(Prior to
commencing this item the Business
Partner (Litigation/Licensing) sought consent from the licence
holder to allow Councillor Carol Bull to remain in the meeting 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.
The Chair 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 review 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
driver was a fit and proper person to hold a licence issued by the
Council.
The Officer drew attention to the evidence
submitted at Appendices 1 – 3
of Report No LSC/WS/20/001 together the
Licensed Driver Conditions held within the West Suffolk Council
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Conditions Policy Handbook, which
were set out at Appendix 4.
The Officer also outlined the steps available
to Members in reaching their determination of the case before
them.
The licence holder attended the meeting to
present their case and answer Members’ questions.
Following which the
licence holder, their consort 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.
With the vote being unanimous, 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, the Sub-Committee considered the matter to
have been an isolated incident and therefore TOOK NO FURTHER
ACTION in respect of the licence.
However, Members issued a warning to the
licence holder on their future conduct and stressed that they must
ensure compliance with the conditions of their licence in
future.