To consider and determine applications for the suspension/revocation of Private Hire Vehicle Drivers' Licences, Private Hire (School Transport) Vehicle Operators' Licences and Private Hire Vehicle Operators' Licences.

The Sub-Committee considered a report that set out the following cases relating to two individuals:

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire (School Transport) Operator's Licence. Licence Holder: AM (Appendix 1);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Operator’s Licence. Licence Holder: AM (Appendix 2);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: AM (Appendix 3);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire (School Transport) Operator's Licence. Licence Holder: FB (Appendix 4);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Operator’s Licence. Licence Holder: FB (Appendix 5);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: FB (Appendix 6);

Summaries detailing the circumstances relating to each case were attached to the report at Appendices 1 to 6.

As there was a significant factual overlap that connected the two individuals’ cases concerning the incident that took place on 22 May 2024, the Sub-Committee decided to hear the cases together at the same time.

AM and FB both attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

Nicola Butler, RBC Licensing Team, presented the report to the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions. Ben Williams and Anthony Chawama, RBC Licensing Team also attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

The Sub-Committee also considered a request made by AM to defer the hearing to a later date. Copies of email correspondence between AM and Licensing officers requesting a deferral had been circulated to the Sub-Committee by email prior to the meeting. Hard copies of the same email correspondence were provided at the meeting. AM’s request to defer had been made on the basis that he wanted legal representation but had not been able to obtain it in the 8 days since being issued with the notice of the hearing.

FB advised the Sub-Committee that he wished to proceed with the hearing as it had been 10-months since the incident, that waiting had been stressful and that they wanted the matter to be resolved.

The Licensing Team asked to proceed with the hearing as there were safeguarding concerns. 

Additional information provided to Licensing officers by FB had been circulated to the Sub-Committee by email prior to the meeting. Hard copies were provided at the meeting.

During the hearing FB was instructed to leave room whilst the Sub-Committee discussed an incident that took place on 9 December 2024 that related solely to AM’s cases.

Decisions in respect of each case were taken individually and with the primary purpose of safeguarding the public.

In reaching its decisions the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written material contained in the paperwork, the oral evidence provided at the meeting by Licensing Officers, the oral evidence provided at the meeting by the two drivers/operators, and to relevant legislation, guidance and the policies of Reading Borough Council, and in particular:

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