Agenda item

Mr Adel Ahmadi

The Licensing Team Leader, Louis Krog, introduced the report regarding an application from Mr Adel Ahmadi for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence.  Mr Ahmadi had declared a number of convictions on his application form that were outlined in the background papers, however his application fell short of the 10 years statutory time limit that should have elapsed since these offences.  Mr Ahmadi had provided seven character reference letters in support of his application.

The Officer advised members that since the application did not comply with the council’s convictions policy, that they should determine whether there were any grounds to deviate from Policy if they felt Mr Ahmadi was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence; to refuse the licence or they did have the option to grant a licence for one year with a review in 12 months.

There being no questions to the Officer, the Chair invited Mr Ahmadi to speak in support of his application.  Mr Ahmadi apologised for his behaviour and the mistakes he made back in 2007 and 2008 and told the committee that now, nearly 10 years later, he was a better person and very much wanted this licence to be able to better provide for his family and make a future for them.

In response to questions from members, Mr Ahmadi stated that he was 29 at the time of the offences and was Kurdish.  He had come from a communist country to the UK to change his life and stated that he had been granted British nationality this year.   In reply to questions about his drinking and dealing with stressful situations, Mr Ahmadi informed members, that on arriving in the UK, he was alone, couldn’t speak English, had no family and was in a country that was very different to his where you had to defend yourself.   He continued that as he started to learn English and the English way of life, things improved and he became happier with life and therefore didn’t need to drink.  He said he had also learnt about the differences in cultures between this country and his, and not to retaliate but to call the Police if there was a problem.

There being no further questions, the Chair invited the applicant to sum up his case.  Mr Ahmadi stated that he was a different person to 10 years ago, that he loved driving and wanted to provide for his family and not to let them down.  He thanked the committee for giving him this opportunity to be present and to become the best taxi driver in Cheltenham.

In the ensuing debate, and taking note of the character reference letters, members were of the consensus opinion that Mr Ahmadi’s behaviour had changed since arriving in the UK, that he had turned his life around and by taking British citizenship had shown his dedication to the UK.   They accepted the traumas encountered in moving and settling in a different country and felt his previous record should be put in the past.  Mr Ahmadi had presented himself as a family man with the responsibilities that this entailed in providing for them and that over the course of 10 years his manner had changed and matured.

Several members expressed their view that they did not favour the granting of a licence for one year only, stating that if there was a problem, he would be before the committee in any case.

There being no further comments, the Chair moved to vote on 1.3.1 of the report being in favour of granting the application.

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

RESOLVED THAT, Mr Adel Ahmadi’s application for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence be granted for the regular period of 3 years as the Committee was satisfied that Mr Ahmadi was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.