Agenda and minutes

None.

To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.  The Code of Conduct for Members requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

None.

To pass the following resolution:

“That under 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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

RESOLVED

That under 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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.

Present: Applicant

The Panel Members, observers and Officers introduced themselves.

The Legal Advisor outlined the purpose of the hearing and explained the procedure for the meeting.

The Public Protection Manager presented the report, which related to an application to drive Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicles in North Norfolk where there were matters on the Applicant’s DBS check which required consideration.

The Chairman invited the Applicant to put his case. 

The Applicant gave details of the offences which were shown on his DBS report and explained the circumstances in which they occurred.  Whilst he was responsible for two offences to which he had pleaded guilty at the time, the majority of the listed offences related to actions taken by his previous employer without his knowledge.  He had also pleaded guilty to them, which he regretted, but had done so due to personal circumstances at the time.

The Chairman explained that the Sub-Committee was not re-trying the case but wanted to know how the offences related to the Applicant driving taxis.  He asked the Applicant if he had learned his lesson.

The Applicant said that he had without a doubt learned his lesson.  He worked with the public in his current job.  He held a current HGV licence but would like a licence to drive taxis as he enjoyed working with the public.

In response to a question by Cllr Mr D Baker, the Applicant clarified the nature of the offences to which he had originally pleaded guilty.

Cllr A Yiasimi thanked the Applicant for his honesty and transparency.

In response to further questions, the Applicant stated he had explained everything to his prospective employer, who was happy for him to drive for the Company.  The employer was also happy to allow him the flexibility to accommodate his family circumstances which was not possible in his current job.

The Public Protection Manager referred to a speeding offence declared by the Applicant for which he had undertaken an awareness course and asked how long ago it had occurred.  She also asked the Applicant to confirm that he had a clean DVLA licence.  It had not been possible for the Authority to carry out the usual check prior to the meeting due to a system error at the DVLA.

The Applicant confirmed that the offence had occurred approximately 4 years previously and he had a clean DVLA licence.

The Chairman invited closing statements.

The Applicant said he had made a silly mistake and would not make the same mistake if he was driving people in a taxi.  He was looking forward to moving on.

The Public Protection Manager drew attention to the options for determination of this case.

The Sub-Committee retired at 10.20 am and returned at 11.03 am.

The Chairman read the determination.

RESOLVED

That the licence be granted.