To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meetings held on 2, 9 and 10 February 2023.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 2 February 2023, 9 February 2023 and 10 February 2023 were confirmed as a correct record 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.

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 Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence. A summary detailing the circumstances of the case was appended to the report. Additional information had also been circulated to the Sub-Committee after the publication of the agenda papers in the form of an email exchange between the applicant (SR) and the Council’s Licensing department.

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

Resolved –

That the application by SR for the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence be refused on the grounds that the Sub-Committee did not consider him to be a fit and proper person to hold such a licence by reason of:

(a)        The nature of his offences, as detailed in the report;

(b)        Previous breaches of licence conditions, traffic regulations and law, as detailed in the report;

(c)        The number of and persistence of offences against licence conditions, traffic regulations and law, and the number of times that he had been brought before the Sub-Committee previously, as detailed in the report;

(d)        Previous licence suspensions, refusal to grant/renew licences and the revocation of licences, as detailed in the report;

(e)        Previous aggressive and inappropriate behaviour, as detailed in the report;

(f)         Refusal to accept the inappropriateness of his behaviour;

(g)        Previous vexatious accusations, as detailed in the report;

(h)        Obstruction of authorised officers, as detailed in the report;

(i)          Having worked for hire and reward without the necessary licences, as detailed in the report;

(j)         The failure to declare all relevant convictions on his most recent application. The Sub-Committee considered SR’s explanation that somebody else had completed the application form on his behalf and that, despite SR providing that person with a full list of convictions, that person had mistakenly not declared SR’s past convictions when they submitted the application form. The Sub-Committee dismissed this and emphasised that it was SR’s responsibility to make sure that the information contained within the application was accurate and correct.

SR was advised of his right of appeal.

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