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.

To allow the committee to consider applications for the grant and the suspension/revocation of licences to drive Hackney Carriage and Private Hire and Vehicles and to consider an appeal from a Private Hire Vehicle Driver against the allocation of penalty points.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on: an application for the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence; an application for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence; and the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver's Licence and a Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence.  The Sub-Committee also considered an appeal against the allocation of penalty points on a three-year Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

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

WK and AM were present at the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

MAO, QA and ES were not present at the meeting.

In reaching their decisions, the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written evidence contained in the paperwork and the oral evidence at the meeting and to the relevant legislation and policies of Reading Borough Council, namely:

·     Town Police Clauses Act, 1947 and the Local Government Miscellaneous (Provisions Act) 1976;

·     The Secretary of State’s Guidance;

·     Reading Borough Council Private Hire Vehicle Conditions;

·     Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Criminal Convictions Policy;

·     The Equality Act 2010;

·     Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022.

Resolved –

(1)      That, the application for the grant of a three-year Private Hire Vehicle driver’s licence in respect of MAO be deferred until 10 August 2023 to allow them to attend the meeting.

(2)      That, the application by WK for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence be refused due to WK not being considered a fit and proper person by reason of:

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

b)             insufficient time having elapsed since the convictions for the offences, as detailed in the report;

WK was advised of their right of appeal.

(3)      That the application for the consideration of the suspension or revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle driver’s licence in respect of ES be deferred until 10 August 2023 to allow them to attend the meeting.

(4)      That the application for the consideration of the suspension or revocation of a Private Hire Vehicle driver’s licence in respect of QA be deferred to a future meeting to allow them to attend.

(5)      That the appeal against the allocation of penalty points to the Private Hire Vehicle driver’s licence in respect of AM be refused due to the Sub-Committee's finding that AM had breached the following Private Hire Driver Conditions:

(a)      Condition 2.1 failure to wear a current private hire driver’s badge;

(b)      Condition 3.1 failure to have a private hire vehicle plate securely attached to the rear bumper or rear bodywork of the vehicle whilst driving a licensed private hire vehicle.

AM was advised of their right to appeal.

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