The Chair invited Elaine Moreton, Section Leader Licensing, and the Applicant (LW) into the Hearing. LW was accompanied by his Representative, Mr Fairclough. The Chair led introductions and outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Section Leader, Licensing, outlined the report regarding an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence, which had been circulated to all parties inadvance of the meeting. The matter had been referred to the Sub-Committee by an authorised employee of the council for further consideration to be given as to whether LW was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence due to the information outlined in the report.

All parties were invited to question the Section Leader on the report. Elaine Moreton and the Senior Solicitor provided responses to questions asked.

The Chair invited LW to make his submission.

Mr Fairclough made representations on behalf of his client. He discussed the circumstances that led to his client’s convictions. He stated LW was now a changed man and urged the Sub-Committee to give him a chance.

All parties were invited to question LW and Mr Fairclough on the submission.

In response to questions asked, LW and Mr Fairclough elaborated further on the situations that lead to LW’s convictions and discussed the reasons for his application.

The Chair invited LW and Mr Fairclough to make a final statement.  Mr Fairclough did so. He stated that his client had made efforts to turn his life around and had not been in trouble since 2012.

LW, Mr Fairclough and the Section Leader left the meeting to allow the Sub-Committee to determine the matter.

All parties were invited back to the meeting.

The Chair advised them of the decision of the Sub-Committee, which was explained in full by the Senior Solicitor.

Resolved:

That having considered all the evidence both written and oral, provided at the hearing, the Sub-Committee was not satisfied that LW was a fit and proper person and therefore, in accordance with Section 51 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, a Private Hire Vehicle Driver’s Licence was notgranted. This decision was made in accordance with paragraph 5.1.12(b) and 5.1.13(b) of the guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions and breaches of licence conditions agreed by the Licence Committee on 20 March 2019.

The Solicitor detailed the applicant’s right of appeal to the Magistrates’ Court against the decision of the Sub-Committee, within 21 days of receipt of the decision, and the potential costs of doing so.