Consideration was given to an exempt report
that sought to determine whether or not a Hackney Carriage licence
holder remained a ‘fit and proper’ person.
The Chairman advised those present that the
agenda item would be considered in the following running
order:
-
Environment Health Senior Specialist to introduce
the officer report;
-
Committee Members to ask any questions on the report
and the officer introduction;
-
The applicant and his legal representative to make
their representations in support of the driver retaining his
Hackney Carriage licence;
-
Committee Members to ask any questions on these
representations;
-
The Deputy Monitoring Officer to summarise the main
points that had been raised before outlining the options that were
available to the Committee;
-
The Committee to adjourn to consider the matter in
the presence of the Deputy Monitoring Officer; and
-
The meeting to be reconvened with the Chairman to
read out the Committee decision.
Once all parties in attendance were content
that they had no further questions or issues to raise, the
Committee then adjourned (at 2.30pm) in the presence of the Deputy
Monitoring Officer to consider the matter.
The meeting was subsequently reconvened at
4.20pm and the Chairman proceeded to read out the Committee
decision as follows:
The Decision
‘Members of the Licensing Committee
have considered very carefully the facts surrounding the
allegations and subsequent investigation by officers.
-
We have read the Licensing
Specialist’s report, which you have had sight
of;
-
We have read the information provided by
partner agencies;
-
We have read the character references
that you have provided today;
-
We have also listened very carefully to
what you and your representative have told us today;
-
The main priority of the licensing
regime is to ensure public safety. As
this is a civil matter, the evidence of proof is based on the
balance of probabilities – the onus being on yourself to
satisfy the Authority that you remain a ‘fit and
proper’ person to hold a joint Private Hire and Hackney
Carriage drivers licence / vehicle licence.
The Committee has decided to REVOKE your
taxi driver licence.’
The Chairman proceeded to outline to the
licence holder and his legal representative the reasons for this
decision and confirmed that these would be sent out (in writing) to
them both in due course.
Finally, the licence holder was also advised
that he did have the right to appeal to the Magistrates
Court.