(Prior to
commencing this item the Business Partner (Litigation/Licensing)
sought consent from the applicant to allow the Licensing Officers
present to remain in the meeting in order to observe proceedings
for training purposes.)
The Business Partner (Litigation/Licensing)
welcomed all present to the Hearing, reported that no declarations
of interest had been received and introductions to all parties were
made.
He also drew attention to the procedure for
the conduct of the Hearing as attached to the agenda.
The Licensing Officer presented the report
which explained that Members were requested to determine an
application for a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire
Driver’s Licence under the provisions of Section 61 of the
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Members needed to be satisfied that that the
applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a licence issued by
the Council.
The Officer drew attention to the
documentation submitted at Appendices 1 – 5 of Report No
LSC/WS/21/004.
The applicant attended the meeting to present
their case and answer Members’ questions.
Following which the
applicant and all Licensing Officers retired to another room to
allow the Sub-Committee to give further
consideration to the matter.
Following
all parties’ return to the meeting room the Business
Partner (Litigation/Licensing) advised on
the Sub-Committee’s decision.
It was
RESOLVED:
That, having taken into
account all representations received both in writing and
orally, considered alongside the Licensing Authority’s duty
to protect the public, Members accepted that the applicant’s
incident in 2017 was an isolated matter.
And, after careful
consideration, the Sub-Committee decided that they could depart
from the policy requirement concerned as they were satisfied that
re-offending was unlikely and, based on the information before
them, the applicant was a fit and proper person to be granted a
licence.
Accordingly, THE HACKNEY
CARRIAGE/PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE APPLICATION WAS GRANTED.
Prior to closing the meeting the Chair addressed the applicant and
cautioned as to their future conduct.