Agenda item

(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 new application for a Private Hire and Hackney Carriage driver’s licence, a new application for a Private Hire vehicle driver’s licence and an existing Private Hire vehicle driver that had given sufficient cause for concern as to be referred to the Sub-Committee for consideration.

YB and GPW were in attendance at the meeting.

During consideration of the application for a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle drivers licence in respect of YB, the Sub-Committee noted that the applicant had failed to disclose a driving conviction and that the driving licence that he had submitted at the time of application had not been endorsed with the driving conviction.  Further investigations by the Licensing Service had revealed that the applicant’s driving licence had expired for a period of time prior to application and Members were informed that he had recently presented a new driving licence to the Licensing Service which had been endorsed with the driving conviction.  Members considered the representations made by the applicant and noted his explanations regarding the expired driving licence, his personal circumstances and the circumstances surrounding his driving conviction.  However, Members expressed serious concerns regarding the nature of his conviction and his failure to disclose same on the application form.

Prior to consideration of the case in respect of LAK, the Sub-Committee was informed that the applicant was not in attendance at the meeting although he had previously been notified of the meeting and had indicated that he would attend.  The Sub-Committee discussed the option of considering the case in the applicant’s absence but agreed that deferring the matter to the next meeting would allow a further opportunity for him to attend, particularly in light of the fact that he had previously indicated that he wished to do so.

During consideration of the case in respect of GPW, the Sub-Committee was informed that the driver had received a criminal conviction.  Members noted the additional information that had been submitted by the Police in relation to the circumstances surrounding the conviction that it had deemed relevant to the application.  The Sub-Committee considered representations made by the driver regarding his personal situation at the time of the incident that had resulted in the conviction and was satisfied that he had subsequently taken steps to address his personal problems.  The Sub-Committee also considered additional evidence submitted by the driver at the meeting in the form of numerous character references from family, friends and professional organisations.

Resolved:

1.      That the application for a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle driver’s licence in respect of YB be refused on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence due to his previous driving conviction and his failure to disclose that conviction.

2.      That in the case of YB no action be taken to prosecute for failure to declare his driving conviction.

3.      That consideration of the case in respect of LAK be deferred to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee to allow the applicant the opportunity to attend.

4.      That GPW be allowed to retain his Private Hire vehicle drivers licence subject to a severe warning letter being issued regarding future conduct.

Background papers:  Exempt