Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:-

(1) the type of interest concerned

(2) the nature of the interest concerned; and

(3) whether they have or have not sat on a Planning Committee which has previously considered a planning application in respect of a licensed premises which is also subject to consideration for a premises licence as part of the agenda for this meeting.

If any Member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

(Members are asked to also pay particular attention to the guidance sheet on interests supplied with the agenda).

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 06 September 2023 as a true and correct record.

The Sub-Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 06 September 2023.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 06 September 2023 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence applicants who have been convicted of offences or who have otherwise given reasons for concern.

I.U.L.
Mr Ryan Ratcliffe presented the case on behalf of the local authority, on the 16 May 2023, The Licensing Authority had received an application from I.U.L who had made an application to become a licensed as a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver. Applicants are required to submit to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which had revealed a conviction from December 2008 for several separate offences concerning the supply of Class A drugs in 2008 and that I.U.L had received 6 penalty points on their licence as a result of a speeding offence in March 2022, The Sub-Committee were informed that a recent DVLA check had revealed these points had been current at the time of the meeting.

Mr Ratcliffe brought the Sub-Committee’s attention to the relevant Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy regarding offences involving the supply of drugs, which stated that a licence ‘would not be granted until at least 10 years had elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed’ I.U.L had also failed to disclose their convictions when completing the application form. 

I.U.L was present before the Sub-Committee, they admitted being involved with the wrong crowd at the time I.U.L wished to make the distinction that they were only driving a car and did not physically handle any selling of drugs, further to this, I.U.L had since the conviction also done some part time work for delivery companies or as a Private Hire Driver licensed by another authority.

I.U.L was informed that failure to disclose convictions was in of itself an offence, The Sub-Committee questioned them further on the drug related offences and the driving ban they had received, I.U.L told the Sub-Committee that they were not aware of the driving ban and claimed to have contacted the DVLA after coming out of prison and there was no mentioned a driving ban, and that they were not aware that their friends at the time were selling class A drugs but knew they had recreationally used and sold marijuana.

From questions the Sub-Committee asked, I.U.L revealed they had since lived in the Blackpool area for over a decade, had married and cut all ties to the people associated with the historic drug related offences. The Sub-Committee asked for more information on the more recent speeding offence, I.U.L admitted to travelling roughly 50 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone in Blackpool.

The Sub-Committee placed some relevance of the historic drug offences and decided that combined with the recent speeding offences I.U.L had displayed a pattern of behaviour not conducive with someone who would be deemed a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and decided to refuse the application.

Resolved
That the application for a Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence in relation to I.U.L be refused

D.L

Mr Ryan Ratcliffe presented the case on behalf of the local authority, on the 13 July The Licensing Authority received an application from D.L who had made an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To note the date of the next meeting as 31/10/2023.

To note the date of the next meeting as 31 October 2023.