Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU

Contact: Richard Woodford - Committee Services  Email: richard.woodford@reading.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

15.

Exclusion of Press and Public

At this point, the following motion will be moved by the Chair:

 

“That, pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) members of the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following items on the agenda, as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act”

Minutes:

That, pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), members of the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following item of business as it was likely that there would be disclosures of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, specified in Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

16.

Applications for the Grant, Renewal, Suspension or Revocation of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licences and Appeals against the Allocations of Penalty Points on Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence

To consider the suspension or revocation of licences to drive Private Hire Vehicles.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report asking the Sub-Committee to consider the suspension or revocation of private hire vehicle driver’s licences.

A summary of the circumstances of each case was appended to the report.

DS and UF were present at the meeting and both were represented by Mr Adonis Daniel, Solicitor.  All addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

In the case of DS, Councillor Jones left the room before the decision was taken and played no part in the decision making process.

Resolved –

(1)     That, the private hire vehicle driver’s licence in respect of DS be revoked with immediate effect in the interests of public safety and for the following reasonable causes pursuant to section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976:

(a)     the nature of the Licensing officers concerns as set out at paragraph 5.7 of the report which the Sub-Committee upheld;

(b)     that DS had been reluctant to answer some of the questions asked by the Sub-Committee;

(c)      that there had been a discrepancy between the police statement and the account given by DS at the meeting;

(d)     that DS should have been aware of issues around vulnerability having recently completed a course on safeguarding.

DS was advised that his hackney carriage licence would also be revoked with immediate effect, and of his right of appeal;

(2)     That, the private hire vehicle driver’s licence in respect of UF remain in force, with a warning as to future conduct.