To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meetings held on 11 December, 16 December and 23 December 2025.

The Minutes of the meetings held 11 December 2025, 16 December 2025 and 23 December 2025 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chair.

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.

A report asking the Sub-Committee to consider:

·       an application for the grant of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver’s Licence;

·       a report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence; and

·       a report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver’s Licence.

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

• An application for the grant of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver’s Licence. Applicant: AA. (Appendix 1);
• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Driver: MAB. (Appendix 2);
• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver’s Licence. Driver: AMD. (Appendix 3);

Summaries detailing the circumstances relating to each of the cases were attached to the report at Appendices 1 to 3.

The cases at Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 included video evidence that members of the Sub-Committee had viewed prior to the meeting. Additional Information had been circulated to members of the Sub-Committee regarding the case at Appendix 1 after the publication of the agenda papers.

AMD was in attendance and requested that his hearing be deferred to a later date. AMD addressed the Sub-Committee and provided responses to questions.

AA attended the hearing, addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

MAB attended the hearing, addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

Nicola Butler, Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer, presented the reports to the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions. Mike Harding and Ben Williams, Licensing Enforcement Officers, also attended the hearing and asked and responded to questions.

In reaching its decisions the Sub-Committee endeavoured throughout to strike a fair balance between the interests of the applicant and licence holders and the concerns of the Licensing Officers, but its overriding consideration was to the safeguarding of the public.

The Sub-Committee also gave due consideration to the written material contained in the paperwork, the oral evidence provided at the meeting, and to relevant legislation, guidance and the policies of Reading Borough Council (RBC), this included but was not limited to:

• The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) Act 1976;
• The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022;
• The Equality Act 2010;
• The relevant Secretary of State’s Guidance;
• RBC’s Hackney Carraige and Private Hire Licensing Policy (February 2026), including the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Convictions Policy;
• The relevant RBC driver, vehicle and operator conditions and penalty points schemes;
• All of the documents provided for the meeting, including the video evidence provided in relation to the cases at Appendices 2 and 3, and the written Additional Informational circulated to the Sub-Committee by email in relation to the case at Appendix 1; and 
• The Fit and Proper Person Test.

Resolved –

(1)           That, having taken into consideration the need to safeguard the public, especially in respect of school transport, the Sub-Committee concluded that it was appropriate and proportionate to refuse the application for a Private Hire (School Transport) Vehicle Driver’s Licence in respect of AA (case at Appendix 1), due to AA not being considered a fit and proper person to hold such a licence for the following reasons:

REASONS:

(a)           The Sub-Committee considered that the Council’s policy stated that any dishonesty by any applicant or other person on the applicant’s behalf in any part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.