Private Hire Driver – 140921
Minutes:
Members were asked to consider and determine the continued fitness of private hire driver - 140921 due to concerns raised over his alcohol consumption
Private Hire Driver – 140921 attended the meeting and was 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 copy of a statement provided by a member of the Licensing Team who received a call from private hire driver – 140921 where he sounded intoxicated.
- A copy of a statement provided by a Licensing Officer after the continuing the above-mentioned phone call with private hire driver – 140921.
- A copy of summary transcripts following an interview with a Licensing Officer and private hire driver – 140921.
- A copy of a screenshot of part of a medical assessment which showed how many units of alcohol private hire driver – 140921 had declared to his GP that he drank on a weekly basis.
- A copy of a suspension letter to private hire driver – 140921 from the Licensing Service.
- A copy of a Licensing Officer’s statement following a further telephone conversation with private hire driver – 140921.
The Chair introduced everyone present and explained the procedure to be followed during the hearing.
The Committee Members were presented with the officers’ report and had the opportunity to ask questions of both the officers and private hire driver – 140921.
The Committee reviewed all the information provided and considered the submissions made by both private hire driver – 140921 and the officer.
The Committee heard that private hire driver – 140921 has been a licensed by the authority to drive private hire vehicles since November 2015.
The Committee were told that at approximately 9:30am on Wednesday 19th February 2025, the licensing administration team received a telephone call from private hire driver – 140921, who sounded intoxicated; he was not making sense and was slurring his words. The Committee heard that due to these concerns, the call taker transferred private hire driver – 140921’s call through to a licensing officer. The Committee were told that private hire driver – 140921 sounded very intoxicated and was changing topics frequently.
The Committee were informed that enquires were subsequently made with Royal Cars, who confirmed that private hire driver – 140921 had not logged on to their system to accept bookings and had not worked for them that day.
The Committee heard that private hire driver – 140921 was interviewed in relation to those concerns on 11 March 2025 and was asked about the telephone call. The Committee heard from the Licensing Officer that private hire driver – 140921 had stated that he had attended a party the night before, describing it as an ‘all night job’. The Committee were told that private hire driver – 140921 had confirmed that he did not get home until around 8:30am that morning and may have therefore been ‘a bit squiffy from the ... view the full minutes text for item 9