Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public during the consideration of agenda items 7-9 that are marked "not for publication" by virtue of the paragraph 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), as they contain ‘information relating to an individual’

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Items 8-11 to prevent the disclosure of information relating to an individual as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest, would not be fair to the applicant and would breach their data protection principles.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration reported that the Corporate Director, in consultation with the Chair, had taken urgent action to revoke 3 hire car drivers’ licences and suspend 7 hire car drivers’ licences.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and members of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided.  These are available at the meeting).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details a proposal to consult with the taxi trade on an amendment to the existing conditions for licensed private hire vehicles to include an additional condition requiring a licensed private hire vehicle to display the details of the licensed private hire operator for whom they are working.

The Committee is recommended to authorise the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration to:-

(i)         carry out a consultation with the taxi trade, including all licensed private hire operators with regard to the proposal to make an amendment to the conditions of licence for private hire vehicles to provide an additional condition requiring a licensed private hire vehicle to display the details of the licensed private hire operator for whom they are working; and

(ii)        submit a further report to a future meeting of the Committee outlining the results of the consultation and requesting the Committee to determine whether to make such an amendment in the light of the results of the consultation.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which detailed a proposal to consult with the taxi trade on an amendment to the existing conditions for licensed private hire vehicles to include an additional condition requiring a licensed private hire vehicle to display the details of the licensed private hire operator for whom they are working.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration be authorised to carry out a consultation with the taxi trade, including all licensed private hire operators with regard to the proposal to make an amendment to the conditions of licence for private hire vehicles to provide an additional condition requiring a licensed private hire vehicle to display the details of the licensed private hire operator for whom they are working;

(iii) That the consultation be widened to include taxi drivers also.

(iv) That the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submit a further report to a future meeting of the Committee outlining the results of the consultation and requesting the Committee to determine whether to make such an amendment in the light of the results of the consultation.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration.

The report seeks approval of new fees and charges in relation to taxi licensing.  The fees cover hackney carriage vehicle licences, private hire vehicle licences, hackney carriage driver licences, private hire driver licences and a number of miscellaneous charges.

The Committee is requested to:

1.    Approve the proposed licensed fees outlined in the report with an implementation date of 1 April 2019.

2.    Authorise the Licensing Manager to carry out the necessary public notice procedure.

3.    If objections are received within 28 days of the publication of the notice of the proposed changes to the fees, the matter will be brought before the next appropriate Committee meeting so that any such objections can be properly considered.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which sought approval of new fees and charges in relation to taxi licensing.  The fees cover hackney carriage vehicle licenses, private hire vehicle licenses, hackney carriage driver licences, private hire driver licences and a number of miscellaneous charges.

RESOLVED (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the Committee approve the proposed licensed fees outlined in the report with an implementation date of 1 April 2019.

(iii) That the Committee authorise the Licensing Manager to carry out the necessary public notice procedure.

(iv) If objections are received within 28 days of the publication of the notice of the proposed changes to the fees, the matter will be brought before the next appropriate Committee meeting so that any such objections can be properly considered.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider whether the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a hire car driver’s licence in view of the applicant’s previous convictions.

The Committee interviewed the driver in relation to these matters.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the conduct of a current licensed hire car driver and requests that the Committee give consideration as whether, in the light of this conduct, the driver continued to be a fit and proper person to be licensed as a hire car driver.

The Committee is requested to consider whether the driver remained a fit and proper person to hold a hire car driver’s licence and whether to take any action in relation to their existing private hire licence.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider whether the current licensed hire car driver continued to be a fit and proper person to be licensed as a hire car driver in view of his recent conduct.

The Committee interviewed the driver in relation to these matters.

RESOLVED – That no further action be taken.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details the conduct of a new applicant for a hire car driver’s licence and requests that the Committee give consideration as to whether, in the light of the said conduct, the applicant was a fit and proper person to be licensed as a hire car driver.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a hire car driver’s licence.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider whether the applicant was a fit and proper person to be licensed as a hire car driver in the light of his recent conduct.

The Committee interviewed the applicant, who was accompanied by a friend, in relation to these matters.

RESOLVED – The applicant apologised to the officer concerned for his recent conduct and in the light of this, the Committee determined that the application should proceed.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report details an application for a new Private Hire Operator’s Licence.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether the operator was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Operator’s Licence.

Officer contact: Peter Cooke on 0161 474 4851 or email: peter.cooke@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider whether the operator was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Operator’s Licence.

The Committee interviewed the operator in relation to these matters.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted.