Agenda and minutes

(Director of Governance) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Licensing Sub-Committee (as attached).

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business.

Exclusion

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

Resolved:

(1)        That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below as they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act indicated and the exemption is considered to outweigh the potential public interest in disclosing the information:

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The Sub-Committee noted that Mr Baker was unable to attend the meeting this morning, and this item had been deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the Sub-Committee on 2 August 2016.

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for the renewal of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence by Mr Wooster. The three Councillors that presided over this item were Cllrs Surtees (Chairman), J Jennings and A Lion. Members noted that Officers did not have delegated powers to grant this application and, as a result, the application had to be considered by the Sub-Committee.

The Chairman welcomed the Applicant and introduced the Members and Officers present. The Licensing Manager informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the Licence could not be issued under delegated authority.

The Applicant made a short statement in support of his application before answering a number of questions from Members of the Sub-Committee. The Applicant then made a short closing statement to the Sub-Committee before the Chairman requested that the Applicant leave the Chamber whilst the Sub-Committee debated the application in private.

The Chairman invited the Applicant back into the Chamber and informed him of the Sub-Committee’s decision.

Resolved:

(1)        That the application for the renewal of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence by Mr Wooster be granted; and

(2)        That the Applicant be given a stern warning over any future transgressions of his Licensing conditions.

To invite the public and press back into the meeting for the remaining items of business.

Resolved:

(1)        That the public and press be invited back into the meeting for the remaining item of business.

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report and appendix.

The Sub-Committee noted that the Applicant was not in attendance, and efforts to contact the Applicant had not been successful. The Sub-Committee felt that the Application should be deferred to the next meeting, to give the Applicant a second opportunity to have their case heard.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Application for a new Premises Licence at River Palace Café, Dobbs Weir Road in Hoddesdon be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the Sub-Committee on 2 August 2016.