Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Coucillors Boyes and Seacome and Councillors Sanky and Harman attended as substitutes.

Councillor Chidley was welcomed to the committee as a new member replacing Councillor Clark.

There were none to be disclosed in open session.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

The committee voted unanimously on the above.  The meeting then entered closed session,

After Member questions and Member debate the matter then went to the vote on 1.7.1 from the report that no further action, the driver is found to be fit and proper.

For: Unanimous.

Members considered the case and voted unanimously to suspend the driver’s HCV licence for up to three months, pending safeguarding training being undertaken.

There were none.

The Licensing Team Leader said that, as Members were aware, the council was trying to introduce a policy to ensure all taxis were wheelchair-accessible, with the current understanding that in exceptional circumstances, if a saloon car was written off or beyond economic repair, the driver would be allowed to replace it with another saloon.  A driver has approached the council to replace a fully electric saloon vehicle; there is nothing wrong with it, and the driver bought it 14 months ago in an attempt to be ‘green’, but is finding it unsuitable for taxi work.  It needs a full charge every six hours, and how far it will travel on one charge depends on temperature, lights, hills, distance etc, sometimes only achieving 150 miles.  As the driver may need to drive a child to school 65 miles away, this is undermining his ability to make a living.

He said that officers make a lot of decisions on exceptional circumstances, but has brought this case to Members’ attention as it concerns the only fully electric vehicle on the fleet.  The driver would like to replace it with a hybrid vehicle, and if Members agree, the Licensing Team Leader and Chair can make the decision under delegated powers, rather than keep the driver waiting four weeks until the next meeting. 

Members agreed unanimously with this suggestion.