Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Wheeler.

There were none.

The committee praised the Licensing Team for their work on a recent case involving a driver that had been appealed at the Magistrates Court and then the Crown Court.  The case had been found in the Councils favour and the Council were awarded £4180 in costs.

These must be received no later than 12 noon on the fifth working day before the date of the meeting

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the last Full Licensing Committees held on 3^rd September 2025 and 3^rd December 2025

The Alcohol and Gambling Committee held on 9^th December 2025

The Licensing Miscellaneous Committee held on 4^th December 2025.

All minutes were approved unanimously.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

The Chair read the following statement:

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 2, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 1; Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2; Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

Approved unanimously and the meeting entered exempt session.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report as published.

Members asked the officer questions, the responses are as follows:

-       There were two distinct incidents of noncompliance in the same day, therefore two strikes would be issued separately.

-       It is made clear to drivers that they have to declare convictions and they have to sign to say they have read the policy, which is where this information is.

The response to the driver question to the officer was that the two incidents that were on the same day were on the 21^st October 2025, one was being parked on a taxi rank and the other being that the vehicle had no top light.

The driver addressed the committee and stated that he was sorry and the he hadn’t had to attend a committee before.

His responses to Member questions were as follows:

-       He had dropped his passengers on the road and was not displaying his top light as was doing a job for Uber at the time.

-       He was driving on the motorway and took the light off before he started driving on the motorway.

-       He stated that he came on the motorway from Bristol and when he was near Junction 12 he saw a job from Uber and collected the passengers  without stopping to put the top light back on the vehicle..

-       The right side of the road that he was seen on is the rank and on the other side of the road is closed, which is why he used the rank.

-       He explained that he knew that he wasn’t allowed to park in the rank.

-       He stated that when he got the points on his licence on 26^th September 2024 (which were for speeding on the motorway) he asked his son to contact the Council and he didn’t, he was aware that this was a problem and he did declare them 18 months later when he reapplied.

The licensing officer at this point explained to the committee that although the driver did ask for an interpreter it is not something that the Council would provide and order for a driver deemed to be fit and proper there is an English proficiency test so it is assumed the driver would have basic knowledge to be able to understand but there is nothing to stop him bringing someone to the committee to help him with the proceedings.

-       He didn’t bring anyone with him to the committee to act as an interpreter as he was too ashamed, his daughter could not attend due to fasting  and his son could not attend, he has tried to sort it out himself.

The licensing officer explained that a vehicle once it is licensed should always have the top light and plate on and should always be compliant.

-       He explained that he thought that his son had sent an email explaining about the points as he had asked him to, this was not the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report as published.

After Member and driver questions to the officer, and the driver and his solicitor addressing the committee and then answering Member questions, the committee adjourned to debate the matter and made their decision.

After the adjournment the Chair delivered the committees decision as follows:

The committee takes the Equality Act very seriously and financial safeguarding of the general public so to take no action is not suitable. 

The Committee consider revocation would be too excessive based on the information before the committee, and the insufficient evidence suggests suspension is not an option for the committee at this time.

Therefore the unanimous decision of the committee was that

A written warning would be given and this would be  passed on to integrated transport

The Committee delegated to the licensing team a suitable course at the drivers expense to suit the issues in the case around financial safeguarding and for the driver to re do the safeguarding course again at his own expense which would cover the issues raised in relation to the Equality Act.  The committee stated that both of these tests were to be undertaken within 3 months – and all certificates to handed into licensing team.

The driver was reminded of his right of appeal to the local magistrates court within 21 days of the decision.

There were none.

Next meeting of the Full Committee 3^rd June 2026.