Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richard Avison and George Horton. 

It was noted that, in accordance with Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, notice had been given that Councillor Claire Arnold had been appointed to the Committee in place of Councillor Graham Cullen for this Meeting only.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to disclose any relevant interests. The following interests were disclosed:

• Councillor Carl Macey asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder.

• Councillor Andrew Leonard asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder and a Magistrate.

·       Councillor Claire Arnold asked it be noted that she was a personal licence holder.

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed exempt information as defined at paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 of Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Act (as Amended).

RESOLVED

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed exempt information as defined at paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 of Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Act (as Amended).

To confirm the Open and Exempt Minutes of the General Licensing Meeting held on 17 November 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Open and Exempt Minutes of the General Licensing Meeting held on 17 November 2025 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Group Manager Public Protection.

(Confidential Report and Appendices B, C, D, E, G, H and I)

A comfort break will take place after this item.

An exempt report was submitted by the Group Manager Public Protection which enabled Members to consider the application for renewal of an animal activity licence for boarding for dogs.

RESOLVED

That the animal activity licence for boarding for dogs be refused as set out in the Exempt minute.

Report of the Group Manager Public Protection.

A report was submitted by the Group Manager Public Protection asking the Committee to undertake the 5-yearly review of the Council’s guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions for hackney carriage and private hire drivers and private hire vehicle operators. The guidelines were last reviewed in September 2020.

The Department for Transport (DfT) Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards indicated that Councils should review their licensing policies and guidelines every five years.

The Senior Licensing Officer referred Members to the guidelines relating to Appendix A, Guidelines Relating to the Relevance of Convictions – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers and Private Hire Vehicle Operators, pages 147-160 refer.

During consideration of the item, Members reviewed several minor textual amendments within the report.  It was noted that paragraph 2.8 incorrectly referred to “private hire operations licensing holders” and should instead have referred to “hackney carriage operators”.  Members agreed that the correction was appropriate.

A query was raised regarding the treatment of spent convictions and whether the wording should clarify that such convictions would only be disregarded unless relevant to current offending.  The Senior Licensing Officer explained that the relevant legislation permitted consideration of spent convictions for hackney carriage and combined driver licences but not for private hire operators which Members acknowledged as unusual, however accepted this explanation.

Following which, it was proposed and seconded that the recommendation as set out in the report be approved.

RESOLVED

That the Relevance of Convictions Policy in relation to Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Vehicle Drivers and Private Hire Vehicle Operators detailed at Appendix A of this Report be adopted with immediate effect, with the next review of the conviction guidelines to be programmed to take place during 2030, unless there is an urgent need to review the policy document again before that date.