Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2020 be confirmed.

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The Licensing Officer:

a)    provided a report to determine whether the licence holder was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a private hire drivers licence having 9 valid penalty points on his driving licence

b)    stated that the licensee had held a licence since April 2018 and also held a licence from June 2011 to June 2013

c)    explained that the licensee made an application for a re-licence on 17 July 2020, he had been in contact before its expiry saying he would wait until the lockdown restrictions were eased

d)    highlighted that on the re-licence application the licence holder declared that he had received 6 penalty points during 2019 for separate speeding offences

e)    reported that following a driving licence check a further endorsement showed for a speeding offence in May 2018

f)     referred to supplementary information provided by the licence holder to members of the Sub-Committee in support of his application for renewal of his Private Hire Driver License

g)    alerted the Sub Committee to the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which stated the following in relation to penalty points; ‘If a driver receives 9 or more penalty points for minor or some hybrid traffic offences, the matter will be referred to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Sub-Committee for a hearing. The driver will be expected to address the issues before the Sub-Committee.’

That the Private Hire Drivers Licence be granted subject to the following conditions:

1.    He attended an annual speed awareness course.

2.    A speed convertor be installed on his vehicle at all times whilst operating in his capacity as a Private Hire Driver.

3.    A special condition be imposed requiring a 6 monthly DBS check to be carried out at the licence holder’s expense for the duration of his licence.

4.    A strongly worded letter be issued which would emphasise the very high standards of safe driving expected from him as a Private Hire Driver, including an expectation that should any further traffic violations be committed these would result in him being brought back before the Sub-Committee.

1.    The Panel were concerned that the Private Hire Driver had been convicted of at least 3 separate speeding offences within a relatively short space of time even though he had very recently completed his speed awareness course.

2.    The Panel were satisfied that the conditions imposed on the grant of his licence detailed above would alleviate concerns raised by the Sub Committee regarding the Private Hire Driver and offered reassurance to the Sub Committee that he remained a fit and proper person to continue to hold a private hire drivers licence.

RESOLVED that this agenda item be deferred to allow Licensing Officers sufficient time to gather further information on the circumstances of this case, having been unable to contact the applicant regarding the particulars concerned.