To receive apologies for absence from Members.   

None

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

To receive for approval the public Minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee of 29 March 2016

RESOLVED:                  That the Minutes of a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee dated 29 March 2016, be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Corporate Director Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report that asked the Sub-Committee to consider an application for the grant of a licence for a hackney carriage vehicle, due to the application falling outside the Council’s policy guidelines.

Prior to the consideration of the report, Officers and Members proceeded to the basement car park to view the vehicle, with the exception of Councillors James and John who remained in the meeting and therefore took no part in the subsequent decision upon the application.

Upon returning to the meeting it was noted by the Sub-Committee that the mileage of the vehicle was 47,006.

The Team Manager Licensing advised that the application was made by Rhiannon Rainbow who was present at the meeting, and accompanied by Andrew Rainbow.

She went on to explain, that the application was to licence a Citroen Berlingo registration number CK13 PVL as a hackney carriage vehicle to seat 4 persons. The date of first registration of the vehicle was 15 July 2013, and the vehicle was not wheelchair accessible.

The Team Manager Licensing confirmed that the reason the application fell outside the Policy was due to the fact that it had not been re-registered as a hackney carriage vehicle after 18 July 2015, as well as the fact that the vehicle was not wheelchair accessible.

She then asked if the vehicle was due for its MOT renewal in July 2016, and the applicant replied that this was the case.

Mr. Rainbow confirmed that he considered that the vehicle met all the required criteria to become a hackney carriage vehicle, and that it also had a sound service history, as he was responsible for regularly servicing the vehicle.

Ms. Rainbow advised that the vehicle had not been in use the last 10 months, as she had been operating from a new vehicle and did not have sufficient resources at this time to have both of these on the road.

Members then retired to consider the application further, and upon their return, it was

RESOLVED:                The Sub-Committee considered the application made by Ms. Rhiannon Rainbow, and in particular, against its Licensing Policy. Though the vehicle fell outside the policy, Members having viewed the vehicle agreed that it was in exceptional condition, and on this basis approved the granting of a licence for a hackney carriage vehicle.

The Corporate Director Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, in respect of an application received from Darker Enterprises Ltd, for the renewal of the Sex Establishment Licence in respect of the above premises, and was being placed before the Sub-Committee for consideration, as powers have not been delegated under the Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

The Team Manager Licensing advised that the current licence was subject to the Council’s standard conditions and to the special conditions attached at Appendix A to the report. She added that there had been no recommendations from the statutory consultees to vary the current standard or special conditions in force, and no representations or objections to the renewal of licence from the public had been received. She further added that the applicant had complied with the statutory requirements to advertise the application.

The Team Manager Licensing advised Members that the renewal fee for the application had been paid by the applicant, whilst the remainder of the report referred to guidance for Members in respect of applications of this nature, together with information regarding an applicants’ Right of Appeal, should an application be refused.

RESOLVED:                That the Sub-Committee renewed the Sex Establishment Licence for the above premises subject to the existing terms and conditions.

The reports 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.

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 the Licensing Sub-Committee of 29 March 2016

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.

None.