Issue - meetings

To consider a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ determination of an application from Applicant No. 16/0374/TXJDR.

RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence from Applicant No. 16/0374/TXJDR be granted with a formal warning as to his future conduct.

A confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (previously circulated) was submitted upon –

(i)            an application having been received from Applicant No. 16/0374/TXJDR for a licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles;

(i)            officers having not been in a position to grant the application in light of the convictions revealed following an enhanced disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) relating to offences committed between 1986 and 2007, most of which had not been disclosed by the Applicant;

(ii)          the Council’s current policy with regard to the relevance of convictions, and

(iii)         the Applicant having been invited to attend the meeting in support of his application and to answer members’ questions thereon.

The Applicant confirmed he had received the report and committee procedures.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and detailed the facts of the case.

The Applicant explained his reasoning for non-disclosure of historical convictions with no intention to mislead.  He provided some context to those convictions and expressed deep remorse over his past.  The Applicant referred to his current personal circumstances and responsibilities and how his life had changed.  References were provided attesting to his good character and he gave further assurances to members regarding both his current and future conduct.  The Applicant responded to members’ questions regarding the nature of his convictions, his current lifestyle and changed circumstances and his employment history.  In making his final statement he reiterated how much his life had changed over the last decade in testament to his current good character.

The committee adjourned to consider the application and it was –

RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence from Applicant No. 16/0374/TXJDR be granted with a formal warning as to his future conduct.

The reasons for the Licensing Committee’s decision were as follows –

Members had taken into account that the convictions were largely historical and accepted the explanation provided by the Applicant with regard to those convictions.  Members had also found the Applicant to be genuine in his remorse over his past and in response to their questions.  It was considered that the Applicant had demonstrated, both through his address to the committee and his written references, that he had a changed lifestyle and was of good character.  Consequently the Applicant was found to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence.  However, given those historical convictions it was also considered appropriate for the Applicant to be issued with a warning as to his future conduct.

The committee’s decision and reasons therefore were conveyed to the Applicant.

At this juncture (10.25 a.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.