Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure.

Councillor Gabriel Batt sent his apologies, Councillor Anthony Clarke was his substitute.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were none.

There was none.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 7th January 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

The Chair will, if required, explain the procedure.

RESOLVED that the procedure for this part of the meeting be noted.

The Committee is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

“that, the Committee having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended”.

RESOLVED “that, having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.”

The Sub-Committee considered the report which sought determination of any action, in respect of Mr IWH's behaviour during an interaction with a British Transport Police Officer and his application for renewal of his combined hackney carriage/private hire driver's licence.

The Licensee was present with Mr Hollingdale of Bath Taxi Association.  He confirmed he had read and understood the procedure for the meeting.

The Senior Public Protection Officer invited the Sub-Committee, Licensee and Mr Hollingdale to view the video footage of the incident, which they did.

The Senior Public Protection Officer circulated the file notes of Mr H's previous convictions.  The Licensee and Officer withdrew from the meeting for Members to have time to consider this information.

Mr H presented his case and made the following points:-

·  in the last 2 years around the station had been in turmoil with the ongoing building work and the fact taxis could not go round the back of the station and customers complained about this;

·  he usually did a three point turn further down the road but that day he came out of the station and indicated right to do a three point turn, the police officer told him not to do this but according to the Highway Code it was not illegal to do this in the road but you were liable if there was an accident;

·  the incident had gone viral and Mr H had challenged the offence in the Magistrates Court;

·  Mr H had learned from it but until a sign was put up taxis would continue to do this manoeuvre outside the station.

The Chair stated to Mr H that the Sub-Committee was not here to re-try his case but ascertain his fitness as a licensed hackney carriage/private hire driver.

Mr Hollingdale made the following points:-

·  he had known the licensee for a long time and he was well-liked by his customers who often asked for him by name;

·  Mr H had performed the manoeuvre to save time and money for his customer;

·  since the time of the incident there had been a local meeting and taxi drivers had been told not to do this manoeuvre outside the station or further down that road;

·  if the incident had not gone 'viral' it was possible that Mr H might not have had to come before the Sub-Committee;

·  he added that Mr H was a veteran of Northern Ireland and the first Gulf War.

In answer to question from Councillors Mr H gave the following answers:-

·  on the video it was not possible to hear him as clearly as the police officer, Mr H thought the police officer meant for him to do the manoeuvre further down the road and his customer did not want to go that way;

·  in relation to why the police officer asked him to calm down, Mr H said he did not lose his cool but was just gesticulating;

·  there was a sign saying do not turn right but Mr H said that it did not apply  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.