Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth

Ref 01/21 - The Director of Economic Growth submitted a report (previously circulated) to give consideration to a review of a Private Hire Driver Licence in light of information received from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and in light of ongoing criminal investigation by Durham Constabulary.

The submitted report outlined that the driver had been suspended by the Licensing Manager on 29 March 2021 in consultation with the Chair of the General Licensing Committee in the interests of public safety.

The driver did not attend the meeting and was therefore unable to respond to Members questions as to why he was a fit and proper person to retain a Private Hire Driver Licence.

The Local Authority Designated attended the meeting and outlined to Members the allegations that had been made against the driver.

In reaching their decision, Members took into consideration the Council’s Licensing Policy, which sets out the Council’s stance on the Relevance of Convictions, Cautions and Endorseable Fixed Penalties in assessing whether an applicant is a fit and proper person; the Council’s Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy and Procedures; and Section 61(1) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

After careful consideration Members decided to revoke the Private Hire Driver Licence because although the driver had not been convicted the allegations made were very serious and Members decided that this gave them reasonable cause to revoke the licence.

RESOLVED – That the Private Hire Driver Licence be revoked with immediate effect in accordance with Section 61(1) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.