Agenda and minutes

Members of the Licensing and Safety Panel are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the agenda, and if so, to formally declare that interest.  

There were no declarations of interest raised in relation to any items on the agenda.

Delegated decision:

That the Minutes of the Licensing and Safety Panel meeting held on 7 January 2014, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which this Panel is responsible.

Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time if required.

There were no questions raised under this item

Any other business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business to report at the meeting.

To consider passing the appropriate resolution under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business since it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information stated.

Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business since it involved the likely disclosure of information relating to individuals who hold Licences granted by the Authority or Applicants for Licences provided by the Authority.

A report by the Assistant Director (Localities) is attached.

The Assistant Director (Localities) submitted a report regarding the suspension/revocation and renewal of a Hackney Carriage Driver’s licence.

Applicant 39/2015 was invited to attend the meeting and was represented by Mr Oakes of the Hackney Drivers’ Association Ltd and supported by his wife. The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed and the Licensing Manager read out the contents of the report.

Mr Oakes addressed the Licensing and Safety Panel members.

Questions were then asked by the members of the Licensing and Safety Panel.

Delegated decision:

The Panel carefully considered the written report and the oral representations made by the Applicant, his wife and Mr Oakes and the evidence presented, including written character references and the statement from the witness presented at the meeting and with due consideration of the potential effect on the Applicant’s livelihood and his family life and taking into account the Council’s Statement of Policy and Guidelines Relating to the Relevance of Convictions, Formal / Simple Cautions, Complaints and other Matters which may impact on the granting of a Licence and considering the interests of Public safety against the interests of the Applicant the Panel decided, unanimously, on the basis that the Applicant was not a fit and proper person in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, to:

1.    Revoke, with immediate effect, as necessary in the interests of public safety  the Applicant’s Hackney Carriage Driver’s licence and

2.    Refuse to renew the Applicant’s Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence, with effect from 27 January 2015.

The Applicant was informed of his right of appeal to Bury Magistrates’ Court within 21 days.