Minutes:
The Following is a Part 1 summary of the case:
The Licensing Sub-Committee was asked to consider whether Hackney Carriage Driver (Reference 03-18) was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage licence in Slough. The Driver was represented at the hearing and circulated a witness statement.
The Licensing Manager summarised the background to the case and discussed the relevant Policy and Legislative considerations. He advised Members that the Sub-Committee could only allow an Applicant to hold the a Licence if it was satisfied that the applicant was a ‘fit and proper’ person to do so.
The Sub-Committee was advised that the Licensing Team had received an email complaint and photographs from a member of the public of something of a sexually explicit nature displayed on the infotainment system on the vehicle’s dashboard.
Members sought clarification as to whether the video was playing when the customer entered the vehicle and the Appellant confirmed that although he had watched a clip of the video this was prior to the customer entering the vehicle.
The Licensing Manager reminded the Sub-Committee that it had the power to revoke, or suspend the Licence, Issue a Warning or take no further action.
In summary, the Appellant acknowledged that he had watched the video but argued that apart from this particular incident there had no been complaints regarding his conduct as a hackney carriage driver and that he had held his licence for over 20 years.
The Sub-Committee adjourned to reach its decision and carefully considered the evidence.
Resolved - That the Hackney Carriage Driver’s (ref 03-18) Licence be revoked.