Agenda item

The Chair invited Elaine Moreton, Section Leader (Licensing) and the Applicant (AH) into the Hearing, made introductions and outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Section Leader (Licensing), outlined the report regarding an application for a Private Hire Driver Licence, which had been circulated to all parties in advance of the meeting.  The matter had been referred to the Sub-Committee in accordance with Guidelines Relating to Relevance of Convictions and Breaches of Licence Conditions, specifically paragraphs 5.1.12(b), 5.1.13(b), 5.1.3(b) and 5.1.4(b).

All parties were invited to question the Section Leader (Licensing) on the report.  No questions were asked.

AH confirmed that the information contained within the report was accurate.

AH circulated personal references to the Sub-Committee.

AH said that following the death of his father he gained responsibilities and started to take his life seriously.  He had stopped drinking and was a reformed character that did not want to be unemployed.  He wanted to give back to the community and had taken part in local projects such as the clearing of allotments.  He was not a threat to the public and he was ashamed of his mistakes.

All parties were invited to question the Applicant on his submission.

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, AH stated the following:

·     He had approached Uber and Royal Cars with a view to finding work should he be granted a Licence;

·     He had been a loose cannon before his dad died.  His employer had been a bad influence as had his friends.  He had since changed his set of friends completely;

·     With regard to two offences that had taken place after the death of his father, the ‘Resist or Obstruct a Constable’ conviction had been a result of a constable overtaking and turning his lights off.  The conviction for ‘Failure to give information as to the identity of a driver’ occurred after his car had unknowingly scraped another on a narrow graveyard pathway;

·     His father had passed away in August 2011 so only one conviction had occurred after his death;

AH made a closing statement.  From the bottom of his heart, the key element of his work would be the safety of the public.  He had tried for work everywhere else and no one would give him a chance.  The opportunity to turn his life around would be the best Christmas present that he had ever received.  He now had children and grandchildren to care for, he had good references and he wanted to give back to the community.  Even a temporary Licence to allow him time to prove himself would be greatly appreciated.

AH and the Section Leader (Licensing) left the room to allow the Sub-Committee to determine the matter.

The Chair invited AH and the Section Leader (Licensing) back into the Hearing.

The Chair detailed the decision of the Sub-Committee, which was read out in full by J. Bramley, Senior Solicitor.

Resolved

          That, having considered all of the information presented to the meeting, the Licensing Sub-Committee was not satisfied that the Applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Driver’s Licence and accordingly the application was refused.

The Applicant has a right of appeal, against the decision of the Sub-Committee, to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receipt of this decision.

The Senior Solicitor detailed the appeals process as well as the costs and potential costs to the Applicant.

AH and the Section Leader (Licensing) left the room.