Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hindle.

There were no public questions received for the Panel to consider.

The Minutes of the Licensing Driver Panel held on 13^th January 2026 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th January 2026 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That 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 an application to grant a dual driver’s licence, which due to information received calls 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 information received from Greater Manchester Police about the Applicant’s conduct, the report written by the Officer, her recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant is a fit and proper person and accordingly be granted a licence for a period of 12 months with the licence to be extended for a further two years if the Council receives no complaints about the Applicant’s behaviour in the meantime on the grounds that the decision is in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability.

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 recorded against the Applicant 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 Applicant had appeared before the Panel, namely convictions for motoring offences and information about the Applicant’s conduct when previously licensed by Rochdale Council, the report written by the Officer, her recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant is considered to be a fit and proper person on the grounds that the Applicant has had no convictions or complaints about their behaviour since 2019 and the Applicant holds a Public Service Vehicle licence and currently carries out school contract work for Oldham Council without complaints about his behaviour and is accordingly granted a licence for a period of three years to be reviewed annually and if the Council receives any complaints about the Applicant’s behaviour in the meantime or if the Applicant commits any speeding offences or is charged with any criminal offence, the Applicant will be brought back before the Panel.

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 a conviction recorded against the Applicant which into question their fitness and propriety 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 previous convictions, the report written by the Officer, her recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant is considered to be a fit and proper person on the grounds that the Applicant’s conviction was 20 years ago when the Applicant was a teenager and the Applicant has changed his behaviour since then and accordingly the Applicant be granted a licence for a period of 12 months to be renewed for a further period of two years if the Council receives no complaints about the Applicant’s conduct in the meantime.

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 a conviction calls into question the Applicant’s 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 convictions and information received about the Applicant’s behaviour from Greater Manchester Police, the report written by the Officer, her recommendations, the Applicant’s comments and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Applicant is not a fit and proper person and accordingly the application was refused on the grounds that although the Applicant’s convictions are considered to be spent under the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, there have been three complaints to the Police about the Applicant’s conduct since 2015 regarding assault or false imprisonment and the Panel is not satisfied that the Applicant is a fit and proper to be licensed by the Council.

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

The Panel considered an application to review a dual driver’s licence, which due to the Driver’s conduct calls into question their fitness and suitability 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 towards a passenger during a trip which resulted in an assault which is being investigated by the Police, the report written by the Officer, her recommendations and the Council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, the Driver is not a fit and proper person and accordingly the licence be revoked with immediate effect on the grounds that the Driver’s conduct towards his passenger was totally inappropriate and resulted in the Driver trying to get the passenger out of his vehicle and an alleged assault on the passenger. Consequently, the Panel consider that the Driver is a risk to his passengers and the licence is revoked with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety.

NOTE: The Driver did not attend the meeting to address the Panel.