Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

531.

Emergency 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 ensured that those present were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

532.

Notification of Chairman and Outline of Procedure

Minutes:

The Chairman opened the meeting.

533.

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.

534.

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:

 

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 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

 

1. Information relating to any individual.

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

 

535.

Review of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer reported that the Respondent had sent their apologies and were not able to attend the hearing due to ill-health.  She asked Members if they wished to adjourn the meeting or whether they were happy to proceed.  The Sub-Committee agreed to continue with the hearing.

 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which sought to consider whether the Respondent, who had accumulated a total of 14 penalty points on their Swale Driver’s Badge, was a fit and proper person to hold a Swale Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence.  The Licensing Officer detailed the incidents at which the Respondent had accumulated 14 points, as below:

 

·         Four points – failure to give reasonable assistance with a passengers luggage; and

·         Ten points – not taking the passenger to the agreed destination and potentially putting them at risk.

 

The Lawyer – Contentious asked how the Respondent had responded to the allegations.  The Licensing Officer stated that the Respondent did not seem to realise that they were putting the passenger at risk and could see no issue with what they had done.  The Licensing Officer explained that the Respondent had been shocked and upset to learn the seriousness of the complaint and that they may have to attend a Licensing Sub-Committee.  The Licensing Officer considered that it had been a “wake-up call” for the Respondent to look at their behaviour.

 

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Contentious Team Leader, the Lawyer – Contentious and the Democratic Services Officer adjourned at 11.40am to make their decision.

 

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Contentious Team Leader, the Lawyer – Contentious and the Democratic Services Officer returned to the meeting at 12.10pm.  The decision is attached as Appendix I to these minutes.

 

Resolved:     That the Respondent’s Swale Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver’s Licence not be suspended, but a warning be given.

Appendix I pdf icon PDF 203 KB