The officers consider that the following item or items contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

A recommendation was made that the public be excluded during consideration of the following item of business.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following item which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel held a review of a Private Hire driver licence and a Hackney Carriage Licence in respect of GA.

GA attended the hearing and was unrepresented.

A officer from the Council’s Taxi Licensing team attended to present the circumstances of the review.

The Committee considered the content of the report and the submission given by the licence holder. The Committee was mindful that there was an ongoing police investigation  into a serious allegation against GA on 11 August 2019, relating to a sexual offence on a passenger.

The Committee considered the information presented and determined that until the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings had been completed it was not satisfied that the driver was a fit and proper person. 

Given the serious nature of the complaint the licences were suspended with immediate effect in the interest of public safety.

Decision

To suspend both private hire and hackney carriage drivers licences with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the police investigation and any court proceedings which may follow from that investigation.