Decision details

The Chairman welcomed the applicant to the meeting.  He introduced the Sub-Committee members and explained the procedure for the hearing, including how the application would be determined.

The Licensing Officer presented the report to consider an application for a Private Hire / Hackney Carriage (Joint) Driver Licence.  The reason that the application was before the Sub-Committee was due to the persistent offending despite a lapse of over 10 years since the last conviction.

The Chairman and members of the Sub-Committee asked questions of the applicant, particularly relating to specific convictions, to which the applicant responded.  The Solicitor also asked specific questions in relation to each conviction.

The Chairman invited the applicant to make representations.  She provided details of the background which led to the offences that had taken place, explaining that she was a completely different person during the period of 2003 and 2006 when the offences took place.  She had moved away from the area and the company she kept and had made a new life for herself including having two sons who were both now of school age.  She wanted to be able to provide for them and this was a good opportunity to work flexible hours to suit her family home life.   She provided details of the difficult time in her life and the reasons she felt she was using drugs.

The applicant said she considered herself to be a fit and proper person.

When the Chairman was satisfied that all relevant questions had been raised, he requested that the applicant and the Licensing Officer leave the meeting whilst the Sub-Committee reached a decision.

Decision

In determining the application, the Sub-Committee considered the representations made and the repeat offending that had taken place, noting no offending had occurred in over 12 years.  The Sub-Committee felt that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire / Hackney Carriage (Joint) Drivers Licence.

The Licensing Officer and the applicant were invited to return so that the meeting could be reconvened and were advised of the decision.

RESOLVED:

That the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire / Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and that the Licence be granted.