Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 January 2012 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in the public interest to exclude the public during the consideration of items (if any) on the agenda which are marked "not for publication" by virtue of the categories set out in the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED - That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 8-12 to prevent the disclosure of information relating to an individual.  It would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose this information because disclosure of the personal information would not be fair to the applicants and would breach their Data Protection rights.

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 which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared.

Personal Interest

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

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) reported that the Corporate Director of Place had, in consultation with Chair, suspended drivers’ licences under the Road Safety Act 2006 in the interests of public safety on the basis that the drivers had failed to submit themselves for a CRB check.

RESOLVED – That the action be noted.

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 and at local libraries and information centres).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details a proposed policy for dealing with obstructions and three policies creating a unified policy and licencing approach for uses of the highway that the Council is willing to consider. The policies recognise the need to address and balance the needs of a number of stakeholders including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders and seeks to make controls more efficient and the response to problems more effective.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Andrew Suggett/ Sue Stevenson/Graeme Vout, 0161 474 4351, andrew.suggett@stockport.gov.uk / sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk / graeme.vout@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed policy for dealing with obstructions and three policies creating a unified policy and licencing approach for uses of the highway that the Council was willing to consider. The policies recognised the need to address and balance the needs of a number of stakeholders including pedestrians, people with disabilities, residents, businesses and local traders and sought to make controls more efficient and the response to problems more effective.

The representative of the Service Director (Place Management) reported that since the report had been produced the Executive had given further consideration to the licensing of ‘A-Boards’ and tables outside cafes and that revised proposals would now be developed in these areas.

It was further stated that the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee had recommended that an appeals process be instituted against decisions to refuse any licences under this policy, and that the appropriate place for those appeals to be heard would be at this Committee. 

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That insofar as this Committee was concerned, it was considered that should an appeals process against the refusal to grant a licence be instituted that this Committee would have no objection to its Terms of Reference being revised to incorporate such a process within them.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details the results of the report commissioned to examine the provision of taxi and private hire vehicles in the Borough and proposals in relation to the issuing of taxi licences.

The Committee is recommended to:-

(1) Issue no new Hackney Carriage Licences by virtue of the absence of any unmet demand and the current underutilisation of the full fleet of vehicles.

(2) Give consideration to a further survey in three years’ time to review the situation in the prevailing conditions at the time.

(3) Give further consideration to ensure that there is effective provision of ranks that best meets the needs of all parties.

(4) That the Service Director (Place Management) be recommended to consider other observations in the report and to prepare an update for a future meeting of the Committee. 

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 0161 474 4175 email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the results of a report commissioned to examine the provision of taxi and private hire vehicles in the Borough and proposals in relation to the issuing of taxi licences.

Members expressed the view that there would need to be a wide ranging consultation with regard to any proposals to introduce taxi ranks in at new locations within the Borough.

RESOLVED – (1) That no new Hackney Carriage Licences be issued by virtue of the absence of any unmet demand and the current underutilisation of the full fleet of vehicles.

(2) That a further survey be conducted in three years’ time to review the situation in the prevailing conditions at the time.

(3) That the Service Director (Place Management) be recommended to give further consideration to ensure that there is effective provision of ranks that best meets the needs of all parties.

(4) That the Service Director (Place Management) be recommended to consider other observations in the report and to prepare an update for a future meeting of the Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details an application for the grant of a licensed hire car driver’s licence.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a drivers licence.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider the suitability of the applicant to be licensed as a private hire car driver following convictions for a number of offences being disclosed on a CRB check.

The Committee interviewed the applicant in relation to these matters.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details an application for the grant of a licensed hire car driver’s licence.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a drivers licence.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

With the consent of the Committee this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details an application for the grant of a licensed hire car driver’s licence.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a drivers licence.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

With the consent of the Committee this item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details an application for the grant of a licensed hire car driver’s licence.

The Committee is recommended to consider whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a drivers licence.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred pending the applicant’s attendance at the Committee.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management).

The report details a driver’s conviction and their failure to notify the authority of that conviction.

The Committee is recommended to consider what action to take, if any, with regard to the driver’s conviction and their failure to notify the authority of that conviction.

Officer contact: Ian O’Donnell on 474 4175 or email: ian.odonnell@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) requesting the Committee to consider the suitability of the driver to continue to be licensed as a private hire car driver following the driver’s failure to notify the Licensing Authority of a conviction for an offence.

The Committee interviewed the driver in relation to this matter.

RESOLVED – (One against) That in the light of the driver’s failure to disclose a conviction for an offence, the driver’s licence be suspended for a one week period.