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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared: Councillor S Joy – Prejudicial – Minute 48 - Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence – RA. Councillor S Joy withdrew from the meeting prior to determination of the matter.
Resolved that the Minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on: · 22 November 2024; · 29 November 2024; and · 6 December 2024. be signed and agreed as correct records, subject to Councillor L V Walton’s apologies being included in the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2024.
The Team Leader – Licensing presented a report which sought approval for the Licensing Authority to conduct a consultation exercise in relation to a proposal to introduce mandatory card payment facilities in hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles, licensed by Swansea Council. The Officer detailed the Background, Proposal, Matters for Consideration, Consultation, Legislation and Section 48 – Licensing of Private Hire Vehicles. In response to Member questions, the Officer suggested the amendments to the proposals as detailed in bold below: It is proposed to carry out a consultation to add the following conditions to the current hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licence conditions. • The proprietor shall ensure that passengers are given the option to make payment for all journeys, via a debit card, credit card and contactless card payment. • The proprietor shall ensure that all drivers of the vehicle are trained on how to use the card payment system and are aware that passengers must be able to have the option to make payment in this manner. • Where a fault in the card payment system is identified, the proprietor must arrange repair/replacement within 48 hours. Resolved that: 1) Members approved the amended wording contained within the proposal and the consultation exercise. 2) A subsequent report be presented to the Committee detailing the outcome of the consultation, for consideration and decision.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
The Team Leader – Licensing presented a report which sought approval for the Licensing Authority to conduct a consultation exercise in relation to a proposal to update the ‘Suitability Guidance – Guidance to determine the suitability of applicants and licensees in the hackney carriage and private hire industry’ which is used by this Authority, when considering the suitability of taxi and private hire applicants and licence holders. The Officer detailed the Background and Proposal. Members asked questions of the Officer who responded accordingly. Resolved that: 1) Members approved the consultation exercise. 2) A subsequent report to be presented to the Committee detailing the outcome of the consultation, for consideration and decision.
The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during the consideration of the items of business identified in the recommendations to the report on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item of business as set out in the report. The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding to exclude the public from the meeting for the items of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant, as set out in the report. Resolved that the public be excluded for the following items of business. (Closed Session)
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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