Issue - meetings

Report of the Licensing Enforcement Officer

The Chairman introduced the parties and outlined the procedure to be followed.

The Licensing Enforcement Officer presented the report, which asked members to consider the conduct of a Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver.

The report set out the details of a complaint made against the Licensee about a journey undertaken on 15 June 2021. The passenger had alleged that the Licensee had an inappropriate conversation with her in which he made sexual advances which made her feel extremely uncomfortable, so much so that she reported this incident to the Council on 16 June 2021 and provided a signed witness statement. The report also referred to two historical complaints.

The Chairman invited questions from Members. There were none.

Following a question from the Legal Adviser, the Operator of Coalville Yellow Cabs explained that when the complainant called, she requested that the same driver not be despatched to that address in the future and it was agreed that a marker would be placed on the file to this effect, which he says, was done. However, for an inexplicable reason, this marker had been removed which resulted in the driver being despatched to this address for a second time which resulted in a complaint to the Council.

The licensed driver was invited to address the meeting. He advised that he had been a taxi driver for more than 13 years and enjoyed his work and treated all his customers with respect and courtesy. He advised that he tried not to engage too much in conversation with his customers but with some passengers, this was unavoidable if he wanted to maintain customer satisfaction. He would never give out his personal details if asked, as it was against company policy. When referring to the complaint, he advised that the complainant referred to her single status and that she was looking for ‘fun’ and ‘friends with benefits’ and asked if he would be interested. He advised that he told her he was married and not interested in her proposal. He alleged that she then referred to their conversation having been ‘inappropriate’ and referred to the fact that she said she ‘could be nasty and take things further’.

On the second occasion. The licensed driver admitted that he should have realised his fare was the same person and refused to pick her up. Instead, he was greeted by her swearing at him, so he offered her the opportunity of calling another taxi company. She is alleged to have refused this offer as she needed to get to work but asked him not to speak to her and referred to him as a ‘pervert’ for not being interested in her previously. She is alleged to have continued swearing at him throughout the journey.

On another occasion, he had been vaping in the smoking area of the pub after work when two women approached him advising that they were lesbians, and they were celebrating one of their birthdays. He wished them a happy birthday and they advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5