The committee agreed to appointment Councillor Mrs Nicholson as Vice Chair for this particular meeting.

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

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

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2013.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2013 are confirmed as a correct record subject to the amendment ‘Singh’ (minute 110. Refers).

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

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

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

The committee was advised that there had been no new appeal cases heard since the last meeting.

The Director for Place will submit a report on a licensed hackney carriage driver review of licence status.

The committee heard that due to personal circumstances Ms Jordan was not able to attend this meeting of the committee.

The committee agreed to adjourn this matter to the next appropriate meeting due to the severity of Ms Jordan’s personal circumstances which had led to her non-attendance at this meeting.

The Director for Place will submit a report on a licensed private hire driver review of licence status.

Due to Mr Gilbery’s non-attendance at this meeting, the committee agreed to defer this matter to the next committee meeting and that the case would be heard in Mr Gilbery’s absence at which the committee could use its powers to suspend or revoke his licence.

The Director for Place will submit a report on a licensed hackney carriage driver review of licence status.

The committee –

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers’ Licensing Policy stated that motoring offences were relevant offences for considering the suitability of a person to retain a licence. In addition Section 19 of the Plymouth City Council Act, 1975 enabled the Council to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the licence of a driver of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle for any other reasonable cause.

Members considered that as Mr Martin is a licensed Hackney Carriage driver he should have regard to the rules of the road and the licensing authority at all times.

The committee agreed to suspend Mr Martin’s licence for two days in view of his failure to report his earlier speeding offences in writing as required by the Hackney Carriage Bylaws.

The committee further agreed due to concerns regarding his propensity to speed and the act that these offences had been committed over a short period of time, the  Taxi Licensing Committee has the discretion to direct a driver appearing  before it to complete further training or retraining, should the driver’s suitability to retain a licence be called into question; the committee direct that Mr Martin is required to obtain the level 2 VRQ in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire or equivalent within the next 12 months and attend at the licensing department when this has been attained.  Should this qualification not be completed by April 2013, Mr Martin will be brought back before the committee and all sanctions against his licence will be considered.

The Director for Place will submit a report on a licensed private hire driver review of licence status.

The committee –

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers’ Licensing Policy stated that motoring offences were relevant offences for considering the suitability of a person to retain a licence.

In addition Section 19 of the Plymouth City Council Act 1975, enabled the Council to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the licence of a driver of a private hire vehicle for any other reasonable cause.

In view of Mr Sich’s speeding offence which gives rise to concern for public safety, the committee agreed to suspend his licence for two days.

The committee further agreed that it had the discretion to direct drivers appearing before it to complete further training or retraining, should the driver’s suitability to retain a licence be called into question; the committee direct that Mr Sich is required to obtain the level 2 VRQ in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire or equivalent within the next 12 months and attend at the licensing department when this had been attained; should this qualification not be completed by April 2014, Mr Sich will be brought back before the committee and all sanctions against his licence will be considered

(Councillor Mrs Nicholson was not present for the following items on the agenda).

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Agreed that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and 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 paragraphs 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Director for Place will submit a report on a licensed hackney carriage driver review of licence status.

The committee heard from the Licensing Officer that MAS had made a request to adjourn this matter to enable his legal representative to attend.

The committee agreed to adjourn this matter to the next appropriate committee meeting for consideration.

With the permission of the Chair, the order of business on the agenda was amended, as set out below in the minutes.

The Director for Place will submit a report on the application for the grant of a private hire driver’s licence.

The committee –

The committee agreed to grant ACH’s application for a private hire driver’s licence subject to him completing all the pre requisites for the grant of a licence and also subject to him satisfactorily completing the VRQ driver qualification in ‘Transporting Passengers by Taxi or Private Hire’ or equivalent within the first 12 months of being granted the licence.

The Director for Place will submit a report on the application for the grant of a private hire driver’s licence.

The committee –

The committee agreed to grant KCJ’s application for a private hire driver’s licence subject to him completing all the pre requisites for the grant of a licence and also subject to him satisfactorily completing the VRQ driver qualification in ‘Transporting Passengers by Taxi or Private Hire’ or equivalent within the first 12 months of being granted the licence.

The Director for Place will submit a report on the application for the grant of a hackney carriage driver’s licence.

Due to BLS’s non-attendance at committee, the committee agreed that his application for the grant of a hackney carriage driver’s licence is held on file until such time as he contacts the licensing department and that he is requested to complete a Disclosure Barring Service check and also a medical examination prior to coming before committee.