Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Cooper, H. Jones, M.J.A. Lewis, B.D.J. Phillips and L. Roberts.

There were no declarations of personal interest. There were no declarations of personal interest.

The Committee considered a report on the Licensing Policy Review Cumulative Impact Assessments in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.

The report explained that Legislation required the licensing policy to be reviewed every five years and Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIAs) every three years, to ensure that they were still appropriate. 

The report outlined that, as part of the review process the Authority undertook a consultation exercise between 30th May 2023 and 8th August 2023. In addition to reviewing the existing Cumulative Impact Assessments in force for Station Road, Llanelli and Lammas Street, Carmarthen, the consultation also sought views regarding the adoption of a further Cumulative Impact Assessment for Nott Square, King Street and Queen Street, Carmarthen.

A summary of the outcome of the consultation process was attached to the consultation report.  In regard to the evidence submitted, the three options cited within the report were considered.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

3.1      that option 3 was the most appropriate policy option for the Cumulative Impact Assessments to best promote the licensing objectives in Carmarthenshire;

3.2      TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL to approve a Statement of Licensing Policy that reflected option 3 as stated within the report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Licensing Committee held on the 31^stOctober, 2023 be signed as a correct record.

THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 12 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007 AS THEY CONTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.

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, pursuant to the RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Committee was informed thatGareth Laurence Williams of 56 Is Y Llan, Llanddarog was a licensed hackney carriage/private hire dual driver with this Authority.

The Senior Licensing Officer informed the Committee members of the issues that had arisen in respect of his license. 

The Committee interviewed Mr Williams (in attendance remotely) with regard to the issues raised by the Senior Licensing Officer.

The Senior Licensing Officer recommended that Mr Williams be issued with a final warning as to his future conduct.

The Committee thereupon:

RESOLVED that, Mr Gareth Laurence Williams’ Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Drivers Licence be issued with a warning as to his future conduct.

The Committee considered an application from Miss Georgia Ann Williams of 30 Parc Y Ffordd, Johnstown, Carmarthen for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.

The Committee interviewed Miss Williams (in attendance remotely) with regard to her application.

The Senior Licensing Officer recommended that Miss Williams’ application be granted with a warning as to her future conduct.

RESOLVED that the application submitted by Miss Georgia Ann Williams for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be granted with a warning as to her future conduct.

The Committee was informed thatMr Simon Matthew Hardy of 3 Parc Heol Ddu, Pen Y Mynydd, Llanelli was a licensed hackney carriage/private hire dual driver with this Authority.

The Senior Licensing Officer informed the Committee members of the issues that had arisen in respect of his license. 

The Committee interviewed Mr Hardy with regard to the issues raised by the Senior Licensing Officer.

The Senior Licensing Officer recommended that Mr Hardy’s licence be revoked.

The Committee thereupon:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to retire into private session in order to receive legal advice pursuant to Paragraph 16 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Following the adjournment, the Committee reconvened to advise of its decision.

RESOLVED that Mr Simon Matthew Hardy’s licence be suspended until 18^th April 2024 and that the matter to be put before committee at its meeting scheduled to take place on 18^th April 2024 when Mr Hardy is to provide medical evidence as to his fitness.

Reasons:

On the evidence presented the Committee felt that Mr Hardy was not currently a fit and proper person to hold a licence. This was considered a reasonable cause to suspend his licence.

The Senior Licensing Officer referred to the application received from Mr David Andrew Jones of 15 Waun Burgess, Carmarthen for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.  As Mr Jones was not able to be in attendance at the meeting the Senior Licensing Officer requested that its consideration be deferred to the next meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that consideration of the application submitted by Mr David Andrew Jones be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered an application from Mr Nicholas Andrew Rainford of 5 Cae Eithin, Carmarthen for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.

The Committee interviewed Mr Rainford and the Dyfed Powys Police representative with regard to his application and the issues raised by the Senior Licencing Officer.

The Senior Licensing Officer recommended that Mr Rainford’s application be refused.

The Committee thereupon:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to retire into private session in order to receive legal advice pursuant to Paragraph 16 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Following the adjournment, the Committee reconvened to advise of its decision.

RESOLVED that the application submitted by Mr Nicholas Andrew Rainford for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence be granted with a final warning as to his future conduct.

Reasons:

On evidence presented satisfied that applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

The Committee was advised that following submission of the application and inclusion onto the Committee’s agenda, Mrs Evans had since withdrawn the application.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the withdrawal be noted.