Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection Services (copy enclosed) seeking members’ review of two licences to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles for failure to comply with the Council’s requirement to successfully undertake a driver knowledge test.

RESOLVED that –

(a)        the successful completion of the driver knowledge test by Driver No. 040740 be noted and no further action be taken, and

(b)       Driver No. 041605 be suspended pending his successful completion of the driver knowledge test.  Failure by the Driver to successfully undertake the test by the committee’s next meeting (6 March 2013) would result in the matter being brought back before that committee for determination.  Successful completion of the test within the suspension period would result in the suspension being lifted.

The Licensing Officer (JT) submitted a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection Services (previously circulated) seeking members’ consideration of the suitability of two Drivers numbered 040740 and 041605 (corresponding individual reports listed at Appendix 1 and 2 respectively to the main report) to continue as licensed drivers following their failure to comply with the Council’s requirement to successfully undertake a driver knowledge test within the designated timescale.

Members considered the individual circumstances relating to each Driver separately, treating each case on its own merits as follows –

(1)  Driver No. 040740 (Appendix 1) – Renewal Date 31 December 2011

Five reminders had been issued to the Driver since his licence renewal and he had attended the last meeting of the Licensing Committee to explain the reasoning behind his failure to take the knowledge test.  The committee had resolved to defer consideration of the Driver’s suitability to their next meeting to provide a further opportunity for the Driver to sit the knowledge test.  The Licensing Officer was pleased to report that the Driver had since successfully passed the test.  Consequently it was –

RESOLVED that the successful completion of the driver knowledge test by Driver No. 040740 be noted and no further action be taken.

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

The Driver had now complied with the Council’s requirement to successfully undertake a driver knowledge test and therefore it was considered that no further action was required.

(2)  Driver No. 041605 (Appendix 2) – Renewal Date 31 December 2011

Five reminders had been issued to the Driver since his licence renewal but he had made no attempt to contact officers.  On 21 September 2012 the Driver had been informed that the matter would be referred to the Licensing Committee for consideration.  No response had been received from the Driver and he was not in attendance at the meeting.

At this juncture the committee adjourned to consider the case and it was –

RESOLVED that Driver No. 041605 be suspended pending his successful completion of the driver knowledge test.  Failure by the Driver to successfully undertake the test by the committee’s next meeting (6 March 2013) would result in the matter being brought back before that committee for determination.  Successful completion of the test within the suspension period would result in the suspension being lifted.

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

The committee considered that the Driver had been given sufficient opportunity in which to undertake the driver knowledge test.  Accordingly the committee considered it appropriate to suspend the Driver’s licence until such time as he passed the knowledge test.  Failure by the Driver to take and successfully pass the test would result in the matter being brought back before the committee’s next meeting when serious consideration would be given to revoking his licence on the basis that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.