Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hamblett and Councillor Hindle.

There were no public questions received.

The Minutes of the Licensing Driver Panel held on 30^th September 2025 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th September 2025 be approved as a correct record.

The order of proceedings was noted.

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraph(s) 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they contain exempt information under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

The Panel considered a report that informed them of an application for a new Dual Driver’s licence, which, due to convictions recorded against the Applicant called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the panel, having taken into account the reason the Applicant had appeared before the Panel, namely convictions, the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability:

1.    The Applicant be requested to provide a reference from his employer detailing his employment history with them and any character references he may wish to provide for consideration by the Chair of the Panel and the Head of Licensing.

2.    If the Chair of the Panel and the Head of Licensing are satisfied that the employment reference and any character references provided demonstrate that the Applicant is a fit and proper person, he be issued with a Dual Driver’s Licence for one year, with the licence to be renewed for a further 2 years if the Council receives no complaints about the Applicant in the meantime

3.    A copy of the employment reference and any character references be provided to the other members of the panel for information.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.

The panel considered an application to review a dual driver’s licence, due to a conviction of the Driver which calls into question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application was referred to the panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, namely the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the driver’s comments and the Council’s statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was no longer considered to be a fit and proper person and accordingly the license was revoked with immediate effect in accordance with the guidelines in the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability on the grounds of public safety as the conviction is for the possession of drugs whilst driving.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.

The Panel considered an application to renew a dual driver’s licence, where convictions recorded against the applicant calls in to question whether they remain a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence. As such the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely a conviction for speeding, the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the driver’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was a fit and proper person and accordingly a licence was to be granted for a period of 1year with the licence to be renewed for a further period of 2 years if there are no further complaints or convictions against the driver in the meantime.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.

The panel considered an application to review a dual driver licence where details provided by the Police calls into question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely the Driver’s conduct in providing fraudulent insurance documents to drive the vehicle, the report written by the officer, their recommendations and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was no longer a fit and proper person and accordingly the licence was to be revoked with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety.

NOTE: The Applicant did not attend to address the Panel.

The Panel considered an application to review a dual driver’s licence, where a conviction of the Driver calls into question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely their conduct in engaging in conversation of an inappropriate and sexual nature with a passenger travelling alone in their vehicle, the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the Driver’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was no longer a fit and proper person and accordingly the licence be revoked with immediate effect in the interest of public safety on the grounds that the Driver’s conduct was not appropriate for a private hire vehicle driver and put passengers at risk.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.

The Panel considered a report that informed them of an application for a new Dual Driver’s licence, which, due to convictions recorded against the Applicant called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the panel, having taken into account the reason the Applicant had appeared before the Panel, namely a conviction for driving without insurance, the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant was a fit and proper person and accordingly, a licence be granted for a period of 1 year with the licence to be renewed for a further two years if the Driver received no further convictions or complaints against them, on the grounds that the conviction was 4 years ago and the Applicant had insurance cover for the car but it was invalid as the Applicant was driving alone and had not yet passed their driving test.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel

The Panel considered an application to grant a dual driver’s licence, which due to convictions and other information recorded against the Applicant called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such the application was referred to the Panel for determination.

RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the panel, having taken into account the reason the Applicant had appeared before the Panel, namely the Driver’s convictions and his conduct which resulted in his driver’s licences being revoked by Wolverhampton Council and Preston Council, the report written by the Officer, their recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant was not a fit and proper person and accordingly, the application was refused on the grounds that, while licensed by Wolverhampton Council, the Applicant allowed an unlicenced driver to drive his hackney carriage and while licensed by Preston Council, the Applicant had had an inappropriate conversation with a female passenger.

NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.

RESOLVED that the appeals update be noted.