APPLICATION FOR A HACKNEY/PRIVATE HIRE LICENCE
To consider
an application by Mr B
(separate
copy for sub-committee members only)
Decision:
That the applicant was a fit and proper person to be
issued with a hackney vehicle / private hire driver's licence from Gwynedd
Council.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed everyone
to the meeting. He explained that the decision would be made in accordance with
Cyngor Gwynedd's licensing policy. It
was noted that the purpose of the policy was to set guidelines for the criteria
when considering the applicant's application, with the aim of protecting the
public by ensuring that:
• The person is a fit and proper person
• The person does not pose a threat to the
public
• The public are safeguarded from dishonest
persons
• Children and young people are protected
• Vulnerable persons are protected
• The public have confidence in using licensed
vehicles.
The Licensing Manager presented the written report on
the application received from Mr A for a hackney/private hire driver’s licence.
The Sub-committee
was requested to consider the application in accordance with the relevant
convictions.
The Licensing Authority recommended that the
Sub-committee should approve the application.
The applicant was invited to expand on the application
and provide information about the background of the points on his licence, the
conviction for a serious driving offence and his personal circumstances. He
highlighted that the serious driving conviction had occurred in January 2016
and not in June 2015 as noted in the report.
In response to a question regarding the date of signing
the application (27-02-2005) the applicant noted that this was a mistake and
that he had confused the date with the birthday of a family member.
RESOLVED that the
applicant was a fit and proper person to be issued with a hackney/private hire
vehicle driver's licence from Cyngor Gwynedd.
In reaching its decision, the Sub-committee had
considered the following:
·
The requirements of 'Cyngor
Gwynedd's Licensing Policy for Hackney Carriages and Private Hire
Vehicles'
·
The report of the Licensing
Department
·
DBS Statement
·
The report of the Driver
and Vehicle Licensing Agency
·
The applicant's application
form
·
Verbal observations by the
applicant
Specific consideration was given to the
following matters:
Background
In April 2023, the applicant received six penalty
points on his driving licence for not disclosing information relating to the
driver of the car, etc.
In May 2023, the applicant received three additional
penalty points on his driving licence for Breaching the Speed Limit on a Public
Road.
In January 2016 the applicant was convicted for the
offence of Causing a Dangerous Incident on/over a Road, contrary to the Road
Traffic Act 1988. He was fined £155, ordered to pay costs of £85 and additional
costs of £20.
RELEVANT CLAUSES OF
THE POLICY
Paragraph 2.2 of the Council's Policy was considered, which states that a person with a conviction for a serious offence need not be automatically barred from obtaining a licence, but will be expected to have been free of any conviction for an appropriate period as stated in the Policy, and to show evidence that he/she is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The onus is on the applicant to show that he/she is a fit and proper person. Paragraph 2.4 states that when an applicant has ... view the full minutes text for item 6