The Licensing Officer introduced the report which sought to consider whether the Respondent, who had accumulated a total of 24 Swale penalty points on their Swale Borough Council (SBC) Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence, was a ‘fit and proper person’ for the purposes of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and in particular whether any further enforcement action should be taken in respect of either licence.

The Licensing Officer detailed the incidents at which the Respondent had accumulated 24 SBC penalty points which were:

·         12 points – making a false statement or withholding information to obtain a hackney carriage private hire driver’s licence.

·         12 points – failure to disclose an offence, conviction, prosecution or cautions within seven days.

The Chair asked the Respondent to present their case, and they were asked questions.

The Respondent gave a prepared statement on the reasons for the penalty points.

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned at 10:50 am to make their decision.

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Lawyer (Contentious) and the Democratic Services Officer returned to the meeting at 11:08 am and the decision, attached as Appendix I to these minutes, was announced.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Respondent’s SBC Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence be renewed without the existing penalty points being applied.