The Licensing Sub-committee met to review a driver's licence in accordance with the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The sub-committee decided that the driver was fit to continue to hold a licence, but that they would receive a formal warning regarding their future conduct. The existing 18 penalty points on the driver's licence will remain.

Review of Driver's Licence

The sub-committee reviewed a driver's licence in accordance with the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The following people were in attendance:

• The Licensing Manager
• A Licensing Enforcement Officer (SM)
• The Driver
• Fiona Samuda, Legal Advisor to the Sub-committee
• A Democratic Services Officer (LS)
• The Driver's Spouse
• The Democratic Services Team Leader

The Licensing Manager presented an exempt report, and all parties had the opportunity to ask questions. The driver then presented their case, and again, all parties were given the opportunity to ask questions.

The sub-committee then went into private session to consider the matter, accompanied by Fiona Samuda, Legal Advisor to the Sub-committee, and the Democratic Services Officer.

Upon returning to the meeting, the sub-committee's decision, read out by Fiona Samuda, was:

1. That the Driver be deemed as fit and proper to continue to hold a Driver's Licence;
2. That the existing 18 Council Penalty Points be retained on the Driver's Licence for the remainder of their term;
3. That the Driver be issued with a formal warning as to future conduct and be asked to note that further breach would result in him coming back before the Subcommittee;
4. That the Driver be advised that he should ensure that he was aware of all the requirements on him as a holder of a Driver's Licence, including in respect of notifying the Council.

The sub-committee reasoned that they had:

considered carefully the evidence submitted and what action would be appropriate, concluding that the action set out above was appropriate.

Exempt Information

The sub-committee agreed to exclude members of the public from the meeting whilst they considered the review of the driver's licence. This was because it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972¹, and it was considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.