Issue - meetings

APPLICATION FOR A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER'S LICENCE

Meeting: 11/01/2018 - Licensing and Safety Committee (Item 295)

APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS' LICENCES

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

Minutes:

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 invited to address the Panel separately on their applications and any matters referred to in the Officer’s report.  The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed. 

                   

1.                             Applicant 27/2017 attended the meeting and was represented byMr Ahmed, Solicitor.  The Licensing Unit Manager read the report which was accepted by the Applicant and representative, which explained that the Applicant had been convicted at Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 14 March 2013 for an offence of driving a motor vehicle with excess

 

alcohol and sentenced to 12 months disqualification and fined £110 with costs of £350 and a victim surcharge of £20.

 

The Applicant addressed the Panel and explained the circumstances which had led to the conviction, which were that on 11 February 2013 the Applicant had visited a friend for a drink, which was a regular occurrence and he always booked a taxi home.  On this occasion, he was at a female friend’s house and they had an argument and she took his car keys and started to drive his car. She travelled up the road where she had stalled the car at a Give Way. The Applicant stated he opened the car door to stop the female from driving further, when she sounded the horn and started shouting and a neighbour called the Police.  The Applicant had by this time reversed the car to a safer place and was stood outside the car but with the keys in his pocket.  The female initially accused the Applicant of assault but these charges were later dropped.

 

Following questions from the members of the Licensing and Safety Panel, the Applicant stated that he only chased the female as he was worried for her safety, as she had also been drinking. He further stated he had only reversed the car a short distance to ensure the safety of others as well as his car, due to where the vehicle had been left.  The Applicant also explained that since this incident he has suffered ill health and lost 4 stone.  He has 5 children to support, 2 of which are at University and he felt that not only him but his whole family were suffering.  The Applicant acknowledged that what he did was wrong, was very remorseful for his actions but stated that he had waited until the 5 years since the conviction time was almost complete, before applying for his licence.

 

Delegated decision:

 

                    The Panel carefully considered the report and the oral representations by the Applicant and Mr Ahmed and after taking into account the Council’s Conviction Policy and Guidelines and in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 resolved, unanimously, that the application for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence by Applicant 27/2017 be granted.

 

                    The Panel noted that although a serious offence, the Applicant had shown remorse  ...  view the full minutes text for item 295