Minutes:
The Following is a Part 1 summary of the case:
The Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to consider whether the Applicant (Reference 03-15) was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire Drivers licence. The Applicant attended the hearing.
The Licensing Officer summarised the background to the case and discussed the relevant Policy and Legislative considerations in this case. He advised Members that the Sub-Committee could only allow an Applicant to hold a Private Hire Operator’s licence if they were satisfied that the Applicant was a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold that licence.
The Sub-Committee was advised that the Applicant held a Private Hire driver and vehicle licence issued by Slough Borough Council. He had pled guilty to a non violent offence at East Berkshire Magistrates Court for which he was given a one-year conditional discharge, and a one-year restraining order.
The Applicant had not declared the offence to the Licensing Authority and was therefore in breach of the conditions of his licence which had necessitated the matter being referred to the Sub-Committee. The Licensing Officer recommended that Applicant’s licence be revoked but that the Sub-Committee should have regard to any representations made.
The Applicant advised that he was unaware he should have disclosed the offence as he received a conditional discharge and he had not deliberately withheld the information. It was argued that revocation of his licence would be disproportionate.
The Sub-Committee decided to issue a strict warning to the Applicant with regard to his future behaviour and compliance with the conditions of his private hire driver’s licence.
Resolved- That Driver Reference 03-15 be issued with a strict warning and any future breaches of his licence conditions be referred to the Sub-Committee