Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the ensuing meeting.

Councillor H Harrington was elected Chair for the ensuing meeting.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm on a working day, allowing two clear working days before the day of the meeting.

None received.

The Licensing and Compliance Officer submitted a report for the Licensing Regulatory Panel to consider a vehicle for hackney carriage vehicle licence which did not meet the criteria of Allerdale Borough Councils Vehicle Age Policy.

The Applicant was in attendance.

The application was to consider whether the council departs from the conditions of its Vehicle Age Policy and agree to grant the hackney carriage vehicle licence for any period up to one year.

The vehicle was licensed as hackney carriage vehicle and that licence had expired without a valid renewal application being made.

The applicant had requested that the Licensing Regulatory Panel consider licensing the vehicle outside of the Vehicle Age Policy due to their extenuating circumstances.

The officer’s recommendation was to refuse the licence.

The applicant advised members he had been unwell prior to the expiry date.

The Licensing and Compliance Officer and the applicant then left the meeting while the panel considered the application.

Members considered the application, the officer’s report, and representations from the applicant and advice from officers. The Panel also considered relevant legislation, the Vehicle Age Policy and the purposes of the licencing objectives.

Councillor B Pegram moved the motion to grant the hackney carriage vehicle licence for one year.

This was seconded by Councillor J Grisdale.

A vote was taken, the motion was unanimously agreed.

The motion was carried.

The Licensing and Compliance Officer and the applicant returned to the meeting.

The applicant was informed of the decision and its reasons.

Decision/Reasons

The Panel has decided to delegate powers to officers to grant the licence for one year, delegating the power thereafter to the Licensing and Compliance Officer for any subsequent renewal.  Although the vehicle now falls outside the Vehicle Age Policy, it is considered to meet the conditions outlined in section 3 of the Policy as all of the conditions are now met.

The Panel took account of the extenuating circumstances presented by the applicant and the fact that he had been unwell prior to the expiry date.

If the applicant is aggrieved by the decision of the Panel, they can appeal to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the decision.