Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors T. Bowen, A. Davies, I.J. Jackson, D.J.R. Llewellyn and M.K. Thomas.

The Chair referred to the death of Councillor Keith Davies and extended his condolences to Councillor Davies’s family.

The Chair extended his condolences to Mr. Justin Power, Senior Licensing Officer, on the death of his father.

The Committee was informed that Mrs. Morgan had contacted officers to advise that she was unable to attend today’s meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that consideration of the application from Mrs. Linda Victoria Morgan to renew her Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered an application from Mr David Mark Jones-Dunstall of South Wales Travel, Bwythyn y Coed, 1 Dol y Dderwen, Bonllwyn, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, to be granted an exemption from Conditions 5a and 5b of the Council’s Licence Conditions for Private Hire Vehicles for his Renault Grand Scenic registration number SP11 NJZ.

Mr Jones-Dunstall had requested that as he intended to operate the vehicle for Executive and Business hire only, he be granted an exemption from Conditions 5a and 5b of the Council’s Licence Conditions, namely that he be not required to display door stickers and a licence plate on the rear bumper of his vehicle.

The Public Health Services Manager advised that should the Licensing Committee agree to grant an exemption from conditions 5a and 5b of the Council’s Licence Conditions for Private Hire vehicles, then the following licence conditions would be attached to the licence:-

[i]That the licensed Renault Grand Scenic registration SP11 NJZ be exempt from licence conditions 5a and 5b, whilst being used for executive and business hire purposes as outlined in the application by Mr Jones-Dunstall;

[ii]That should the vehicle be used for Private Hire other than executive and business hire, then the applicant shall immediately notify the Licensing Authority and the exemption shall cease in relation to such hiring;

[iii] That the vehicle displays an identification disc on the front and rear windscreens, as specified by the Licensing Authority.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the application submitted by Mr David Mark Jones-Dunstall for an exemption for his Renault Grand Scenic registration number SP11 NJZ from Conditions 5a and 5b of the Council’s Licence Conditions for Private Hire Vehicles be granted in accordance with the conditions detailed within the report.

The Committee was informed that Mrs. Wynne had contacted officers to advise that she was unable to attend today’s meeting but was happy for her application to be determined in her absence. The Public Health Services Manager advised that there was an issue concerning Mrs. Wynne’s application.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that consideration of the application from Mrs. Sarah Jenna Wynne to renew her Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

(Note: Councillor P.E.M. Jones having earlier declared a personal interest in this item, left the meeting during consideration thereof).

The Committee was informed that Mr Christopher Graham Richards of 7 Dolau Fan Road, Burry Port, was a licensed hackney carriage/private hire dual driver with the authority and the Committee interviewed Mr Richards with regard to an issue which had arisen in relation to his licence.

The Public Health Services Manager recommended that Mr Richards be issued with a warning as to his future conduct.

The Committee thereupon,

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that, in line with the Council’s guidelines, Mr Christopher Graham Richards be issued with a warning as to his future conduct.

Reasons

The Committee, having regard to what was reported at the meeting, felt that this was a proportionate response.

The Committee considered an application from Mr Philip Mark Jones of 23 Belvedere Avenue, Carmarthen, for the grant of a hackney carriage/private hire dual drivers licence.

The Committee interviewed Mr Jones with regard to his application. The Committee also received a statement in support of Mr. Jones’ application from Mr. C. Williams of LRC Training.

The Public Health Services Manager recommended that Mr Jones’ application be granted with a warning as to his future conduct.

The Committee thereupon,

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that, in line with the Council’s guidelines, the application submitted by Mr Philip Mark Jones for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be granted with a warning as to his future conduct.

Reason

On the evidence presented the Committee was satisfied that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

The Committee was informed that Mr. Marling was not present and had not contacted officers to advise them of his intentions.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that consideration of the application by Mr. Andrew Stuart Marling for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee and that he be advised that should he fail to attend then his application may be dealt with in his absence.

The Principal Licensing Officer advised that Carmarthenshire County Council was currently undertaking reviews of both its Licensing and Gambling Policies. The statutory policies had to be reviewed periodically to ensure that they were up to date and reflected feedback from the local community that the statutory objectives were being met. As part of the reviews the Council was required to undertake a consultation exercise and details of the consultations had been sent to a number of interested parties, including licence holders, businesses, local residents and their representatives. Both consultations concluded on the 13^th of September 2015. Members of the Licensing Committee who had not already submitted a response to the consultations were encouraged to complete the consultation documents in order that they could be submitted and form part of the policy reviews.

NOTED.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Licensing Sub-Committee ‘C’ held on the 21^STJuly 2015 be signed as a correct record.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on the 25^th June 2015 be signed as a correct record.