Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor J Morley was elected Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor M Ali was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee held on 12 January 2022 as published.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 12 January 2022 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The Chairman will move and the Vice-Chair will second:-

"That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 7 in view of the nature of the proceedings that, if members of the press and public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.”

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of minute 7 in view of the nature of the proceedings that, if members of the press and public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, to the Local Government Act 1972.

Reporting Person – Matthew Cobb

The Sub-Committee received a report which requested that a decision be made as to whether Mr A was “fit and proper” to hold a Taxi or Private Hire Licence in line with The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, following an accrual of over 12 penalty points under the Council’s Penalty Points Scheme.  Mr A attended the meeting along with Mr James Nash, the legal representative, and an interpreter. 

All parties present had a copy of the Licensing Committee’s agreed procedure to be followed at Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee hearings.  The Chairman introduced the Sub-Committee to those present and explained the procedure and order of speaking that would be followed during the hearing.

The Licensing Authority’s representative, Matthew Cobb, stated that the Council was tasked with ascertaining whether drivers were ‘fit and proper’ to ensure the safety of the travelling public.  The Sub-Committee was advised that the case history for Mr A included points accrued for leaving a taxi vehicle unattended on the rank; unauthorised signage; and the use of an incorrect address on Council documents.  There were also a number of complaints received which were set out in the report.  A total of 27 points had been accrued, in excess of the threshold of 12 points for the matter to be heard by the Sub-Committee.

The Chairman gave Mr A, his legal representative and Sub-Committee members the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Authority’s representative.  Questions were asked and replies were given.

The Chairman gave Mr A and his legal representative the opportunity to address the Sub-Committee.  Mr Nash set out the case for Mr A and highlighted that a number of the incidents had taken place several years ago and that there was no dispute that mistakes had been made.  A letter sent to the members of the Licensing Committee by Mr A in July 2022 was circulated which asked for the allocation of penalty points to be reconsidered.  Mr Nash asked for account to be given to the number of points allocated by the use of the incorrect address alongside the length of time Mr A had been operating as a taxi driver in the Borough, and urged the Sub-Committee to give Mr A a final warning as opposed to revoking the licence.

Questions were asked of Mr A and his legal representative and replies were given, including a brief commentary on the cases highlighted in the report.

The Chairman gave those parties present the opportunity to make closing statements. 

Mr Cobb asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether Mr A was a fit and proper person to hold a licence, taking into account the evidence put forward and the requirement to protect the travelling public.

Mr Nash stated that this was the first time Mr A had appeared before the Sub-Committee and asked them to make a decision proportionate to the case and not revoke the licence.

The Chairman adjourned the hearing for deliberation at 8.35pm, later requesting that the Council’s Solicitor, Amanda Francis,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.