The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The following declaration of interest was received;

Cllr M Crowley at Agenda item 7 – Application for a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence.

It was noted Cllr Crowley believed he knew a close associate to the Applicant, it was therefore deemed to be a personal interest. Following this, Cllr Crowley withdrew from the meeting, and did not take part in the decision

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on the 14^th November 2022, were approved as an accurate record.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items.

That pursuant to Section 100BA (2) & (7) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the undermentioned Exempt Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.  Pursuant also to Paragraph 21 of the Schedule, and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information

Resolved:

That pursuant to Section 100BA (2) & (7) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the undermentioned Exempt Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.  Pursuant also to Paragraph 21 of the Schedule, and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information

Members were given an overview of the private circulated report and were asked to consider if an applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence.

The Applicant attended the meeting

RESOLVED:  That after considering the report, and hearing all representations and taking into account the Councils Taxi Licensing Policy, the Applicant’s request of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence be APPROVED.

Members were given an overview of the private circulated report and were asked to consider if an applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence.

The Applicant attended the meeting

RESOLVED:  That after considering the report, and hearing all representations and taking into account the Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy, the Applicant’s request of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence be REFUSED, on the grounds that; they did not meet the Authority’s Taxi Licensing Policy; and that the Applicant did not advance any exceptional reasons why the Committee should depart from the provisions of its taxi policy.