Agenda and draft minutes

Licensing Driver Panel - Tuesday, 22nd September, 2026 10.00 am

Venue: J R Clynes Ground Floor Room 1 - The JR Clynes Building. View directions

Contact: Constitutional Services Email: Constitutional.Services@oldham.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies For Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Taleb, Tarbuck and Wilkinson.
2.	Election of Chair The Panel is asked to elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting. Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor Paul Taylor be elected Chair for the duration of the meeting.
3.	Urgent Business Urgent business, if any, introduced by the Chair Minutes: There were no items of urgent business received.
4.	Declarations of Interest To Receive Declarations of Interest in any Contract or matter to be discussed at the meeting. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest received.
5.	Order of Proceedings PDF 105 KB Minutes: RESOLVED that the Order of Proceedings be noted.
6.	Exclusion of the Press and Public 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. Minutes: 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.
7.	DP-2026-41 View the background to item 7. The purpose of this report is to ask Members to review a dual driver licence where information recorded against the licence holder calls in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the licence holder has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to review a Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded against the licence holder called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that the Panel DEFFERED consideration of this matter until the outcome of the court hearing involving the licence holder. NOTE: The Driver attended the meeting accompanied by his wife as Interpreter and addressed the Panel.
8.	DP-2026-52 View the background to item 8. The purpose of this report is to ask Members to review a dual driver licence where information recorded against the licence holder calls in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the licence holder has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to review a Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded against the licence holder called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely convictions, the report written by the Officer, the Driver’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was not a fit and proper person and accordingly the licence be SUSPENDED with immediate effect for a period of either two months or the completion of a Driver refresher course whichever is the latest, on the grounds that the conviction related to a road traffic accident where the Driver put the public at risk and therefore the suspension will take place immediately in the interest of public safety. NOTE: The Driver attended the meeting accompanied by a union representative from the Oldham Private Hire Taxi Association and addressed the Panel.
9.	DP-2026-58 View the background to item 9. The purpose of this report is to inform Members of an application to renew a dual hackney carriage / private hire driver’s licence, where convictions recorded against the applicant; calls into question whether they remain a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to renew a Dual Hackney carriage / Private Hire Driver’s Licence, where convictions recorded against the Driver; called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely convictions, the report written by the Officer, the Driver’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Panel decided to GRANT a licence for a period of one year with the licence to be renewed for a further period of two years if the Council receives no complaints about the Driver’s behaviour in the meantime and also the Driver be issued with a written warning about their driving. NOTE: The Driver attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.
10.	DP-2026-59 View the background to item 10. The purpose of this report is to ask Members to review a dual driver licence where information recorded against the licence holder calls in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the licence holder has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to review a Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded against the licence holder called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that the Panel DEFFERED consideration of this matter until the outcome of the police investigation into their behaviour but if the Council receives any complaints about the Driver’s conduct in the meantime, the Driver will be brought back before the Panel. NOTE: The Driver attended the meeting accompanied by an Interpreter for translation purposes and addressed the Panel and submitted a written statement and character references from the Driver’s neighbour and employer.
11.	DP-2026-60 View the background to item 11. The purpose of this report is to ask Members to review a dual driver licence where information recorded against the licence holder calls in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the licence holder has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to review a Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded against the licence holder called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Driver had appeared before the Panel, namely convictions, the report written by the Officer, the Driver’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver was not a fit and proper person and accordingly the licence be SUSPENDED with immediate effect for a period of one month on the grounds that the Driver’s conviction related to a driving offence which put the public at risk and therefore the Driver’s licence will be suspended for a month in the interests of public safety. NOTE: The Driver attended the meeting accompanied by an Interpreter and addressed the Panel.
12.	DP-2026-61 View the background to item 12. The purpose of this report is to inform Members of an application for a new Dual Driver’s licence, which, due to a conviction calls in to question the applicants fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the application has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application for a new Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded about the Applicant’s conduct called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to be granted such a licence. RESOLVED that, based on the information provided to the Panel, having taken into account the reason the Applicant had appeared before the Panel, namely information received about the Applicant’s conduct, the report written by the Officer 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 for licence be REFUSED in accordance with the guidance in the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability. NOTE: The Applicant attended the meeting and addressed the Panel.
13.	DP-2026-56 View the background to item 13. The purpose of this report is to ask Members to review a dual driver licence where information recorded against the licence holder calls in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. As such, the licence holder has been referred to this Panel for determination. Minutes: The Panel considered an application to review a Dual Driver’s Licence, where information recorded against the licence holder called in to question their fitness and propriety to be a suitable person to hold such a licence. RESOLVED that the consideration of the application be DEFERRED until the outcome of the police investigation. NOTE: The Applicant did not attend the meeting.