Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 February 2024 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereis one itemwhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

There was one item which officers recommended should be dealt with in this way at minute 41.

The Sub Committee considered an application to license a vehicle that was registered with the DVLA as an N1 light goods vehicle before being converted into a passenger vehicle.  The Sub Committee was asked to consider whether the vehicle meets the requirements under the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy and to determine whether the application should be granted.

The Chair introduced the members of the Sub Committee and the attendees present.

The applicant, Mr Marcin Przyborowski, was present.

The Sub Committee’s legal advisor, Giles Salter, outlined the procedure for the meeting.

The Licensing Officer, Mrs Emily Westlake, outlined the application to license the vehicle, registration number WJ23 PVF, as set out in the report.

In response to a question from the Sub Committee, the Licensing officer confirmed that, although the details of the vehicle had been updated by DVLA, the original registration of the vehicle as N1 panel van with the taxation class as light goods vehicle will remain in perpetuity. 

The Sub Committee noted that due to the N1 classification, the vehicle is restricted to a speed limit of 60mph on dual carriageway and 50mph on other roads as appropriate.

The applicant addressed the Sub Committee and outlined the reasons for purchasing and converting the vehicle.  The applicant advised that the conversion had been undertaken in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines and by an approved vehicle conversion company and that all necessary documentation was correct.

The Sub Committee, the Legal Advisor, the Licensing Officer, the Licensing Manager and the applicant left the room to view the vehicle.

On their return, the applicant had nothing further to add to the application.

The Chair thanked the applicant for attending and advised that the Sub Committee’s decision would be notified in writing within five working days.

The Vice Chair to move the following:

“that under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out in the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B)”.

Part B

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting as exempt information, of the description set out in the agenda, is likely to be disclosed and on balance the public interest is in discussing this item in private session (Part B).

The purpose of the item was to determine whether the person named in the Officer’s report is a fit and proper person to be granted a private hire driver licence.

The Chair introduced the members of the Sub Committee and those in attendance.

The applicant was present at the meeting.

The Legal Advisor, Giles Salter, outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Licensing Officer, Emily Westlake, presented the report and advised the options available to the Sub Committee.

The applicant had no questions for the Licensing Officer.

The applicant addressed the Sub Committee and explained the background to the circumstances set out in the Officer’s report.

The applicant answered questions from members of the Sub Committee.

The Chair advised the applicant that the Sub Committee would retire to make its decision which would be notified in writing within five working days.

The Chair thanked everyone present for attending the meeting.