Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

To consider passing a Resolution Pursuant to Section 100A (4) Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that if present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information falling within paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

ORDERED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that, if present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs X, X of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration submitted an exempt report in connection with the review of Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref: 01/21, where circumstances had arisen which required special consideration by the Committee.

The Chair introduced those present and outlined the procedure to be followed.  The driver, accompanied by his legal representative, was in attendance at the meeting and verified his name and address and confirmed that he had received a copy of the report and understood its contents. 

The Licensing Manager presented a summary of the report which outlined that the matter was due to be considered on 1 February 2021, however, due to the unavailability of the Police Officer involved in the case, the meeting was rearranged.  The rearranged meeting was scheduled to take place on 1 March 2021, however, due to the unavailability of the driver’s legal representative, the matter was again deferred to today’s date.

It was noted that the driver first licensed with Middlesbrough Council in May 2007.  The driver appeared before Members following a complaint received from his two local Ward Councillors regarding an incident that occurred on 29 September 2020 and the offence, detailed at 1) in the report, which resulted from the incident. 

The complaint was made to the Licensing Office by a Ward Councillor on 29 September 2020 in relation to an incident that had occurred the same day.  A resident had approached the Ward Councillor to advise that the driver had parked his Private Hire Vehicle so as to obstruct the highway.  Other vehicles were unable to pass the driver’s vehicle without mounting the grass verge and as it was refuse collection day, the refuse vehicle would not have been able to pass the driver’s vehicle.  The resident had advised the Councillor that the driver had stated he did not have the keys to the vehicle and had parked it there the previous evening, however, the resident had CCTV footage showing the driver parking his vehicle there that morning.  The Ward Councillor had subsequently visited the driver’s home and asked him to move his vehicle as it was causing an obstruction.  The driver had sworn at the Councillor and refused to move his vehicle.  Street Wardens were called, however, the driver still refused to move the vehicle and this eventually resulted in the Police being called to the scene.

A copy of the Councillor’s statement was attached Appendix 1.  As the Councillor was not able to attend the meeting, a further email, dated 8 March 2021, was attached at Appendix 1(a) in support of the original complaint.

In addition, a second Ward Councillor made a complaint on 29 September 2020 in relation to the same incident.  The Councillor had been travelling in a private vehicle and was unable to pass due to the driver’s vehicle obstructing the highway.  The Councillor had asked the driver to move his vehicle but he had refused.  A copy of the Councillor’s complaint, together with photographic evidence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/25