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 considered whether three licence holders were fit and proper persons to hold Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences, in respect of the following cases:

(i)                 F.P.L (Existing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence holder)

The daughter of the named licence holder was in attendance and made representations to the Sub-Committee. She suggested that in relation to serious defects found with the vehicle attached to the licence, she claimed that both her and her mother had issues with the driver of the vehicle previously with regards to regular maintenance checks and his responsibilities. FPL’s daughter expressed regret for their part in allowing a vehicle to be presented for inspection in such a poor mechanical state.

Mr Ratcliffe reported that the licence holder had already been before the Sub-Committee on several occasions for operating vehicles which fell short of the expected standards for licensed vehicles. Despite the Sub-Committee agreeing to relax the conditions imposed on some of the vehicle licences held by FPL at its June 2017 meeting, the licence holder had once again presented a vehicle which fell significantly short of expected standards outlined in the Council’s Exceptional Quality Policy.

Members considered the Exceptional Quality Policy which the Authority referred to when presenting its case. The Sub-Committee noted the willingness of the licence holder to work with the Authority and to seek additional help and advice from other experienced licence holders. However, Members reasoned that the licence holder had been given ample opportunity to improve the condition of the vehicles she operated and to ensure regular and comprehensive maintenance was carried out on them.

Resolved: To revoke the vehicle licence on the grounds that the holder was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence as her conduct had fallen significantly short of expected standards.

(ii)               R.P (Existing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence holder),

Mr Taylor explained that the licence holder was the owner of the vehicle operated by the driver VSB discussed at Item 3 of the agenda. The Sub-Committee was reminded of the routine inspection which had uncovered a number of serious defects on the vehicle RP held the licence for.

The licence holder explained that there had in fact been another driver assigned to the vehicle in question during the period that VSB had been on holiday, so the vehicle had been used regularly during this period.

Members were not shown any evidence of a maintenance schedule to alleviate their concerns and the licence holder seemed to lack knowledge of both the status of his vehicle and the working patterns of his drivers. The Sub-Committee were especially concerned at the attitude of the licence holder towards vehicle maintenance and by extension, the safety of passengers.

Resolved: To revoke the vehicle licence on the grounds that the holder was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence as his conduct had fallen significantly short of expected standards.

(iii)             A.H.B (Existing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence holder)

The Sub-Committee was informed of the vehicle operated by the licence holder which, during the course of a routine inspection by the Local Authority enforcement team, had been found to have a number of serious mechanical defects, the majority of which should have been obvious upon a casual inspection.

The licence holder accepted his part for the standard of the vehicle as presented during the inspection. He suggested that his age and health were partly to blame for his lesser involvement with the vehicle’s maintenance in recent months.

Members of the Sub-Committee were not satisfied with the reasons given by the licence holder for allowing a vehicle in his care to be presented in such poor condition and with limited supporting maintenance documentation.

Resolved: To revoke the vehicle licence on the grounds that the holder was not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence as his conduct had fallen significantly short of expected standards.

Background papers: exempt