The Licensing Sub Committee of Cambridge City Council met to discuss taxi licensing matters. The majority of the meeting was scheduled to be held in private. Councillor Immy Blackburn-Horgan, Councillor Rosy Moore (Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment) and Councillor Karen Young were scheduled to be in attendance.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The committee was expected to exclude the press and public from the meeting, as is permitted by the Local Government Act 1972.

Dual Driver's Licence Application

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a dual driver's licence with Cambridge City Council for Driver A. The report pack includes a section on the procedure for taxi application hearings, which states:

Where the Officer considers that the Taxi Regulatory Sub-Committee should decide whether an applicant for a licence is a fit and proper person to hold the licence for which she/he has applied, the Officer will refer the matter to the Sub-Committee.

The report pack also details the powers of the council to refuse to renew a driver's licence, including:

• Conviction of an offence involving dishonesty, indecency or violence.
• Failure to comply with the provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
• Conviction of an immigration offence or required to pay an immigration penalty.
• Any other reasonable cause.

The report pack also states that the sub-committee may consider the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Enforcement System when making a decision. This system lists a number of items that may be considered, including:

• Conviction of an offence of a sexual nature.
• Conviction of an offence involving possession or supply of drugs.
• Conviction of an offence involving dishonesty or violence.
• Conviction within the last 5 years of more than one offence of drunkenness or related offences.
• Holding a DVLA driver’s licence for less than 2 years after its return as a result of suspension for any reason.
• Conviction of any offence relating to alcohol and motor vehicles.
• Conviction within the past 3 years of any offence which has resulted in 6 or more points being attached to their DVLA driver’s licence.
• Having more than 9 points attached to their DVLA driver’s licence.
• One or more convictions relating to the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Part IV of the Transport Act 1980, Part I of the Health Act 2006, or Chapter 1 of Part 12 of the Equality Act 2010.
• Living or working in the UK without the required authorisation, or committing any offences arising from Asylum & Immigration matters.
• Failing the initial or refresher safeguarding training test paper on three occasions or failing to complete the training as required by the Council.
• Presenting a medical assessment (or makes a declaration) for consideration but does not declare them unfit to drive.
• Intelligence, supplementary information or any other reasonable cause where officers have concerns about the grant or the continuation of a licence.