To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meetings held on 11 June 2026, 18 June 2026, 2 July 2026 and 8 July 2026.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 11 June 2026, 18 June 2026, 2 July 2026 and 8 July 2026 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 paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 5 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 requesting the Sub-Committee to consider:

·       a report regarding the suspension or revocation of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence (Case at Appendix 1);

·       an application for the grant of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver's Licence (Case at Appendix 2);

·       an application for the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence (Case at Appendix 3); and

·       a report regarding the suspension or revocation of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence (Case at Appendix 4).

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

• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Driver: AR. (Case at Appendix 1).
• An application for the grant of a Private Hire (School Transport) Driver’s Licence. Applicant: AA. (Case at Appendix 2);
• An application for the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Driver: MS. (Case at Appendix 3).
• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Driver: KB. (Case at Appendix 4).

The Sub-Committee considered detailed reports on each case set out at Appendices 1 to 4. Further information relating to Appendix 1 had been circulated on 31 July 2026, and further information relating to Appendix 2 had been circulated on 3 August 2026.

AR attended the hearing accompanied by a representative of the Reading Taxi Association. Both addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions. At the outset of the hearing, AR requested that consideration of their case be deferred until September 2026 to enable their legal representative, who was currently on leave, to attend and represent them.

AA had informed Licensing Officers in advance of the hearing that they would be unable to attend and did not appear before the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee noted that AA’s case had previously been deferred at the meeting held on 2 July 2026 and decided that it would be appropriate to determine the case in AA’s absence.

MS attended the hearing accompanied by their daughter who assisted with translation. Both addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions. Part way through the hearing, MS requested that the proceedings be deferred to allow them time to obtain legal representation.

KB 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 answered questions.

Robert Smalley, Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer, and Anthony Chawama, Mike Harding and Ben Williams, Licensing Enforcement Officers, also attended the hearing, addressed the Sub-Committee, and answered questions.

In the case of AR (Appendix 1), a witness to the incident referred to in the report attended the hearing accompanied by their mother. The Sub-Committee thanked them for attending and consulted them regarding AR’s request to defer.

In the case of KB (Appendix 4), Licensing Officers advised the Sub-Committee that, when applying for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence, KB had declared the two convictions received in 2009 but had failed to declare the convictions received in 2019 relating to plying for hire.

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:

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