Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations on any interest.

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the confidential report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed)

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of People and Places in the presence of the driver’s representative, to consider whether the driver should have his licences revoked.

The driver had previously had his private hire driver licence suspended by a General Licensing Sub Committee on 7 November 2012, as he was the subject of an enquiry relating to a sexual assault in a taxi licensed by the Council, where bail conditions had been imposed upon him.

The Sub Committee was informed that the driver had pleaded guilty to the charges made against him and had been sentenced accordingly on 4 June 2013. The driver had received a 12 month community supervision order, 80 hours community service and had been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 5 years.

Members heard representation from the Council’s Public Protection Officer and received information regarding the Council’s policy regarding convictions. The driver had been invited but was unable to attend the meeting as he was undertaking community service. His representative attended and stated that the driver wanted to hand in his drivers badge as he did not feel that he would be able to get his licence reinstated.

Having considered all the information at the meeting Members RESOLVED to revoke the drivers private hire driver licence with immediate effect on grounds of public safety under s.61(2)[B] of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and to revoke the drivers private hire vehicle licence under s.60(1)(c) of the 1976 Act on the grounds below. Members further resolved to remove delegated authority from officers to grant any future applications in relation to taxi driver or vehicle licences from the driver.

(i)            The driver had been convicted of a sexual assault on a passenger in a taxi

(ii)        Members noted that at paragraph D.1 of the Council’s policy on previous convictions persons with convictions for indecent assault would normally be refused a licence

(iii)       The driver had been required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 5 years. Members noted that the Council’s policy on previous convictions does not envisage persons to be allowed to drive taxis whilst on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

(iv)      Members considered that in the interests of public safety the driver should not be permitted to hold any form of taxi permission from the Council