Issue - meetings

Members were asked to consider and determine what action to take as to whether combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 remained a fit and proper person to hold a combined hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licence, with this authority.

Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 attended the meeting alongside his legal representative Mr Simon Walker of Appleby Hope & Matthews Solicitors and was given the opportunity to make representation.

A witness relating to complaint number 2 was also in attendance and given the opportunity to make representation.

Committee papers and reports had been provided to all relevant parties prior to the meeting. 

The report detailed the following:

. A recording of a phone call between combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 and a Taxi Operator

. A copy of a summary of CCTV footage

. A copy of images showing damage to a complainant’s vehicle and to a Private Hire Vehicle.

. A copy of a summary transcript of an interview between combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 and Licensing Officers.

The Chair introduced everyone present and explained the procedure to be followed during the hearing.

The Committee understood that the matter before them was to determine the continued fitness of combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 as detailed in the Committee report and appendices.

The Committee heard that combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 had previously held a licence with this authority since before 2003 and had had his licence revoked in March 2020 due to a medical issue. Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 re-applied for a combined licence in June 2023, which was granted on 1st August 2023.

The Committee heard that there were three separate complaints before them, relating to combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 and his private hire vehicle. A summary of the complaints were outlined to the Committee is as follows:-

Complaint 1 – On 2nd April 2024, a member of the public reported that a Private Hire Vehicle had collided with her vehicle and left the scene. The complainant and a nearby shop provided CCTV footage of the collision. The complainant stated she had called the operator, who identified the driver of the Private Hire Vehicle as combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879, who denied the collision and stated that he had been at home asleep at that time.

Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 was interviewed in relation to the matter on 24th April 2024, and his recollection of the date in question changed, then admitting to officers that he vaguely remembered the incident. Despite this, and viewing the CCTV with officers during interview, combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 denied colliding with the complainant’s vehicle and denied that witnesses had attempted to stop him from driving away. Combined hackney carriage and private hire driver – 000879 also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15