Issue - meetings

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

The Licensing Unit Manager presented a report submitted by the Assistant Director (Localities) regarding applications for Public/Private Hire Vehicles Drivers’ Licences.

The Applicants were invited to attend the meeting for separate hearings and the Chair outlined the procedure to be followed.  The Applicants were invited to address the Panel separately on their applications and any matters referred to in the Officer’s report. 

1.   Applicant 01/2017 attended the meeting and was represented by Mr Oakes of The Hackney Drivers’ Association Limited. The Licensing Unit Manager summarised the report, which was accepted by the Applicant and Mr Oakes, which explained that the Applicant had previously held a Private Hire licence with Bury Council from 23 September 2013 to 13 February 2014, when the Licensing and Safety Panel had revoked the licence following an incident on 19 November 2013.  The report explained that on the morning of 19 November a Civil Enforcement Officer was on duty on Wellington Road when she came across the Applicant’s Licensed Private Hire vehicle parked in a suspended parking bay and subsequently attached a fixed penalty notice to the vehicle.

The Applicant, who lived nearby, approached the Officer in an angry manner, swearing.  The Officer tried to reason with the Applicant and then started to walk away.  She then felt a blow to the side of her head, which knocked off her hat and a push in the back, causing her to stumble.

The Applicant and Mr Oakes then addressed the Panel and accepted that although the Applicant had knocked off the Officer’s hat, he had not pushed her in the back, nor sworn at her.  The Applicant explained that at that time he had pulled a muscle in his leg and was in a great deal of pain and had lost his temper momentarily.  Mr Oakes stated that this was not an excuse but a reason why the offence had taken place.  The Applicant had appealed the Licensing and Safety Panel’s decision to have his licence revoked to the Magistrates’ Court but stated that he had not been given notice of the hearing and had therefore failed to attend.  The matter was dismissed and he had been ordered to pay costs of £2,050 at £35 - £40 a month and he still owed £1,215.

Mr Oakes stated that the offence had occurred over 3 years ago and the Applicant stated he did not realise that where he had parked was a suspended parking bay.  He took full responsibility for his actions and regretted his behaviour and hoped he could now be given another chance as a Private Hire Driver. 

Delegated decision:

The Panel carefully considered the report and the oral representations by Mr Oakes and the Applicant and taking into account the Council’s Conviction Policy and Guidelines and in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and resolved, unanimously, that the application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence by Applicant 01/2017 be refused.

The Panel noted that this was a serious matter and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 439