Minutes:
The Following is a Part 1 summary of the case:
Following introductions, the Chair asked all parties to confirm that they had received a copy of the paperwork. The Appellant informed the meeting that he had not received the relevant paperwork. The hearing was adjourned for 15 minutes to allow the Appellant an opportunity to read the paperwork. The Appellant was offered the opportunity to have the hearing adjourned but confirmed that he was happy to proceed.
The Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to consider whether Private Hire Driver (Reference 02-17) was a fit and proper person to continue to hold a Private Hire licence in Slough.
The Senior Licensing Officer, Melanie Sagar, summarised the background to the case and discussed the relevant Policy and Legislative considerations. Members were advised that the Sub-Committee could only allow an Applicant to hold a Licence if it was satisfied that the applicant was a ‘fit and proper’ person to do so.
The Sub-Committee were reminded that the Driver was the current holder of a Private Hire Driver Licence, issued by Slough Borough Council. It was noted that the Appellant had been stopped by Thames Valley Police in August 2017 with four passengers in his vehicle. Following the relevant checks, it was confirmed that the vehicle was unlicensed and uninsured for transporting passengers for hire and reward.
The Driver addressed the Sub-Committee, and presented evidence in mitigation, stating that he had offered his friend a lift home and that he did not know the other passengers in the car. It was confirmed that no payment had taken place.
The Sub-Committee carefully considered all the evidence at its disposal and found on balance that there was reasonable cause to find that the lift given to the passengers was by way of hire and reward.
Resolved - That Private Hire Driver’s licence (ref 02-17) be suspended for a period of 6 months.