To consider a report of the Head of Financial Management.

The Head of Financial Management submitted a report outlining proposals for a revised table of fares for hackney carriage vehicles following a written request by GMB to review the taxi fare structure and stated that there had been no increase since the last approved changes in October 2011.

Several Hackney Carriage drivers made representations to the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee members at the request of the Executive Portfolio Holder for Highways & Environment reviewed the report and representations made by Hackney Carriage drivers.

The Sub-Committee Members thought that the soiling charge should be increased to £30.00.

RESOLVED: That the report, the recommendation from the Public Protection Sub-Committee to approve the fare table with the amended soiling charge and any submissions from Taxi Representative bodies be considered by the Executive Portfolio Holder for Highways & Environment who will then determine a proposed Fare Table which will be subject to a statutory public consultation period of 14 days.

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 on the agenda item or report relating to each such item respectively.

To consider a report of the Head of Public Protection.

The Head of Public Protection 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 Members with a brief outline of the circumstances of the offences that took place 2007-2009.

The Sub-Committee determined that the applicant’s convictions were relevant to the application and considered the period of time that has elapsed since then.

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

To consider a report of the Head of Public Protection.

The Head of Public Protection 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 Members with a brief outline of the circumstances of the offence that took place in 2010.

The Sub-Committee considered the seriousness and nature of the conviction including the period of time that has elapsed since then.  The Council’s policy is normally not to grant applications by persons with similar convictions to the applicant that are less than three years old.  The Sub-Committee were not satisfied that there was any reason not to apply the policy and determined that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire driver’s licence.

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

To consider a report of the Head of Public Protection.

The Head of Public Protection submitted a report requesting Members to consider the renewal of a Private Hire driver’s licence.  The driver attended the meeting to enable Members to give the matter their full consideration.

The driver provided Members with a brief outline of the circumstances of the offence in 2013 and asked Members to consider a letter from his wife regarding this offence.

The Council’s guidance on convictions states that where existing drivers with a conviction for a “Major Traffic Offence” which is less than five years prior to the date of the application will be referred to Committee for determination.  A conviction less than two years prior to the date of the application will generally be refused.  The Sub-Committee were satisfied that there was reason not to apply the policy due to the circumstances of the offence and the driver’s history of driving as a Private Hire driver and determined that the driver was still a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire driver’s licence.

RESOLVED: That Mr. A. C’s Private Hire driver’s licence be renewed.