Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED – That Councillor P Whiteley be appointed Chairman.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests and for Members to declare if they have pre-determined any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public and press from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 7, pursuant to part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the Act.

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A) 4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 as appropriate of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider whether the holder of a Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licence remains ‘a fit and proper person’ to hold a licence and to determine the future of their Joint Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Driver Licence.

The Sub-Committee considered a report regarding the holder of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence who had been arrested and interviewed by Cheshire Police in relation to alleged offences.  On 1 April 2010, the Strategic Director (Places) had suspended the holder’s Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence until such time as the charges had been determined by the Courts.  The original charges had now been determined by the Courts, and the original period of suspension had expired.

The Sub-Committee was informed that the matter fell within the Council’s policy for determination by the Sub-Committee. Accordingly the hearing had been convened to enable the Sub-Committee to determine whether the licence holder remained a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

The licence holder and a representative of the licence holder attended the hearing and made representations.

After a full hearing and in accordance with the rules of procedure, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee reported that, after taking account of all the evidence, including the licence holder’s oral representations, the following course of action had been agreed.

RESOLVED

(a) That consideration of the matter be deferred in order for further evidence to be obtained from the police.

(b) That, due to the seriousness of the allegations and in the interests of public safety, the suspension of the holder’s Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence be re-imposed with immediate effect.