Agenda and minutes

It was noted that no apologies for absence were received.

There were no substitute Members appointed.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 July 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

It was moved by Councillor O C de R Richardson, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:       That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Licensing Team Leader.

The Committee considered the report of the Licensing Team Leader on an application for a Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence. The application was referred to the committee to establish whether the applicant was considered a fit and proper person to hold a licence in the Dover district following a routine inspection, carried out by Kent County Council, that had identified the driver was not in possession of a badge. It was subsequently established by the licensing authority, Dover District Council, that the driver did not have a valid taxi driver’s licence and that it had expired at the time at the time of the inspection. Members were advised that since the publication of the report, the applicant’s enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service had been received and there were no convictions to report.

In accordance with the approved procedure Members offered the applicant and their supporting person the opportunity to explain the circumstances that led to the applicant driving without a valid Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence. The applicant described their personal circumstances at the time of the inspection and the months prior to and apologised for their oversight. Members were assured that prior to this no complaints had been made to the authority in all the time the applicant had held a licence within the district. The supporting person spoke to the applicant’s good character and supported their application.

The Committee withdrew from the remote meeting with the Contentious and Regulatory Lawyer to consider its decision and upon resuming the meeting it was

RESOLVED:        That the applicant be granted a Joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence for one year and the applicant was reminded that the requirement to wear a valid badge as described within the Dover District Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy at point 1.3 of appendix F be adhered to at all times.

.