Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting.

Decision

That Councillor Tim Grogan be elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

(Councillor Grogan in the Chair)

There were no apologies for absence.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

For the purpose of transparency Councillor Tim Grogan and Councillor Subash Sharma declared that they knew the licence holder of item 10 from a previous hearing.

To confirm the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

Decision

The Sub Committee agreed the procedure for the meeting as outlined by the Chair.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of items 6-11 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Decision

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business at minute numbers 6-11 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as the Panel was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the licence to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles should be suspended, revoked or no action taken.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submissions from the licence holder and their representatives

·       Oral evidence from the licence holder and their representatives

Decision

The Sub-Committee determined:

1.       On the balance of probability, the licence holder was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence, so it was not appropriate, reasonable, necessary or proportionate to revoke or suspend the hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and

2.       A final written warning was issued.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the licence to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles should be suspended, revoked or no action taken.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submissions from the licence holder and their representatives

·       Oral evidence from the licence holder and their representatives

Decision

The Sub-Committee determined:

1.       On the balance of probability, the licence holder was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence, so it was not appropriate, reasonable, necessary or proportionate to revoke or suspend the hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and

2.       A final written warning was issued.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the applicant was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submission from the applicant

·       Oral evidence from the applicant

·       Additional written evidence provided by the applicant and produced to the Sub-Committee during the hearing

Decision

The Sub-Committee determined:

On the balance of probability that the applicant was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence and granted the application.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the licence to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles should be suspended, revoked or no action taken.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submissions from the licence holder

Decision

That the licence holder was not a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence and that it was appropriate, reasonable, necessary and proportionate to suspend the hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence to 31 October 2025, the end of the current licence, with immediate effect.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the licence to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles should be suspended, revoked or no action taken.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submissions from the licence holder and their representatives

·       Oral evidence from the licence holder and their representatives

·       Additional written evidence produced to the Sub-Committee during the hearing

Decision

The Sub-Committee determined:

1.      On the balance of probability, the licence holder was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence and it was not appropriate, reasonable, necessary or proportionate to revoke or suspend the hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and

2.       The licence holder remains subject to the written warning previously issued.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether the licence to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles should be suspended, revoked or no action taken.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Written submissions from the licence holder and their representatives

·       Oral evidence from the licence holder and their representatives

Decision

The Sub-Committee determined:

1.       On the balance of probability, the licence holder was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage and private hire driver licence and it was not appropriate, reasonable, necessary or proportionate to revoke or suspend the hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and

2.       A final written warning was issued.