To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations.

The Chair asked all parties if they had any requests, and it was noted that there were no requests.

The applicant submitted a new application for a Private Hire Vehicle licence in September 2016. The vehicle was first registered in 2011; therefore it did not meet the Private Hire Vehicle Pre-Licensing Standards in relation to section 1.1, which states:

1.1.         When first submitted for licensing, must be less than 4 years of age.

The vehicle was previously licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle by Thurrock Council between May 2015 and March 2016. A renewal application for the vehicle licence was not submitted and therefore the licence expired.

The vehicle passed a compliance check at Thurrock Council’s Fleet Management garage in September 2016.

Members and the applicant were provided the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer.

The applicant was then provided with the opportunity to present his case.

Members and the Licensing Officer were given an opportunity to ask questions to the applicant.

The applicant was asked to present their summary of their case to Members.

The Chair asked if there were any further questions.

All parties summarised their cases and the Sub Committee retired to consider its decision accompanied by the Clerk and Legal Adviser at 19.09.

The Committee reconvened at 19.13.

RESOLVED

The Sub Committee agreed to grant the private hire vehicle application.

Councillor Chris Baker declared an interest as he had communicated with the applicant in the past in his position of a councillor in relation to Council matters. Councillor Baker had also been a passenger in the applicant’s taxi.

The Chair asked all parties if they had any requests, and it was noted that there were no requests.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report to Members of the Sub-Committee informing them that a DVLA check revealed offences which put him outside the Council’s policy relating to the relevance of Convictions, Formal / Simple Cautions, Complaint and/or other matters.

Members and the applicant were provided the opportunity to ask questions of the Licensing Officer.

The applicant was then provided with the opportunity to present his case.

Members and the Licensing Officer were given an opportunity to ask questions to the applicant.

The Licensing Officer provided a short summary to the Sub-Committee that the applicant did not meet the Licensing criteria; it was therefore up to the Sub-Committee to decide if the applicant was a fit and proper person.

The applicant was asked to present their summary of their case to Members.

The Chair asked if there were any further questions.

All parties summarised their cases and the Sub Committee retired to consider its decision accompanied by the Clerk and Legal Adviser at 19.30.

The Committee reconvened at 20.22.

RESOLVED:

That the private hire driver licence was suspended for two months with the request that the applicant complete a DSA Driving Assessment or a private company alternative, and if not applicable Thurrock Councils taxi knowledge test. If the applicant failed to complete the licence would be revoked.