Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None

            None.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item as this was considered to contain exempt information by virtue of paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item as this was considered to contain exempt information by virtue of paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

That the applicant is 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 he be granted to have such a Licence.

APPLICATION FOR A PRIVATE HIRE/HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVER LICENCE

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report to consider and determine an application for a Private Hire/Hackney (Joint) Carriage Driver Licence.  She explained the Application was listed at Appendix A, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check was listed at Appendix B, the applicant’s written explanation was at Appendix C, Newspapers on the drug conviction was at Appendix D and the FCC Guidance on the treatment of convictions, cautions and other recorded sanctions was at Appendix E.  She continued to say the applicant was not within the “10 years free of criminal conviction” as outlined in the Guidance.

The Chairman referred to the applicant’s prison sentence and asked where she was imprisoned.  In response the said initially she was sent to Style Prison and then moved to Durham Lower Newton and finally to York.  When asked why she was moved she confirmed it was to enable her to be transferred to an open prison.  The Chairman then asked how long she was imprisoned to which she responded she served 3 months in prison, had 3 months wearing a tag and then received 6 months’ probation.

The Chairman then asked where she was currently employed and asked if she enjoyed her work. The applicant confirmed she was a Manager at a Garage which she enjoyed but wanted a change of career.

The Chairman then referred to the Crown Court hearing and to the references provided to court and asked how the applicant found that process.  She confirmed she had pleaded guilty so did not need to attend a hearing.

Councillor Cox referred to the severity of supplying Class A drugs and asked if the applicant used drugs and what prompted her to agree to receive these packages.  In response the applicant said she had never taken drugs and remembered from school the sad story of Leah Betts.  She had met the two men when she was 15 years old and they struck up a friendship which had developed over years.  Later when she had her son and was a single mum living with her sister and nephew surviving on benefits she was approached by them to earn some money by taking delivery of the packages.

The Chairman asked how old her son was now and she confirmed he was 18 years old and attending College.

The Solicitor referred to page 13 of the bundle, the DBS report which outlined the two convictions in 1998 and asked the applicant to provide the Panel with the background to these.  She responded saying a male friend of hers had split up with his girlfriend and the applicant was arrested for sticking two fingers up at the ex-girlfriend and was convicted for gesticulation.   When asked by the Chairman why this offence was not included in the application form she admitted she had forgotten as it was so long ago.

The Solicitor then referred to the drugs conviction and asked how she met these men.   In response she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.