Issue - meetings

A report by the Assistant Director (Localities) is attached.

1.  The Licensing Unit Manager presented a report submitted by the Assistant Director (Localities) on the proposed suspension/revocation of a Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Licence holder 31/2016 attended the meeting and was accompanied by his daughter.  The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed and the Licensing Unit Manager read the report, which was accepted by the Licence Holder. This explained that on 4 May 2016 the licence holder was granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence in relation to a Volkswagen Passat which was approximately 3 years and 8 months old from the date of first registration.  The vehicle was subjected to an initial vehicle inspection by the Council’s examiner at Bradley Fold, Bury. At this time the Licence Holder was advised that the vehicle had passed the test and was handed a written advice by the examiner advising that the front tyre treads were low and that the rear tyre inner edges were worn. It also advised the Licence Holder of the date and time of the vehicles next interim test.

On 2 November 2016 the Licence Holder failed to attend an interim test at Bradley Fold test Centre, with the vehicle, resulting in the Private Hire Vehicle Licence being suspended as a matter of routine.  The Private Hire Vehicle Licence plates were returned to the Licensing Service on 14 November 2016 and a new test appointment was made for the following day, at which the vehicle failed the inspection with a total of 8 faults, of which 6 were MOT defined faults.  All 4 tyres were found to be below the legal tread limit, 2 being so bad that the wire construction chords which lie below the rubber were visible.

In response the Licence Holder and Licence Holder’s daughter explained that following the test on 4 May 2016 all 4 tyres on the vehicle had been changed but had driven over 11,000 miles since then.  The Licence Holder stated that the faults found in relation to the tyres on 14 November were due to the tracking on the vehicle. It was explained that the Licence Holder had been a taxi driver since 1993 but this year had had a number of personal problems. The Licence Holder’s sister had passed away in Pakistan and his wife has recently been unwell and had been in hospital and that the Licence Holder himself has not been well.  He had forgotten to check the tyres and it was a genuine mistake and he was sorry. The Licence Holder stated that he had the car serviced in August and the tyres had been checked then. The Licence Holder produced a receipt for the purchase of the tyres and also a reference.

Delegated decision:

After carefully considering the written report, oral statements from the Licence Holder and his daughter, taking into consideration written evidence and the character reference and taking into account the Council’s  Convictions Policy and Guidelines, pursuant to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Panel resolved, unanimously, to revoke the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 430