To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 20 March 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 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.

To consider and the renewal of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence, reports for the consideration of the suspension/revocation of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licences and an application for the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle Operator’s Licence.

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

·       An application to consider the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: MAH (Appendix 1);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: SSA (Appendix 2);

·       An application to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: MWA (Appendix 3);

·       An application to consider the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle Operator's Licence. Licence Holder: FH (Appendix 4);

Summaries detailing the circumstances relating to each case were attached to the report at Appendices 1 to 4.

MAH and his representative Adonis Daniel, Andrew Storch Solicitors, attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions.

SSA attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and responded to questions. Mr William Donne, Silver Fox Consultants, attended the meeting in the role of a McKenzie Friend to support SSA.

MWA and his representative, Mr William Donne, Silver Fox Consultants, attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

FH did not attend the meeting and in the interests of fairness, the Sub-Committee agreed that consideration of the application for grant of Private Hire Vehicle Operator’s Licence be deferred to the next meeting to allow them to be present.

Tabitha Shaw, RBC Licensing Team, presented the report to the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions. Mike Harding, Clyde Masson and Ben Williams, RBC Licensing Team also attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

In reaching its decisions the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written material contained in the paperwork, the video and oral evidence provided at the meeting, and to relevant legislation, guidance and the policies of Reading Borough Council, and in particular:

·       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 School Transport Vehicle Operator Conditions;

·       Reading Borough Council’s Private Hire Vehicle Operator Conditions;

·       Reading Borough Council’s Private Hire Vehicle Driver Conditions & Penalty Points Enforcement System;

·       All of the documents provided for the meeting, including the additional information circulated via email, and;

·       The Fit and Proper Person Test.

Resolved –

(1)           That the application for the renewal of the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver’s Licence in respect of MAH be refused due to the Sub-Committee not considering MAH to be a fit and proper person to hold such a licence for the following reasons:

(a)           The failure to declare the conviction on his application form;

(b)           The nature of the offence which was classed as a major conviction under the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Convictions Policy;

(c)           The failure to declare that another Licensing Authority had refused a licence;

(d)           The lack of honesty when completing the application form.

(2)           That the Hackney Carraige Vehicle Driver’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.