Issue - meetings

(This item contains personal information regarding applicants and licence holders which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972)

The Sub-Committee was informed of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence applicant who had given sufficient cause for concern as to be referred to the Sub-Committee for consideration.

Members discussed the application as follows:

C.R.B (Existing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver)

Mr Luke Andrews, Licensing Officer was in attendance and presented the case on behalf of the Authority. The Sub-Committee was informed of an incident that had involved driving whilst intoxicated.

CRB was in attendance with a legal representative, Mr Coulbourn, and both made representations to the Sub-Committee. Mr Coulbourn explained that his client was a professional driver with over ten years’ experience as a licensed driver without previously appearing before the Sub-Committee or having any endorsements or penalty points on his driver’s licence. He added that in relation to the incident, the driver had not been intoxicated whilst driving but had consumed alcohol after the event and prior to being breathalysed by the Police. Mr Coulbourn added that this would form the basis of his client’s defence in Court and emphasised that CRB had not been convicted of the offence. The driver also described in his own words, the events surrounding the incident. He added that prior to the incident he had consumed additional quantities of alcohol earlier in the day.

The Sub-Committee expressed concerns about inconsistencies in the driver’s version of events as presented and with his decision to drink alcohol following the incident and with the amount consumed earlier in the day. Following a series of questions from Members, the diver admitted he regularly consumed alcohol in between his normal working patterns. Despite a long career without incident, the Sub-Committee had serious concerns about the driver’s regular and relatively high level of alcohol consumption and concluded that this adversely affected his suitability to operate as a licensed driver.

Resolved:

That the Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence be revoked on the grounds that the driver was no longer a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and given the nature of the offence, that the revocation be with immediate effect.

Background papers: exempt