Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of Substitution (if any).

There were no apologies.

To elect a Chairman for the Hearing.

RESOLVED that Cllr R Wright be elected Chairman of the Sub Committee for the meeting.

Cllr Wright then took the Chair.

To consider a report of the Lead Licensing Officer regarding an application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Driver’s Licence

The Sub Committee will need to decide, in light of the information set out within the report and the response of the licence holder, whether or not the individual remains fit and proper to hold licenses with this authority.

During discussion of this item it may be necessary to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 15 15.2(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Committee will need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT – EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RECOMMENDED that under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to an individual.

Members of the Sub-Committee and officers introduced themselves.

Members of the Sub-Committee confirmed that they had no interests to declare and discussed whether to hold the hearing in public or in private. 

RESOLVED that under Section 100A (4) of the local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to an individual.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

The Sub Committee had before it a report * from the Lead Licensing Officer relating to an application for a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Licence asking it to consider if the applicant was ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.

The Lead Licensing Officer explained that the authority was responsible for licensing the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade in Mid Devon. The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, as amended, and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, provided much of the regulatory framework for that licensing regime.

The officer explained that the authority had adopted a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, the most recent version of which came in to effect on 29 February 2016. The policy provided the framework for the administration of the service and set out how the Council would consider both new applications and also matters relating to existing licence holders.

The officer went on to inform Members that according to current policy their priorities in this instance should be the protection of public health and safety and the prevention of crime and disorder. Ultimately, the main priority was public safety.

The officer informed the Committee that the applicant had submitted an application to Mid Devon District Council for a new Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Drivers licence on 31 March 2017. A DBS (Disclosure and Baring Service) certificate was required and this had an issue date of 2 June 2017. It revealed previous convictions that the applicant had not declared on the application form.

The licensing team had contacted the DBS Service to discuss how this information could be used by decision makers and it had been confirmed that it must not be circulated in advance of the hearing taking place. They had stated that it must only be made available at the hearing itself.

The Officer highlighted that the application that the applicant had submitted for a new Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers licence asked the following question and contained the accompanying note:

‘Have you ever been found guilty or convicted of ANY offence, or been made the subject of an order, by a court in the UK or abroad? This means ALL offences, however long ago they happened. If no, insert ‘NONE’.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, holders of hackney carriage / private hire drivers licences are classified as exempted posts and all convictions (whether ‘spent’ or not) must be declared. Failure to declare all convictions may affect the outcome of your application’.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.