Agenda item

Mr Rowshan Ghanbary – PHD092

The Senior Licensing Officer, Andy Fox, introduced the report concerning the renewal of Mr Rowshan Ghanbary’s private hire driver’s licence which was due for renewal on 15 March 2016.  He informed Members that Mr Ghanbary had convictions on his DVLA driving licence.

The Officer advised that Mr Ghanbary reported in June his first set of points acquired in January and then in September reported another two sets of points, at which point his licence was copied and placed on file.  Prior to this no complaints had been received about Mr Ghanbary’s driving since the granting of his licence in March 2012.  The Officer did bring Members’ attention to the fact that one of the offences had been recorded by mistake as having taken place in 2004 instead of in 2014.  The mistake was verified by DVLA.

Mr Ghanbary attended the meeting and spoke in support of his review.   He informed Members that he had been in this country for 7 years and had had a driving licence for 5 years and these were the first offences which had all unfortunately occurred in a six month period.  He continued that he very much regretted these 3 mistakes and knew that he had to respect the rules of this country if he wanted to stay.  He said that this had taught him a lesson and made him reflect on his driving as he didn’t want to lose his licence.

In response to questions from Members, Mr Ghanbary answered that:

·         The first offence was committed when he was with his girlfriend on a personal trip and not a business trip as a taxi operator.

·         On the second offence he didn’t see the mobile van and was going into a 50mph zone and therefore was accelerating.

·         On the third offence it was late at night and he was tired after a busy night shift and it was a mistake.  He said he was now a better driver because of these mistakes.

·         He drove 40-50 hours a week as a taxi driver.

·         He was aware that he would lose his driving licence with 12 points and thus would be 100% more careful as this was his last chance and that they had all been genuine errors.

Members were advised that they had the following recommendations to determine:

1.    Mr Ghanbary’s Private Hire driver’s licence becontinued with no further action, because the Committee was satisfied that Mr Ghanbary was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence; or

2.    Mr Ghanbary’s Private Hire driver’s licence be revoked as the Committee considered Mr Ghanbary not to be a fit and proper person to hold a Private Hire driver’s licence. 

Members were also advised that if they allowed Mr Ghanbary’s licence to continue, they had the option of adding a requirement that Mr Ghanbary must successfully pass the approved road safety driving assessment test within a period of 3 months from the date of the Committee’s decision, and that Mr Ghanbary had offered to do this if required.

Upon a vote it was (5 for, 2 against)

RESOLVED, that Mr Ghanbary’s Private Hire driver’s licence be continued, because the Committee was satisfied that Mr Ghanbary was a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and that Mr Ghanbary must successfully pass the approved road safety driving assessment test within 3 months of the date of this meeting.