Agenda and draft minutes

General Licensing Committee - Tuesday 26th November, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Democratic Services Meeting Room, First Floor, Municiapl Buildings, Church Road, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LD

Contact: Sarah Whaley  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

GLC/30/24

Minutes pdf icon PDF 178 KB

To approve the minutes of the General Licensing meeting held on 16 July 2024.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the General Licensing minutes from the meeting which was held on the 16 July 2024 for approval and signature.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

GLC/31/24

Evacuation Procedure pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Minutes:

The evacuation procedure was noted.

GLC/32/24

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

GLC/33/24

Exclusion of the Public

Minutes:

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

GLC/34/24

Private Hire Driver Application – 086879

Minutes:

Members were asked to consider and determine an application for a private hire driver

licence, from an applicant who had previously been refused by this authority in 2007, 2008 and 2009.Applicant - 086879 did have a licence granted in April 2010 with this authority, but this was then revoked in 2012. The driver also had relevant convictions which meant he currently did not meet current Transport Policy.

 

Applicant - 086879 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 the Applicant – 086879’s application which contained a DVLA check code, showing two live endorsements for ‘exceeding the speed limit on a public road’ totalling 6 live DVLA points.

 

- A copy of a summary transcript of an interview with Applicant – 086879 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 an application for a private hire driver licence, from an applicant who had previously been refused a licence by this authority in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and who had a licence granted in April 2010, that was subsequently revoked in 2012, as detailed in the Committee report and appendices.

 

The Committee heard that an application for a private hire driver licence had been received from Applicant – 086879, who had two live DVLA licence endorsements for exceeding the speed limit on a public road, totalling 6 live DVLA penalty points.

 

The Committee were told that an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) certificate displayed a conviction of ‘driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol’ on 19th October 2014; Applicant – 086879 was convicted of the offence on 3rd November 2014, and was disqualified from driving for 36 months (reduced by 9 months as a course was completed), fined £110 and made to pay a victim surcharge of £20.

 

The Committee heard that Applicant – 086879 was interviewed in relation to his application on Monday 28th October 2024, when Applicant – 086879 was asked about his conviction for the offence of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in October 2014, which he had declared within his application. The Committee were told that Applicant – 086879  admitted that he was speeding as he was overtaking another vehicle that had overtaken his vehicle.

 

The Committee were told that Applicant – 086879 was also asked during the interview about his conviction for the offence of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in December 2012; he said he had been drinking at a friend’s house and then drove his vehicle.

 

The Committee were advised that Applicant – 086879 told officers during the interview that he did not have an alcohol addiction and was just careless; since these offences Applicant – 086879 no longer associated with the same crowd of people and was now a reformed person. 

 

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item GLC/34/24

GLC/35/24

Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558

Minutes:

Members were asked to consider and determine the continued fitness of licensed Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 who had received a complaint in relation to conduct towards a female passenger.

 

Hackney Carriage Driver - 11158 attended the meeting and was given the opportunity to make representation.

 

A witness also 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 from Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558.

 

- A screen shot of a Facebook messenger conversation between Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 and the complainant’s brother.

 

- A copy of a Delegated Decision and suspension letter relating to Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558.

 

- An interview transcript, between Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 and Licensing Officers.

 

- A copy of Facebook print outs provided by Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 during interview, from his taxi Facebook page of reviews from customers and examples of times where he had looked out for

his customers.

 

The Committee heard that on Monday 16th September 2024, the Licensing Department had received a complaint from Ms J S, the mother of Miss S, a vulnerable young adult, who alleged her daughter had been groomed by licensed Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558. Miss S’s mother alleged that Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 had inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature with her daughter, in his vehicle, and that he had also exchanged messages with her via Facebook messenger.

 

The Committee were told that the complainant confirmed that her daughter, Miss S had additional needs and was vulnerable, due to her having autism and comorbid anxiety disorder. The complainant stated that Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558.was aware of Miss S’s vulnerability as he had transported her for the previous two years, most of which was chaperoned by the complainant, but more recently, Miss S had taken journeys with Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 alone.

 

The Committee noted that witness statements had been taken from Miss S’s mother and her daughter, Miss S, on 17th September 2024. The Committee heard that the complainant had contacted police in relation to this matter, however due to a lack of evidence the police would not be able to investigate further.

 

The Committee heard that Miss S had told her mother that once she began to travel alone with licensed Hackney Carriage Driver, he asked why she did not sit in the front with him; Miss S had added that she felt uncomfortable doing this but struggled to say no due to her additional needs, and did sit in the front.

 

The Committee heard that Miss S had stated that Hackney Carriage Driver – 111558 asked if she used Facebook, requested her username, and sent a friend request to her whilst driving; she felt obliged to accept as he was with her when he sent it.

 

The Committee heard that Miss S had said that at the end  ...  view the full minutes text for item GLC/35/24