Motion (Which may be amended as Members think fit):

That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the remaining items on the agenda, because of the likelihood of disclosure of “exempt information” which falls within one or more descriptive category or categories of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, and specified on the agenda item or report relating to each such item respectively.

RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the following items on the agenda because of the likelihood of disclosure of “exempt information” which falls within one or more descriptive category or categories of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as specified.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting Members to consider an application to renew a Private Hire driver’s licence.

The driver attended the meeting to enable Members to give the matter their full consideration.

The driver provided the Sub-Committee with an outline of what he said were the circumstances of the offence.

The driver also answered questions directed to him from Sub-Committee Members.

RESOLVED: That the driver’s licence be renewed and that 75 penalty points be awarded to Mr. S. T under the Council’s Penalty Point Scheme for his failure to promptly report his offence.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting Members to consider an application for the grant of a Private Hire driver’s licence.

The applicant attended the meeting to enable Members to give the matter their full consideration.

The applicant provided the Sub-Committee with an outline of what he said were the circumstances of the offence through his legal representative.

The applicant also answered questions directed to him from Sub-Committee Members.

The Sub-Committee considered four letters of support which were brought to the meeting.

RESOLVED: That Mr. A S’ application for a Private Hire driver’s licence be granted.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting Members to consider an application for the grant of a Private Hire driver’s licence.

The applicant attended the meeting to enable Members to give the matter their full consideration.

The applicant provided the Sub-Committee with an outline of what he said were the circumstances of the offence.

The applicant also answered questions directed to him from Sub-Committee Members.

RESOLVED: That Mr. Z A’s application for a Private Hire driver’s licence be granted.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting Members to consider what action to take as a result of the driver admitting that he had not renewed his private hire vehicle licence when it had expired on the 14^th April 2016 but continued to use it for business purposes until he applied for a new one on 5^th May 2016.

The driver attended the meeting to enable Members to give the matter their full consideration.

The driver provided the Sub-Committee with an outline of what he said were the circumstances of the offence through his legal representative.

The driver also answered questions directed to him from Sub-Committee Members.

The Sub-Committee considered character references which were brought to the meeting and also looked at a copy of a reminder letter which had been sent to a friend of Mr. A. M who was also a taxi driver in Trafford reminding him to renew his vehicle licence.

RESOLVED: That Mr. A. M’s Private Hire driver’s licence be suspended for one week.  The reasons for this decision were that although the Licensing Unit did not send a reminder to renew the vehicle licence and say that they do not normally do so, the sub-committee concluded that it was the driver’s responsibility to make sure that the licence was renewed on time.  By the time the driver had come to the council offices on the 5th May 2016 to renew the vehicle licence he had carried out approximately 200 unlicensed and therefore uninsured journeys with customers.

The sub-committee took into account the speed with which he put matters right once he became aware of the issue and his remorsefulness.  Nevertheless it considered that the seriousness of the situation required some sanction and therefore concluded that a short period of suspension was appropriate.