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.

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

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

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.

No interests were declared.

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.

Resolved:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items 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.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which sought to consider whether Respondent B, who had accumulated a total of 28 penalty points on their Swale Driving Badge, was a fit and proper person to hold a Taxi Driver’s Badge. 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and highlighted an error in the report at 1.2.8.  He clarified that Respondent B received 6 penalty points for smoking in a licenced vehicle, not for handheld use of a mobile phone whilst driving as stated in the report, and advised that Respondent B had appeared in front of the Licensing Sub-Committee in September 2016, when he had accumulated 22 points.  On that occasion, Respondent B had been issued with a formal warning.

The Licensing Officer detailed the incident at which Respondent B had accumulated further penalty points:

6 points for code of conduct (to obey Traffic Regulations).

In response to questions from Members, the Licensing Officer clarified the location of the incident and that an Enforcement Officer had witnessed the incident.

Respondent B outlined the impact that a suspension of their licence would cause.

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision.

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Lawyer and the Senior Democratic Services returned to the meeting and the decision, as attached as Appendix 1b to these minutes, was announced.

Resolved:

That Respondent B’s Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence be suspended for a period of 14 days.