Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

1295.

Fire Evacuation Procedure

The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

 

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

 

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

 

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park. Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

 

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

 

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

 

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman made sure that those present were aware of the Fire Evacuation Procedure.

1296.

Notification of Chairman and Outline of Procedure

Minutes:

The Chairman opened the meeting by introducing the Sub-Committee and the officers present.

1297.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

 

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

 

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

 

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

 

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

 

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

 

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

1298.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

 

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2.

 

1.    Information relating to any individual.

2.    Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

 

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

(1)          That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2.

 

1.    Information relating to any individual.

2.    Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

 

1299.

Review of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence.

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which set-out details of obstruction of an authorised officer, by the Respondent, for not providing details of an allegation of fare refusal.  The Licensing Officer provided details of the times and frequency that he had corresponded with the Respondent, in order that he could attend an informal meeting with officers to establish the facts of the allegation.  The Respondent had been advised that the informal meeting would not be an interview under caution, and that failure to provide officers with a response would be considered as obstruction to an authorised officer under Section 73(1)(a)(b)(c) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

 

The Licensing Officer drew Members’ attention to the Respondent’s vehicle registration number which had been incorrectly recorded in the report.

 

The Senior Lawyer explained that the Sub-Committee’s role was to consider the non-response to the allegation by the Respondent, and he stated that the Respondent had been asked formally and informally to respond.  He questioned how much more detailed the request from officers could have been for the Respondent to meet with them.  He stated that it was clear in the papers that the hearing was not about the allegation against the Respondent, but why he had not responded to the allegation.   The Senior Lawyer advised that the incorrect Badge Number noted in the report would be corrected.

 

The Chairman asked the Respondent to present his case.  In response to questions, the Respondent explained that had he been given more details of the complaint, he would have been more informed, prior to him meeting with officers.

 

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 2.52pm.  Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Lawyer and Democratic Services Officer returned at 4.01pm, when the meeting was re-convened.

 

The decision, as set out at Appendix 1a to these minutes was announced.

 

Resolved: That the Respondent’s Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence be suspended for a period of one month starting from 12 May 2017 and running to 12 June 2017.

 

Appendix 1a to the Minutes pdf icon PDF 43 KB