To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from Members/Officers

Apologies for absence were received from the following Member for the reason so given:-

Councillor C J James - Recuperating

To receive for approval the public Minutes of meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the following dates:-

14 August 2014

3 October 2014

11 November 2014

RESOLVED:              That the Minutes of the following meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee be approved as a true and accurate record, subject to a small amendment to the Minutes of 14 August 2014, as detailed below:-

Special meeting – 14 August 2014

Special meeting – 3 October 2014

Ordinary meeting – 11 November 2014

In terms of the Minutes of the 14 August 2014, page 39 last line, add the word Premises between the words ‘the and licence.’

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008

None.

The Minutes/Report relating to the following items are not for publication as they contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 and/or Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007

If following the application of the public interest test the Committee resolves pursuant to the Act to consider these items in private, the public will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

RESOLVED:         That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as they contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

                               Following the application of the public interest test it was resolved that pursuant to the Act referred to above to consider the following items in private, with the public excluded from the meeting, as it was considered that in all the circumstances relating to the items, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, because the information would be prejudicial to the applicants.

To receive for approval the exempt Minutes of meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the following dates:-

14 August 2014

3 October 2014

11 November 2014

EXEMPT MINUTES OF A PREVIOUS MEETING

RESOLVED:         That the exempt minutes of a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the following dates were approved as a true and accurate record:-

                              Special meeting – 14 August 2014

                              Special meeting – 3 October 2014

                              Ordinary meeting – 11 November 2014

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF NEW LICENCE

Mark Francis Button,

18 Charles Street,

Bridgend

The applicant was present in support of his application.

The Service Manager – Trading Standards asked the applicant Mr. Button, if he had received a copy of the report and if the details contained therein were correct, and if there were any matters pending against him in the Courts.

Mr Button confirmed the report to be correct and that he had no matters pending against him in the Courts.

The Service Manager – Trading Standards referred Members to Paragraph 4.3 of the report, and pointed out to Members that Mr Button had previously held a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence with the Authority between January 2008 and March 2012. The Sub Committee had subsequently refused the renewal of Mr Button's licence, due to the fact that they considered that he was no longer a fit and proper person to hold such a licence, due to the nature of the convictions (1) – (7) (and not (8) as erroneously stated in the report).

She then asked Mr Button to give an explanation to the Sub Committee, of the circumstances that had resulted in him being convicted of these offences, commencing with the conviction dated 3 January 2001 for possessing a controlled drug and damaging property.

Mr Button explained that he had been going through a bad divorce at the time and due to this had experienced personal problems, resulting in him ‘letting himself go’, and becoming depressed. He had broken a wing mirror on his estranged wife’s car and when the Police were called for this, they had found on him a small amount of cannabis that he retained for his own use rather than anybody else’s.

In respect of the conviction on 3 July 2009 once more for damage to property, this had come about he explained, following an argument with his daughter. This had led to him kicking the door of his ex-partner ie his former wife. His daughter was 16 years of age at the time, and the Police had caught up with him after the offence had been committed.

The next offence resulted in him receiving a further conviction on 30 December 2009 for being drunk in a public place. Mr Button confirmed that this had resulted from him leaving a nightclub in Bridgend and not being allowed re-entry into the premises. He had lost his temper and became abusive following which he claimed he was bundled to the floor by the Club’s doormen who then called the Police following which he was arrested. He claimed that though he was drunk at the time he wasn’t acting disorderly.

The Service Manager – Trading Standards noted from records on Mr Button’s file, that he ignored Police Officer’s advice and continued to act in an abusive manner when he was arrested. Mr Button replied that from his recollection this had not been the case and that he didn't resist arrest.

The next conviction was dated 30  ...  view the full minutes text for item 484.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency