Agenda item

To consider licence holders who have been convicted of offences or who have otherwise given reasons for concern.

(This item contains personal information regarding 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 licence holders who had been convicted of offences or who had otherwise given reasons for concern.

i.                    J.R.H

Mr Ryan Ratcliffe, Licensing Enforcement Officer, advised Members that J.R.H. had attended the Town Hall but had to leave before consideration of their item due to childcare responsibilities and so requested a deferral of their case. The Sub-Committee considered the request and resolved to hear the item in J.R.H.’s absence, noting that the case had already been deferred from its last meeting in July.

Members were advised that J.R.H. was an existing Private Hire Driver who, upon the renewal of their licence in June 2021, declared that they had received a Police caution for harassment in June 2018. The caution had not been notified to the Licensing Service at that time and a Disclosure and Barring Service check undertaken in June 2019 had only been provided to the Licensing Service as part of the renewal process in June 2021. Section 17.1 of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Convictions Policy was highlighted which required drivers to notify the Licensing Service of the caution within seven days of receiving it. As that condition had not been complied with the Licensing Service recommended that a severe warning letter be issued.

The Sub-Committee considered the information presented and agreed with the recommendation that a severe warning letter be issued indicating that if J.R.H. was brought before the Sub-Committee again at any point in the future, then suspension or revocation of their licence would be the likely outcome.

Resolved: That a severe warning letter be issued that in the event of any future misconduct J.R.H.’s licence may be suspended or revoked.

ii.                   B.H.S.

Mr Ryan Ratcliffe, Licensing Enforcement Officer, informed the Sub-Committee that B.H.S. had requested a deferral of consideration of their case as they were unable to attend due to working away on a shift pattern which could not be changed.

The Sub-Committee agreed to defer the case to its next meeting on 5 October 2021.

Resolved: That the case of B.H.S. be deferred to the next meeting of the Public Protection Sub-Committee on 5 October 2021.

[Councillor Wilshaw, having declared a prejudicial interest, took no part in the discussion or voting on this item.]

iii.                 R.R.

Mr Ryan Ratcliffe, Licensing Enforcement Officer, explained to the Sub-Committee that attempts had been made to contact R.R. to invite him to the meeting but that these had been unsuccessful. Members considered that the information provided in the report was of an urgent nature and resolved to consider the case in R.R.’s absence.

The Sub-Committee was informed that R.R. was an existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver who had been arrested and subsequently charged in October 2019 on suspicion of inappropriate behaviour. Due to a failure to attend court a warrant had been issued for their arrest and they were currently subject to an investigation by Lancashire Constabulary to bring them back to court.

Members considered the serious nature of the alleged offences and concluded R.R. was not a fit and proper person to hold Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver licences. The Sub-Committee therefore resolved to revoke R.R.’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver licences.

Resolved: To revoke R.R.’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver licences.