The officers consider that the following item or items contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

A recommendation was made that the public is excluded during consideration of the items of business.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following items which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The reports of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing will follow.

The Committee considered the content of the report and the representations of the Licensing Officer.  The Committee noted and was concerned that the drivers did not have an up to date DBS certificate and despite numerous attempts by the Licensing Unit to contact them over several months none had responded and had not taken any steps to remedy the situation by signing into the DBS checking service.  The Committee also noted that the drivers had been informed of the meeting today and had not expressed a desire to attend or make any representations to the Committee. 

The Committee noted that 44 drivers licenced with Manchester City Council were issued with suspension notices on 23 November 2018.  Each driver was also issued with an invitation to attend the Committee on the same date to make representations. 

In all the circumstances the Committee could not be satisfied they were still a “fit and proper person”  to possess  valid Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver licences issued by Manchester City Council and therefore revoked all 44 licences with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety.  

Decision

To revoke the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licences as detailed within the report submitted with immediate effect on the grounds of  public safety.