Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Brown, Michael Downing, Richard Henry, Jody Hanafin, Graham Lawrence, Andy McGuinness, Loraine Rossati and Graham Snell.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 January 2020.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 January 2020 be approved as correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

The procedure for the meeting was noted by all parties.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.         That under Section 100(A) 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 described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.         That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That, under Section 100(A) 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 described in Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.         That, having considered the reasons for the following items being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To review the Dual (Hackney Carriage/Private Hire) Driver Licence application submitted by Mr V.S.

Having considered the matter carefully and taking into account all the relevant factors, it was RESOLVED that the application by Mr V.S. for a Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licence be refused.

In reaching this decision, and on the evidence provided at the hearing, the Committee considered that:

·           In accordance with Paragraph 5.3.1 of the Licensing Officer’s report in respect of the SBC Convictions Policy regarding Dishonesty, drivers of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles are expected to be persons of trust.  Members of the public entrust themselves to the care of drivers both for their own safety and for fair dealing.  Passengers may include especially vulnerable people.  For these reasons, a serious view is taken of any convictions involving dishonesty, with fraud being one of the specific offences;

·           In accordance with the SBC Convictions Policy, and under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a fraud conviction is never spent;

·           As a result of your Mr V.S.’s conviction, he was prepared to allow the potential for another person to present a danger to passengers by virtue of him undertaking the spoken English test on behalf of a third party;

·           Mr V.S. made no admission of guilt to the proposed allegation of fraud prior to the matter being presented to the Crown Court; and

·           The nature of Mr V.S.’s fraud offence was such as to undermine public confidence in SBC and bring into disrepute the licensing procedures for all taxi drivers.

The Committee, having applied the SBC Convictions Policy, therefore concluded that Mr V.S. is not a fit and proper person to hold a Dual Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licence.

To consider any Part II items accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.