To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2018 (LC.7 - LC.9), and to confirm the minutes of the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel held on 22 November 2018 (LAHP.19 – LAHP.20), (LAHP. 21 - LAHP.22), (LAHP.23 – LAHP.24), 9 January 2019 (LAHP.25) and 22 January 2019 (LAHP.26), previously circulated.

THE DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 November 2018 (LC.7 - LC.9), and to confirm the minutes of the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel held on 22 November 2018 (LAHP.19 – LAHP.20), (LAHP. 21 - LAHP.22), (LAHP.23 – LAHP.24), 9 January 2019 (LAHP.25) and 22 January 2019 (LAHP.26), previously circulated, be signed as correct records.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer)

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval to delegate certain functions reserved to the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel to senior officers.

Alternative options considered:

The Licensing Committee considered the Director’s report and, having concluded that giving delegated authority to senior officers to revoke a licence which was a statutory obligation or where immediate action was required to safeguard the public was appropriate, there was no other suitable option.

The reason for the decision:

The Licensing Committee considered whether to give delegated authority to senior officers to revoke a licence which was a statutory obligation or where immediate action was required to safeguard the public.

The Committee noted that officers had no discretion to revoke a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence if a matter of significant concern arose in respect of their fitness and propriety.  The Committee noted that under current procedures a driver could continue to drive until a meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Hearings Panel could be convened.  The Committee concluded that time delays in arranging a meeting could pose a risk to the public and that it was appropriate that senior officers be given delegated authority to revoke a driver’s licence where a significant concern regarding a driver’s conduct had arisen.

THE DECISION:

That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Law and Governance to revoke a licence where such action is a statutory obligation or where immediate action is considered necessary to safeguard the public.