The Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee (Councillor Smith) informed the meeting that the Chairman of the Sub-Committee (Councillor J Henderson) was absent from the meeting and that therefore he would occupy the Chair.

The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Casey (with no substitution) and J Henderson (with Councillor Davidson substituting). 

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub- Committee, held on Monday, 11 March 2024.

 It was moved by Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor Codling and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, held on Monday, 11 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Councillor Smith (Vice-Chairman, in the Chair) declared for the public record that he was a London Taxi driver of 34 years’ experience but that he had no ties in that capacity to the District of Tendring.

The Sub-Committee is requested to consider passing the following resolution:-

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of Agenda Items 5, 6 and 7, on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, by the Act.”

It was moved by Councillor A Cossens, seconded by Councillor Davidson, and:-

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Items 5, 6 and 7 on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the exempt minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, held on Monday, 11 March 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor Cossens and:-

RESOLVED that the Exempt Minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, held on. Monday, 11 March 2024, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

To enable the Sub-Committee to consider a review of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence where the applicant has been alleged to have refused to carry a visually impaired passenger and their assistance dog.

RESOLVED that the Sub-Committee were in support of the 12 Enforcement Penalty Points already imposed on the individual’s Hackey Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence, the refusal to carry a guide dog was a really serious offence and they could have lost their licence, and that if they was to come back to the Sub-Committee within 2 years with the points still on the licence then a harsher action may be required.  The points would remain on their licence the full two years until February 2026. 

To enable the Sub-Committee to consider a review of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence where the applicant has acquired more than 12 Enforcement Penalty Points.

RESOLVED that the Sub-Committee were in support of the 13 Enforcement Penalty Points already imposed on the individual’s Hackey Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence and that they would keep those points for the next two years.  Further, if the individual was before the Sub-Committee before the Enforcement Penalty Points had expired then a harsher decision would be considered but they would keep their licence now and could keep working.