Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed the Licence Holder and his Solicitor to the meeting and introductions were made.
Consideration was given to the report of the Licensing Team Leader which requested the Sub-Committee to consider and determine the ongoing suitability of the Licence Holder to continue to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage Driver (for copy see file of Minutes).
The Licensing Enforcement Team Leader addressed the Sub-Committee with regard to the matters detailed in the report and took Members through the interview with the Licence Holder. Members, the Licence Holder and his Solicitor were invited to ask questions of the Officer.
The representative from Durham Constabulary confirmed the matter referred to in the Licensing Team Leader’s report and provided additional intelligence in relation to an earlier incident which had been discussed during the interview with the Licensing Enforcement Team Leader. Members, the Licence Holder and his Solicitor were invited to ask questions of the Officer.
At this point the meeting adjourned to allow the Licence Holder and his Solicitor to discuss the additional information referred to by the Police representative.
After re-convening the Licence Holder and his Solicitor were invited to address the Sub-Committee. The Licence Holder submitted additional information which was circulated to all parties, and the Sub-Committee was informed that it had not been possible to verify the character reference provided.
Following the submissions made, a number of questions were asked by Members of the Sub-Committee and the Police representative.
All parties were then invited to sum up.
The Sub-Committee retired to deliberate the application in private at 11.40am. After re-convening at 12 noon the Chairman delivered the Sub-Committee’s decision.
Resolved:
That the Hackney Carriage Driver Licence be revoked with immediate effect as the Licence Holder was not deemed to be a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence.