Issue - meetings

To determine a private hire/hackney carriage driver’s licence.

The Chair bought items 6 and 7 forward in proceedings. These items were dealt with in tandem.

The Enforcement Officer gave a summary of the report.

On 13 May 2019, the driver emailed the licensing department to notify them that he had moved address. He also notified them that he had made a mistake with temporary cover which resulted in him receiving six penalty points on his licence when he bought the policy he put the wrong date on the temporary cover. He was stopped by the Police who seized the vehicle, and the driver had to pay a fixed penalty notice of £300 and received six penalty points on his licence. Officer asked the driver if he had notified his insurance company and the driver said that he had not but would tell them upon renewal of his current policy.

Uttlesford District Council’s suitability policy includes criteria that applicants should meet if they wish to be licensed by Uttlesford District Council, including not having committed an offence of driving without insurance.

The driver’s employer said the driver had accidentally clicked on the wrong date on an app when filling in the application for temporary cover. He would never knowingly drive a vehicle without insurance. He was an excellent driver who had received many compliments.

In response to a Member question, the driver said he had not informed the Council of receiving the penalty points within 7 working days because he had been moving and it had been a stressful time. He had informed his insurer of receiving the penalty points after the Enforcement Officer had prompted him to do so.

At 10.45, the Committee retired to make its decision.

At 11.25, the Committee returned.

The decision was read to the driver.

DECISION NOTICE –

The application before the Panel today is for the suspension or revocation  of the driver’s  joint private hire/hackney carriage licence number PH/HC0706 under S61  (1) (b) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.- any other reasonable cause. The licence is due to expire on 28^th February 2022 and the driver was first licenced by this authority on 5^th March 2015. He also holds a private hire vehicle lice reference no PHV 1595 (See post) and drives for STS Taxis Ltd a private hire operator. His line manager accompanied him to the hearing this morning and spoke in support of him.

We have had the opportunity of reading the officer’s report in this case, a copy of which has been served on the driver, and we have also seen, as has he, the background documents annexed thereto, including a DVLA DriverCheck dated 13th May 2019, the Council’s Licensing Standards, some email correspondence, and the notes of a telephone discussion the driver had with the Enforcement Officer on 31^st May 2019.

On 13^th May 2019 the Licensing Department received an email from the driver advising them of a) a change of residential address, and that b)due to an administrative error on his part he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3