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. 043844.

RESOLVED that the application for a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers licence from Applicant No. 043844 be granted.

[This item was brought forward on the agenda with the consent of the Chair]

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

(i)            an application received from Applicant No. 043844 for a licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles following reinstatement of his DVLA Licence;

(ii)          the Licensing Committee held on 27 June 2013 having revoked the Applicant’s licence to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles after he was disqualified from driving for six months under the totting up procedure;

(iii)         the Applicant having also been brought before the Licensing Committee for a licence review in December 2012 and January 2013;

(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 present and following introductions confirmed he had received the report and committee procedures.  The Licensing Officer (JT) summarised the report and explained the matter had been brought before the committee to assess the Applicant’s suitability to hold a licence given his record as a licensed driver.

The Applicant explained the circumstances leading up to his disqualification, including his last motoring offence in October 2012, and was keen to reassure the committee that he did not routinely speed.  He added that he had learnt a hard lesson and had experienced hardship as a result of the disqualification.  The Applicant had continued to work for the same company in a different role during his period of disqualification and he advised that both his employer and customers were keen for him to return to work as a taxi driver.  Finally the Applicant informed members that he enjoyed being a taxi driver and wished to continue with that profession.

In response to members’ questions the Applicant explained the circumstances surrounding his speeding conviction and reference to the appropriate use of speed in the Driver Assessment Report produced in January 2013 following his completion of the Driving Awareness Course.  He also confirmed that he did not have any pending motoring convictions.

In his final statement the Applicant submitted a reference from his employer attesting to his good character which was read out by the Chair.  He added that he had been driving for twenty four years and had never been involved in an accident, emphasising that he was a safe driver.

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. 043844 be granted.

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

Members carefully considered the report and the Applicant’s submission in support of his application, including his character reference.  In determining the Applicant’s suitability the committee accepted the Applicant’s explanation surrounding the motoring convictions and considered that he had served his time in that regard.  His character reference had also gone a long way towards supporting him; his employers had shown belief in him and valued him as an employee and had continued to employ him in an administrative capacity throughout the duration of his driving ban.  It was also noted that granting the application complied with the Council’s policy with regard to the relevance of convictions.  Consequently members expressed confidence in the Applicant’s ability to transport the public safely and decided to grant the application.  However, 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.