Meeting documents

The applicant attended the meeting, accompanied by his partner.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer introduced the report which asked
Members to determine an application to renew a private hire driver's licence. Background information to the application was given and details of a recent CRB check.

There were no questions to the Licensing Enforcement Officer from the applicant or Members.

The applicant put forward his case. He stated that he understood why he had been brought in front of the Members but claimed that the report did not represent how he conducted himself. He apologised for not declaring the recent speeding convictions and explained that he had forgotten to do so as it was during a difficult period in his life. The applicant stated that he had suffered with Crohns Disease and was having serious marital problems. The applicant explained that he had set up the taxi driving business as result of being diagnosed with Crohns Disease as it was the best way for him to earn money due to the illness. The applicant accepted the mistakes that he had made and had moved on with his new partner. The applicant referred the Members to the letters from his customers that were attached to the report and explained that people were very happy with the service that himself, his father and brother provided in the local villages. The applicant apologised for his mistakes and stressed that if the renewal of the licence was granted he would not be brought in front of the Committee again as he would make his taxi driving his number one priority.
There were no questions to the applicant from the Licensing Enforcement Officer.

In response to a question from a Member, the applicant stated that he understood how serious it was to be brought in front of the Committee and he did not want to be in the same situation again.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer did not wish to give a closing statement. The applicant gave a brief closing statement and apologised for any inconvenience caused by calling the meeting.

At 6.55pm the Sub Committee adjourned to consider its decision. The meeting reconvened at 7.15pm so that the Members could ask the applicant further questions to help with the decision making.

A Member asked the applicant to give further details regarding the caution he received as the applicant told the Licensing Enforcement Officer that he had not realised he had been cautioned. The applicant described what had occurred between himself and his wife on the night in question. He explained that when he was at the police station he was very upset due to the circumstances and had not realised that he had been officially cautioned, this was the reason why he had not declared it to the Licensing Enforcement Officer at the time.

Another Member questioned why the caution the applicant had received was for common assault. The applicant responded that the common assault was due to abusive language which had been used because of the circumstances. He explained that if he had an abusive customer in his taxi he would not respond in an abusive manner.

Another Member asked the applicant to give further details regarding the complaint in relation to an unlicensed vehicle carrying out one of his regular school runs. The applicant explained that he was on holiday at the time and his father was covering the school run. The licensed car had broken down and his Father had been concerned about the failure to pick up the child, he spoke to the child's Mother and she permitted him to pick up the child in his own car. The applicant apologised for the behaviour of his Father and explained that another vehicle had been purchased so that it would never happen again.

At 7.35pm the Committee adjourned for further consideration and reconvened at 8.05pm.