Decisions

To set out priorities for the schools capital programme including projects to add pupil places and maintenance priorities

(1) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme DfE funding of £353,269 for works to school kitchens required to enable the provision of free school meals for all infant pupils from September 2014;

(2) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme Basic Need development funding of £150,000 to enable feasibility studies and option appraisal for adding capacity at the schools identified in Section 5;

(3) To APPROVE for inclusion in the 2014/15 Capital Programme Basic Need funding of £400k for the provision of additional classrooms at Saltford Primary School required by September 2014;

(4) To APPROVE provisionally the principle of the allocation of Basic Need funding for  school places and land as required on the MOD sites at Ensleigh and Warminster Rd subject to a further report to Cabinet when the level of contribution is identified;

(5) To AGREE an additional allocation of £500,000 from 2014/15 Capital Maintenance funding for the 2014/15 Schools Capital Maintenance Programme; and

(6) To APPROVE the allocation of £500,000 from 2014/15 Capital Maintenance funding for improvement projects in schools with priorities to be agreed with the Cabinet Member and brought forward for full approval.

The two management Plans were referred to Cabinet by the Mendip Hills Partnership and the Cotswolds Conservation Board respectively.

(1) To APPROVE the Mendip Hills AONB Management Plan 2014 – 2019 as the basis for safeguarding and managing the unique beauty and distinctive character of the AONB and to be taken into account in the preparation of the Council’s Local Development documents and in the determination of planning applications; and

(2) To ENDORSE the Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2013 – 2018 as the basis for safeguarding and managing the unique beauty and distinctive character of the AONB and to be taken into account in the preparation of the Council’s Local Development documents and in the determination of planning applications.

The Council requires a Leisure Strategy to determine its investment and service delivery options for the next 25 years.  This report is designed to clarify options available and provides recommendations to build the future leisure platform.

(1) To APPROVE the draft ‘Fit for Life’ strategy for further public consultation.

The LEP is required to submit its Strategic Economic Plan to government for assessment and is seeking the endorsement of the Council and the other UA's

(1) To AGREE the aspirations set out in the Strategic Economic Plan and endorse the submission of the document to Government; and

(2) To DELEGATE authority to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director Place, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Sustainable Development, to agree any minor amendments to the document.

To approve the details within the Highway Structural Maintenance Programme for 2014/15 and develop the policies of both the Joint LTP and Asset Management Plan

(1) To AGREE the Funding Allocation breakdown across Highway Assets for 2014/15;

(2) To NOTE the anticipated carry forward from 2013/14 to 2014/15;

(3) To APPROVE the Highway Structural Maintenance Programme for 2014/15, for which provisional funding approval was included within the Council’s February 2014 budget report; and

(4) To DELEGATE authority to the Divisional Director, Environmental Services and the Service Manager, Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, to alter the programme as may prove necessary during 2014/15.  Any alterations will be within the overall budget allocation and take into account any additional funding streams that become available.

The Plan outlines the current level of school provision, detailed pupil projections up to 2017 and outline pupil numbers up to 2029. Estimates of the number of places likely to be required and how and where these might be provided are also included

(1) To APPROVE the proposed strategy for the provision of school places within the 2013 – 2017 plan period; and

(2) To APPROVE the proposed strategy for the provision of school places over the longer term within the Core Strategy plan period.

The Sub-Committee considered the report, which sought determination of Mr CDC’s application for the grant of a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Mr CDC was present. He confirmed that he understood the procedure for the hearing.

The Senior Public Protection Officer presented the report and stated that as part of the application process a Disclosure and Barring Service check was undertaken, which had revealed previous convictions. He circulated the Disclosure and Barring Service check and references for Mr CDC. The applicant and Senior Public Protection Officer withdrew from the meeting while Members took some time to consider these documents.

Mr CDC put his case and was questioned. He also made a closing statement. 

Following an adjournment it was

RESOLVED that Mr CDC be granted a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Reasons for decision

Members have had to determine an application by Mr CDC for a combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence.

In doing so, they took account of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, case law and the Council’s policy.

Members had to consider whether Mr CDC is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and therefore asked themselves whether they would allow their son, daughter, spouse, partner or anyone they cared about to travel alone in a vehicle driven by Mr CDC.

