Issue - meetings

To consider a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ determination of an application for a licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles from Applicant No. 041213.

RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers licence from Applicant No. 041213 be granted.

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

(i)            an application received from Applicant No. 041213 for a licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles;

(ii)          officers having not been in a position to grant the application in light of the information revealed following an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service;

(iii)         a summary of the convictions disclosed which related to a number of offences spanning a period from 1961 to 2001 including incidents relating to dishonesty, violence and traffic offences;

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

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

The Applicant was in attendance at the meeting and following introductions confirmed he had received the report and committee procedures.  The Licensing Officer (JT) provided a summary of the report and explained that the matter had been brought before the committee to assess the Applicant’s suitability to hold a licence given the amount and nature of the convictions disclosed.

The Applicant addressed the committee and explained the circumstances surrounding a number of the convictions with some having been received in his youth and others which related to a difficult period during his personal life.  He portrayed himself as an honest, hardworking churchgoer and assured the committee that he had become a responsible individual.  The Applicant clarified a number of issues relating to the nature and circumstances of his previous convictions in response to members’ questions thereon.  In his final statement the Applicant asked the committee to look favourably on his application and provided assurances as to his future conduct if a licence was granted.

The committee adjourned to consider the application and it was –

RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers licence from Applicant No. 041213 be granted.

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

The committee had carefully considered the report and Applicant’s submission and had expressed concern regarding the number of type of convictions revealed by the criminal record check.  However, regard had been given to the fact that the offences had taken place a significantly long time ago and members accepted the explanation surrounding those convictions put forward by the Applicant.  The committee had found the Applicant to be genuine in his assurances regarding his current and future behaviour and consequently considered him to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence.  The Applicant was warned that any future transgression would be severely dealt with.

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