To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 23 September 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 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 requesting that the Sub-Committee make determinations on cases concerning the potential suspension or revocation of licences held by individuals authorised to drive Private Hire, School Transport, and Hackney Carriage vehicles.

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

• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: RNA (Appendix 1).
• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a School Transport Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: IA (Appendix 2).
• A report to consider the suspension/revocation of a Hackney Carraige Vehicle Driver’s Licence. Licence Holder: TS (Appendix 3).

Summaries detailing the circumstances relating to each of the cases were attached to the report at Appendices 1 to 3.

RNA attended the hearing accompanied by ZA and MI. All three addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

IA attended the hearing accompanied by AA. Both addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

TS attended the hearing, addressed the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions.

Robert Smalley, Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer, presented the reports to the Sub-Committee and asked and responded to questions. Ben Williams and Mike Harding, Licensing Enforcement Officer attended the meeting and asked and responded to questions. Mike Harding attended the meeting for the cases at Appendix 1 and 2 only. 

In the case of RNA (Appendix 1) the Sub-Committee had been provided with a copy of email correspondence ahead of the meeting from RNA’s legal representative asking it to consider adjourning the hearing to a later date to enable time to prepare. RNA’s legal representative had been informed by Licensing officers that RNA should attend the hearing and that the Sub-Committee would consider the request to defer at the meeting. At the start of the hearing RNA told the Sub-Committee that he did not want the hearing postponed and that he wished to proceed. The Sub-Committee decided to do so.

In the case of IA (Appendix 2) the Sub-Committee was provided with links to view video evidence, marked as appendices RS-1, RS-2 and RS-3, that related to the incident described in the case summary. The Sub-Committee viewed the three dash-cam video clips in full at the meeting.

In the case of IA (Appendix 2), the Sub-Committee had received additional information which had been circulated by email ahead of the meeting. The additional information contained email correspondence that included a letter of support from IA’s employer and a message of appreciation from a customer.  

In reaching its decisions the Sub-Committee endeavoured throughout to strike a fair balance between the interests of the applicants and 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, the video evidence shown at the meeting (for the case at Appendix 2), the additional information circulated to the Sub-Committee via email after the publication of the agenda, 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.