Members noted that Mr CDC had a held a taxi licence issued  by the authority between 1998 – 2010 and that the Committee had refused his application to renew the licence on 9 March 2010 due to cautions for forgery in 2000, intimidation of a witness in 2006 and a conviction for common assault in 2009. Members also noted that Mr CDC had breached the conditions of his licence by failing to notify the authority of the witness intimidation caution. He also had a conviction for theft dating back to 1996.

In his representations to the Committee, Mr CDC explained the circumstances of the offences. Members noted that the offences were relatively old in terms of their policy. Members were impressed by Mr CDC’s frank explanation. They took account of his previous 12 years as a driver. Members were satisfied that Mr CDC realises the value of a licence and will not do anything to jeopardise it in the future.

Members also had regard to the written references provided.

In light of this, Members decided that Mr CDC is a fit and proper person to hold a private hire and hackney carriage driver’s licence and accordingly his application is granted.

The Sub-Committee considered the report, which sought determination of Mr BB’s application for the grant of a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Mr BB was present. He confirmed that he understood the procedure for the hearing.

The Senior Public Protection Officer presented the report and stated that as part of the application process a Disclosure and Barring Service check was undertaken, which had revealed a previous caution. He circulated the Disclosure and Barring Service check, personal statement and references for Mr BB. The applicant and the Senior Public Protection Officer withdrew from the meeting while Members took some time to consider these documents.

Mr BB put his case and was questioned. He also made a closing statement. 

Following an adjournment it was

RESOLVED that Mr BB be granted a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Reasons for decision

Members have had to determine an application by Mr BB for a combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence.

In doing so, they took account of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, case law and the Council’s policy.

Members had to consider whether Mr BB is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and therefore asked themselves whether they would allow their son, daughter, spouse, partner or anyone they cared about to travel alone in a vehicle driven by Mr BB.

Members noted that Mr BB was cautioned for a public order offence on 13 December 2010 resulting from a drunken argument on the way home from the pub. Members noted that the caution was over 2 years old and that Mr BB has good references, including from the Head Chef of the restaurant in which he worked which stated that Mr BB is able to work in a pressurised environment.

In his representations to the Committee, Mr BB stated that the incident was a one-off, it would not happen again and he was grown up and wanted to start his professional life.

In light of the age of the caution, the references and Mr BB’s frank explanation of the incident, Members are satisfied that Mr BB is a fit and proper person to hold a private hire and hackney carriage drivers licence and accordingly his application is granted.

The Sub-Committee considered the report, which sought determination of Mr AA’s application for the grant of a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Mr AA was present. He confirmed that he understood the procedure for the hearing.

The Senior Public Protection Officer presented the report and stated that as part of the application process a Disclosure and Barring Service check was undertaken, which had revealed previous convictions. He circulated the Disclosure and Barring Service check, personal statement and reference for Mr AA. The applicant and Senior Public Protection Officer withdrew from the meeting while Members took some time to consider these documents.

Mr AA put his case and was questioned. He also made a closing statement. 

Following an adjournment it was

RESOLVED that Mr AA be refused a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence.

Reasons for decision

Members have had to determine an application by Mr AA for a combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence.

In doing so, they took account of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, case law and the Council’s policy.

Members had to consider whether Mr AA is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and therefore asked themselves whether they would allow their son, daughter, spouse, partner or anyone they cared about to travel alone in a vehicle driven by Mr AA.

Members noted that Mr AA had been convicted of drink driving on 25 September 2006 and, in accordance with the Council’s policy, they took a serious view of this offence, despite it being over 5 years old. Members also noted that Mr AA had been convicted of a number of offences between 2005 and 2011, primarily criminal damage, but also interfering with a vehicle and a public order offence. The last conviction was on 23 May 2011 meaning that 3 years has not yet elapsed. Members noted a theme of drink and aggression running through the convictions.

To assist them in making a determination, Members had regard to Mr AA’s written statement and his reference and listened to his representations. Mr AA stated that he was much younger when the offences had occurred and they were as a result of drinking.

Members decided that Mr AA is not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire and hackney carriage drivers licence due to the nature and extent of his previous convictions, the fact that he has not been free of convictions for three years and the fact that drink and aggression featured in many of the offences. Accordingly his application is refused.