Agenda and minutes

It was noted that Councillor Mead was substituting for Councillor Stocker, and Councillor R Morgan was substituting for Councillor Lion.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

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

To note the adopted procedure for the conduct of business by the Sub-Committee.

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

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:

That in accordance with 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 the grounds that it would 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 were confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Licensing Officer advised the Sub Committee that the applicant was unable to attend and had requested that consideration of his application was deferred to the next suitable meeting.

Decision

The Sub- Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application to the next suitable meeting.

To consider an application for a taxi driver licence.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence from Mr Emokpae. The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors P Keska (Chairman), L Mead and JM Whitehouse. The Chairman welcomed the applicant and introduced the members and officers present. 

The Sub Committee received a report on the application and the Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee of the circumstances under which the licence could not be dealt with under delegated authority. Members of the Sub Committee considered the report and the evidence presented to the hearing by the applicant. 

The Chairman informed the applicant of the Sub-Committee’s decision, and that the applicant had the right to appeal the decision in a Magistrate’s Court within 21 days of the decision.             

Decision:  

(1)        That the application for a Hackney carriage Driver’s Licence by Mr Emokpae be  refused

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