes:

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 September 2022 were confirmed as a correct record.

29.

Chair's Urgent Business

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

Councillor Rennie raised a point around drivers whose first language is English, having to pay a fee for an English speaking test. The Chair asked Mr Ian Wills (Lawyer) to look into this issue further. 

30.

Appeal Cases

The Committee will be provided with the results of the judgement on appeal cases that went to Court.

Minutes:

There had been 1 appeal case since the last Committee meeting regarding the dress code and points system. The appeal was dismissed.

 

In response to questions from the Committee, Steve Forshaw (Senior Enforcement Officer) highlighted –

a)

that enforcement was being undertaken regularly, around 3-4 times a month in the evenings and during the day on Saturdays;

b)

enforcement was done on top of officer’s regular hours;

c)

there had been a reduction in staff in the team in recent years;

d)

the team were consistent in their approach; they treated everyone equally.

 

 

31.

Number of Certificates of Good Conduct Exemptions Granted

The Committee will be provided with an update on the number of certificates of good conduct exemptions granted.

Minutes:

1 had been prepared by Rachel Hind (Licensing Service Manager) and was agreed by Councillor Nigel Churchill and Councillor Sally Haydon.

32.

Exempt Information

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 to exclude the press and the public from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

The Committee agreed that under Section 1004A of the Local Government Act, 1972 to exclude the press and the public from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

33.

Confidential Minutes

To confirm the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2022.

Minutes:

The Committee agreed that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 September 2022 were confirmed as a correct record.

34.

Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence

The Director for Public Health will submit a report on the Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Minutes:

The Committee having –

 

a)

considered the report from the Director for Public Health;

b)

heard from the Enforcement Officer;

c)

taken the following into account:

 

(c1)

the law, policy and factual information contained in the report.

 

The Committee agreed to revoke the hackney carriage driver’s licence to ensure the public’s safety in the absence of the required medical certificate and lack of engagement.

 

Councillor Partridge played no role in the review of this licence)

 

Please note: there is a confidential part to this minute.

35.

Review Status of a Private Hire Driver Licence

The Director for Public Health will submit a report on the Review Status of a Private Hire Driver Licence.

Minutes:

The Committee having –

 

a)

considered the report from the Director for Public Health;

b)

heard from the Enforcement Officer;

c)

taken the following into account:

 

(c1)

the law, policy and factual information contained in the report.

 

The Committee agreed to suspend the Private Hire Driver’s Licence until the production of the required medical certificate to ensure the public’s safety in the absence of the required medical certificate.

 

Please note: there is a confidential part to this minute.

36.

Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence

The Director for Public Health will submit a report on the Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Minutes:

The Committee:

 

a)

considered the report from the Director for Public Health;

b)

heard from the Enforcement Officer;

c)

taken the following into account:

 

(c1)

the law, policy and factual information contained in the report.

 

The Committee agreed to revoke the Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence to ensure the public’s safety in the absence of the required medical certificate and the lack of any communication from the driver.

 

Please note: there is a confidential part to this minute.

 

37.

Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence

The Director for Public Health will submit a report on the Review Status of a Hackney Carriage Driver Licence.

Minutes:

The Committee agreed to adjourn the review of this licence to the next Taxi Licensing Committee due to the driver contracting covid. A letter is to be sent to the driver advising of the committee’s decision and the date of the next meeting.

 

(Please note: there is a confidential part to this minute.)