Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information

The Chairman moved, it was seconded and

RESOLVED:  That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private.

(Reasons:  LGA 1972 Sch 12A Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual)

(Reasons: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Paragraph 1 – Information relating to an individual)

The Panel was asked to consider whether an application for a Probationary Private Hire Driver’s Licence should be granted following the receipt of information from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Panel was advised that the DBS Certificate dated 14 September 2017 had disclosed that the Applicant had received a Caution dated 26 November 2014 for Destroy or Damage Property (Value of Damage £5,000 or less) – Offence against Criminal Damage Act 1971 only on 25 November 2014. 

The Panel had regard to the report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer and to the following:-

(1)          that Section 1.5.4 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy stated that public safety was paramount when processing a prospective candidate to ensure that the applicant was a ‘Fit and Proper’ person to hold a licence;

(2)          that Section 5.7.3 of the Policy regarding ‘Fit and Proper’ required that the Council consider each case on its merits;

(3)          that Section 12.12.1 required that Cautions and Endorsable Fixed Penalties should be treated as though they were convictions and must be disclosed; and

(4)          that Section 12.1.2 of the Policy stated that an application would normally be refused where the applicant has a conviction of an offence of Criminal Damage and the conviction is less than 4 years prior to the date of the application.

The Panel listened carefully to the Applicant’s explanation of the circumstances surrounding the Caution.  However, the Panel remained concerned that, given the nature of the incident giving rise to the Caution, public safety might be compromised by granting a licence within the 4 year period where the Policy indicated that an application would ordinarily be refused.  For this reason the Panel was not satisfied that the Applicant would be a ‘Fit and Proper’ person to hold a licence and, therefore,

RESOLVED:  That the Application for a Probationary Private Hire Driver’s Licence be REFUSED.