To receive and if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st July 2016.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Public Protection Sub-Committee meeting held on 21^st July 2016 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting Members to consider a request from a private hire vehicle proprietor to review the Council’s current condition relating to the fixing of identification plates to licensed vehicles.

Representations were made by Mr. Morgan, PMJ Travel.

            RESOLVED: That the current condition be amended to read as follows:

The identification platform must be securely fixed to the rear outer most part of the vehicle’s bodywork, to the satisfaction of an authorised officer.  The fixing of plates on the front or rear windshield is not allowed.

The plate must be affixed to the platform by means of the fixing devices supplied by the Council.  The plate must be clearly visible to the driver of a following vehicle, and it must be capable of being easily removed by an authorised officer or a constable.  The plate shall be so affixed to the vehicle, by the proprietor at his own expense.

To consider a report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services submitted a report requesting members to consider the findings of a study conducted on behalf of the Council in to the demand for hackney carriage services in Trafford.

Representations were made by several members of the taxi trade.

RESOLVED: That the recommendation of the survey be accepted and the current limit of 143 vehicle licences be maintained.

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 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 a brief 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. U. R’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 whether to renew a Private Hire driver’s licence.

The driver’s representative explained the events.

The driver answered questions from the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee noted that there have been 3 allegations/incidents of a sexual nature made against the driver over a 4 ½ year period.  Each allegation(s) taken individually or collectively are serious in their own right and the frequency of the allegations could not be ignored.

It was also noted that the allegations were made by 3 different complainants who were not related to each other and the allegations were of a similar nature.  The Sub-Committee’s view was that there was a lack of detail provided by the driver as to his account of these 3 matters.

In relation to his conviction for plying for hire , it was determined that his explanation was not plausible, insofar as he stated that the passengers got into his vehicle off their own volition despite him telling them that they were not allowed to.  This conviction in its own right is also considered to be a significant factor in the Sub-Committee reaching its decision.

RESOLVED: That Mr. Y. Z was not a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire driver’s licence