There were no declarations of interest received.

Guidance on the procedure to be followed is attached.

The Council’s Policy on the Relevance of Warnings, Offences, Cautions and Convictions are attached.

The Sub-Committee noted the procedure for the hearings and the policy on the relevance of warnings, offences, cautions and convictions.

Recommendation: that the minutes of the meeting of 16 October 2023 are approved as a true and accurate record.

The Sub-Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2023 as a true and accurate record.

If the Sub-Committee wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding or following agenda items it will be necessary for the Sub-Committee to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long, as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Sub-Committee resolved that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972  the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining items of business on the grounds that their presence would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraph 3 of  Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Sub-Committee considered matters relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licensing in private.

To consider the confidential report and reach a decision.

The Executive Director for Communities and People had submitted a report to inform the determination of an application to drive Private Hire Vehicles in the City.

The Sub-Committee resolved to:

• Refuse the application to drive Private Hire Vehicles in the City taking into account the details set out in the report and the representations made at this Sub-Committee meeting.

To consider the confidential report and reach a decision.

The Executive Director for Communities and People had submitted a report to inform the determination of an application to drive Private Hire Vehicles in the City.

The Sub-Committee resolved to:

• Grant the application to drive Private Hire Vehicles in the City, on the condition that any minor or major incidents within the first year of his licence he would be required to appear before the Sub-Committee to determine his suitability to continue to hold a licence.

Councillor Miles raised an item for consideration regarding the tests required for licence applicants and whether the assessments included material that highlight Road Safety in line with Vision Zero principles.  Councillor Miles supported the inclusion of these principles in the current testing of applicants and licence holders which would mean focusing on their ability to share the road responsibly with other users such as cyclists, pedestrians and those utilising other sustainable commuting methods.

The Sub-Committee agreed to inform the Chair of the General Purposes Licensing Committee about Road Safety in line with Vision Zero Principles and resolved to recommend to the full Committee that a review and subsequent update of the tests be undertaken by Licencing Officers, with an aim to incorporate elements that specifically address road safety and other nuances of sharing the road, in accordance with the principles of Vision Zero.

Recommendation: that the confidential minutes of the meeting of 16 October 2023 are approved as a true and accurate record.

The Sub-Committee resolved to approve the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2023 as a true and accurate record.

The dates of future meetings (if required) are:

·       18 December 2023 (C)

·       15 January 2024 (D)

·       12 February 2024 (A)

·       25 March 2024 (B)

·       15 April 2024 (C) 

The dates of future meetings were noted.