Minutes:
Members were asked to consider and determine the fitness of applicant – 159461 for a new combined hackney carriage and private hire drivers licence who had provided a DBS which contained relevant convictions and currently did not meet the Stockton Borough Council private hire and hackney carriage licensing policy.
Applicant – 159461, 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 applicant - 159461’s application with a DVLA check code.
- A copy of the interview transcript with Licensing Officers and applicant – 159461.
The Chair introduced everyone present and explained the procedure to be followed during the hearing.
Applicant - 159461 appeared before the Committee for determination of his application to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, following the submission of his DBS certificate which was part of the application process, and which showed a conviction for ‘Conceal/Disguise/Convert/Transfer Criminal Property’, which he was convicted of. Applicant - 159461 received a suspended sentence and given community service.
The Committee Members were presented with the officers’ report, both Members and the applicant – 159461 had the opportunity to ask questions of the officers report.
The main topics discussed were as follows:
- Applicant – 159461 explained to Members that he was new to the UK and was trying to earn enough money to secure a home for himself and his wife who was not well.
- Applicant – 159461 had been employed as a delivery driver earning approximately £50 to £60 per day, however a friend had introduced applicant – 159461 to someone who offered him a delivery job with much better earnings which he accepted. Applicant – 159461 was given a package to deliver and was told the package contained cash. Applicant – 159461 explained to the Committee that transferring money was commonplace in his country of origin, however he now realised this was not the case in the UK and that he had made a mistake. Applicant – 159461 confirmed to Members that this was the only time he had done this.
Members questioned applicant – 159461’s background which included substance misuse and addiction. Applicant – 159461 explained he was young at the time, and it was not an addiction. Applicant – 159461 also confirmed that he did not drink or smoke and it had only happened when he was younger.
Applicant – 159461 ensured the Committee that he was a fit and proper person and although he had made mistakes in the past, he was focused on working hard and providing for his family. Applicant– 159461 appreciated he had made mistakes; however, those mistakes were over 6 years ago, and he really needed an opportunity to make a better life.
It was confirmed to the Committee, and they were satisfied that applicant – 159461 had fully cooperated with Cleveland Police who believed applicant –159461’s account of the incident that he was convicted of.
In accordance with the Councils Licensing Policy applicant – 159461 would be free from conviction on 5 February 2026.
The Committee considered all of the information before them and listened to what applicant – 159461 and the officers said to them.
The Committee noted that almost seven years had passed since applicant – 159461’s conviction for the offence of Conceal/Disguise/Convert/Transfer Criminal Property.
The Committee found applicant – 159461 to be remorseful and noted that he would fall within the Council’s policy in relation to previous convictions for dishonesty offences on 5th February 2026.
The Committee therefore determined that applicant – 159461’s application should be granted, as they believed that he was a fit and proper person.
The Committee requested that applicant – 159461 was issued with a licence after the 5 February and the necessary checks be completed.
RESOLVED that applicant - 159461 be granted with a combined hackney carriage and private hire drivers licence after the 5 February and following the necessary requirements / checks being completed for the reasons as stated above.