To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee 3 meeting held on 12 January 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

A report asking Members to consider whether the Unmet Demand Survey should be carried out during the current Covid-19 Pandemic and the current current limiting policy approach to Hackney Carriage licences should be amended.

Resolved -That consideration of the report be deferred to the meeting of the full Licensing Applications Committee to be held on 22 June 2021.

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”

Resolved –

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, 3 and 5 specified in Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report asking the Sub-Committee to consider an application for the grant of a three-year School Transport Vehicle Driver’s Licence and the suspension or revocation of private hire and hackney carriage vehicle driver’s licences.

A summary of the circumstances of the cases was appended to the report.

HK was present at the meeting and addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

JA was not present at the meeting, but the Sub-Committee felt that, in the interests of Public Safety, the case should be heard and not deferred until he was able to attend.

SQ was also present at the meeting and addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.  He was accompanied by Rashid Hussain, another taxi driver, and Zaheed Kayani and Amir Riaz of Reading Taxi Association, who also responded to questions.

Resolved –

(1)      That the application by HK for the grant of a three-year School Transport Vehicle Driver’s Licence be granted for a period of six months and the Head of Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised to renew the licence for a further six months and subsequently for a further two years subject to no breaches of licensing conditions, offences being committed or complaints being received within the stated periods;

(2)      That the private hire vehicle driver’s licence in respect of JA be revoked with immediate effect due to the Sub-Committee not considering him to be a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and due to the following reasonable causes pursuant to section 61 (1) (b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976:

(a)     the nature of the alleged incidents, as detailed in the report;

(b)     concern over the safety of the public if JA continued to hold such a licence given the circumstances of the alleged incidents;

(c)      the breach of the Private Hire Driver Conditions;

(d)     the breach of licence conditions, as detailed in the report including dangerous driving and not having proper insurance;

It was decided that the licence should be revoked with immediate effect in accordance with section 61 (2B) as it was considered that this was in the interests of public safety.

(3)      That the hackney carriage driver’s licence in respect of SQ remain in force.  The committee found that there was no intention to defraud the council.

(Exempt information as defined in paragraph 1, 2, 3 and 5)