Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any disclosures of interest from members in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were none.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006 exempt information.

[Paragraph 1 - Information relating to any individual and on the basis that publication would not be in the public interest because information and documentation is personal and subject to an obligation of confidentiality]

Resolved that under Section 100a(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of part 1 of schedule 12a of the Act indicated below.

Paragraph 1 - Information relating to any individual and on the basis that publication would not be in the public interest because information and documentation is personal and subject to an obligation of confidentiality.

The Report of the Deputy Chief Executive is attached. (Circulated to the members of the Sub-Committee only)

A procedure note which explains what happens at a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire matter, follows.

The Chair introduced the councillors and officers present and welcomed Mr Baljeet Chopra to the meeting and asked if he would be represented and/or calling any witnesses. He confirmed he was accompanied by his son, Jasdeep Chopra, but he was not attending as legal representation or as a witness.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report of the Deputy Chief Executive in summary and outlined the matter before the Sub-Committee.  The purpose of the hearing was to consider and determine whether Mr Baljeet Chopra was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage driver licence.

The meeting proceeded in accordance with the procedure which accompanied the Agenda for the meeting.

The Sub-Committee then resolved to adjourn to consider its decision.

Upon reconvening, the Chair gave the decision of the Sub-Committee. She advised that the full decision with reasons would be notified to Mr Chopra in writing within fourteen days and that he had a right of appeal to the Magistrates Court.

Resolved to suspend Mr Chopra’s Hackney Carriage driver licence for six weeks for the reasons set out in the full decision notice to be provided within fourteen days of this Sub-Committee hearing.