Agenda item

Mr Aziz Ur Rehman – PHD021

The Licensing Officer, Phil Cooper, introduced the report regarding the review of Mr Aziz Ur Rehman’s Private Hire Driver’s Licence PHD021.  Mr Rehman had been a licensed private hire driver since 2010 and his licence is due for renewal on 11 July 2019.  However, in October 2016 Mr Rehman pleaded guilty to the offence of plying for hire without the correct licence, having accepted a journey during the March race week without that journey being booked through a private hire operator.  The court fined Mr Rehman and ordered him to pay costs.  The Officer informed members that during the 6 years Mr Rehman had been licensed with the council, there had not been any history of complaints or other convictions prior to this recent incident.

The Officer advised the committee to consider whether, in light of the conviction, they felt that Mr Rehman remained a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence.  The options for the committee were to allow the licence to continue or to revoke the licence.  If the committee allowed the licence to continue, they could choose to issue a written warning which would be kept on record.  If revoked, the committee could decide to revoke with immediate effect in the interest of public safety.

A member questioned the Officer as to where the incident had taken place, however the Officer replied that he did not have this information which was in the statements that went to the Magistrates Court.

There were no further questions as other relevant questions had already been covered in the previous agenda item.

The Chair invited Mr Rehman to speak in support of his review.  Mr Rehman told members that he was very sorry about the offence, that he had paid the fine and learnt his lesson and wouldn’t do it again.  He continued that he has had a clean driving licence with no points since 2007 and been a private hire driver since 2010 with no previous offences and had a copy of his driving licence and DBS certificate with him should members have wished to see them.  He said he was a family man, his wife didn’t work and apologised again.

In reply to questions from members, Mr Rehman stated that it was about 8pm on 17 March and that he was in Pittville Street planning to go to KFC to get some dinner.   He confirmed he was not in the taxi rank but behind it, outside Subway.  He also confirmed that he had ‘pre-book only’ signs on the sides of his car.  He said he was asked to go to Gloucester and that the fare would be £30.  When questioned on this price by a member when the normal fare to Gloucester would only be £16-£17, Mr Rehman said they were race week prices.  Mr Rehman admitted he made a mistake and was ashamed.  Mr Rehman confirmed he didn’t attempt to notify his controller of this fare, but did inform the council of the offence afterwards.

There being no further questions, Mr Rehman summed up by reiterating he had learnt from his mistake, he was sorry and assured the committee it wouldn’t happen again and he would follow the regulations properly in future.

The committee voted to debate the matter in private and Mr Rehman was asked to leave the room at 18.56.

Mr Rehman was asked to return to the committee room at 19.05.

The Chair moved to vote on 1.3.1 of the report, being that Mr Rehman’s licence be continued with no further action.

Upon a vote it was unanimous with 7 for, 0 against.

RESOLVED THAT, Mr Aziz Ur Rehman’s private hire driver’s licence be continued with no further action as the Committee was satisfied that he was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

The Committee decided not to issue a written warning, but wished it put on record should Mr Rehman come before committee again, that he had been reminded that plying for hire and driving with someone in his car that had not been pre-booked, invalidated his insurance and was a potential safety issue.