To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 July 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2025 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.

A report setting out an application for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence and reports to consider the suspension or revocation of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licences.

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

·       An application for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Applicant: ES (Appendix 1).

·       A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: FS (Appendix 2).

·       A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: AJ (Appendix 3).

·       A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: AM (Appendix 4).

Summaries detailing the circumstances relating to each case were attached to the report at Appendices 1 to 4. In the cases of FS (Appendix 2) and AJ (Appendix 3) the Sub-Committee were provided with links to view video footage relating to the incidents described in the case summaries.

ES and AJ did not attend the meeting. Both had emailed Licensing officers to request that their cases be deferred to a later date. Copies of the email correspondence requesting the deferrals were provided to the Sub-Committee.

FS attended the meeting and was represented at the hearing by Adonis Daniel. Both addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

AM attended the meeting and was represented at the hearing by Adonis Daniel. Both addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions. MS attended AM’s hearing as an eyewitness. MS addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

Ben Williams, RBC Licensing Team, presented the reports to the Sub-Committee 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 licence holders and the concerns of the Licensing Officers, but its overriding consideration was to the safeguarding of the public.

In coming to its decisions, 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, including but not limited to:

·       The Town Police Clauses Act 1847;

·       The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) Act 1976;

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

·       The Secretary of State’s Guidance;

·       The Equality Act 2010;

·       Reading Borough Council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Convictions Policy;

·       Reading Borough Council’s Hackney Carriage driver and vehicle conditions;

·       Reading Borough Council’s private hire driver, vehicle and operator conditions;

·       All of the documents provided for the meeting, including the video footage (for appendices 2 and 3), and the additional information circulated to the Sub-Committee via email, and;

·       The Fit and Proper Person Test.

Resolved –

(1)           That, having considered the applicant’s request to defer, the application for a Hackney Carraige Vehicle Driver’s Licence in respect of ES be determined at a future meeting of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee to enable ES’s attendance;

(2)           That, having considered the need to safeguard the public, the Sub-Committee considered it both appropriate and proportionate to suspend FS’s Hackney Carraige Driver’s Licence for a period of 28 days with the suspension  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.