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Contact: Lowri Haf Evans 01286 679 878 Email: lowrihafevans@gwynedd.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES To receive
any apologies for absence. Minutes: The
Chairman, Councillor Tudor Owen, welcomed everyone to the meeting. No apologies
were received. |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive
any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No
declarations of personal interest were received from any members present. |
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URGENT ITEMS To note any
items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for
consideration. Minutes: None to note |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The
Chairman shall propose that the press and public be excluded from the meeting
during the discussion on the following items due to the likely disclosure of
exempt information as defined in paragraph 12, Part 4, Schedule 12A of the
Local Government Act 1972. This paragraph should apply because the individuals
in question are entitled to privacy and there is no overriding public interest
that requires the disclosure of personal information relating to those
individuals, nor their identity. Consequently, the public interest in
maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the
information. Minutes: RESOLVED to
exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the
following items because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as
defined in paragraphs 12 and 13, Part 4, Schedule 12A of the Local Government
Act 1972. These paragraphs apply because the individuals in question are
entitled to privacy and there is no overriding public interest that requires
the disclosure of personal information relating to those individuals, nor their
identities. Consequently, the public
interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing
the information. |
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APPLICATION FOR A HACKNEY/PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE - Mr A To consider
an application by Mr A (separate
copy for sub-committee members only) Minutes: a) The panel and the officers were
introduced to everyone present. b) The
Licensing Officer presented the written report on the application received from
Mr A for a new hackney/private hire driver’s licence. It was explained that a statement of
convictions had been submitted, and due to the fact that the crimes remained
relevant to the licensing field, the Committee was requested to consider the
application in accordance with the DBS record, and in accordance with the
guidance on relevant crimes and convictions. It was noted that the applicant
had a clean driving licence since 2011. c) The
applicant was invited to expand on his application. He submitted two letters which included a
reference for him. It was acknowledged that the crimes disclosed were
correct. He elaborated that he was
looking for work in order to support his family and that he had been offered a
job with a local taxi company. ch) The
applicant withdrew from the room while the Sub-committee members discussed the
application. d) After
detailed consideration, the Sub-committee decided that the applicant was
suitable and appropriate to be granted a hackney/private hire licence and the
application was approved. The Sub-committee felt that the crimes had occurred
outside the timescales included in the relevant guidelines. The applicant was
wished well in his new post and he was encouraged to adhere to the rules and
continue with a responsible attitude. RESOLVED to
approve Mr A’s application for a hackney/private hire driver’s licence. |
|
APPLICATION FOR A HACKNEY/PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE - Mr B To consider
an application by Mr B (separate
copy for sub-committee members only) Minutes: a) The panel and the officers were
introduced to everyone present. b) The Licensing Officer presented the
written report on the application received from Mr B for a new hackney/private
hire driver’s licence. It was noted that
a statement of convictions had been submitted, together with information from
North Wales Police and the Council’s Licensing Unit. The Committee had been
requested to consider the application in accordance with the record, and in
accordance with the guidance on relevant crimes and convictions. c) The applicant was invited to expand
on his application. It was acknowledged
that the information which had been disclosed was accurate, and he further
confirmed that the court case was not progressing. He explained that he wanted
to continue as a taxi driver, and the reason he had not renewed his licence was
due to the fact that the correspondence had been sent to a different address.
He noted that he had been offered a job with a local taxi company and that he
was volunteering in the meantime.
ch) The
Owner of the Taxi Company supported Mr B’s application, and he confirmed that
the applicant had worked for him for six years and that he had been discharged
as a driver as he had not renewed his licence. It was noted that the applicant
was a very reliable individual and that a post was available for Mr B should
the licence be approved. d) The applicant and the owner of the
Taxi Company withdrew from the room while the Sub-committee members discussed
the application.
dd) Having
considered the evidence in detail, the Sub-committee decided to defer consideration
of the application. Under the circumstances, and in line with paragraph 14.1 of
the Licensing Policy for Hackney Carriages and Private Hire, the Sub-committee
decided to defer consideration of the application until any prosecution case
regarding the above allegations had come to an end. RESOLVED to
defer consideration of Mr B’s application for a hackney/private hire driver’s
licence. |
|
APPLICATION FOR A HACKNEY/PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE - Mr C To consider
an application by Mr C (separate
copy for sub-committee members only) Minutes: a) The panel and the officers were
introduced to everyone present. b) The Licensing Officer presented the
written report on the application received from Mr C for a new hackney/private
hire driver’s licence. It was noted that
a statement of convictions had been submitted which included several offences
relevant to the licensing field together with additional information from Isle
of Anglesey County Council. It was highlighted that the Licensing Unit’s
recommendation had been that Mr C was not suitable to considered as a hackney
carriage / private hire driver in Gwynedd at present. The Committee had been requested to consider
the application in accordance with the record, and in accordance with the
guidance on relevant crimes and convictions. c) The applicant was invited to expand
on his application. It was acknowledged
that the information disclosed was accurate.
He expanded on his application and noted that he wished to work as a
taxi driver in Gwynedd as one day of work with Anglesey was not sufficient.
ch) The
applicant withdrew from the room while the Sub-committee members discussed the
application. d) After detailed consideration, the
Sub-committee decided that the applicant did not meet the requirements of a
suitable individual to be licensed as a hackney carriage / private hire driver
in Gwynedd, as some of the convictions remained within the relevant guideline
period. RESOLVED to
refuse Mr C’s application for a hackney/private hire driver’s licence. The
Solicitor reported that the decision would be formally confirmed via a letter,
and he notified the applicant of his right to appeal the decision within 21
days of receiving that letter. |