Issue - meetings

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) introduced the report to the Sub-Committee. She explained that they were being asked whether the licensee remains fit and proper to hold a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers licence issued by this authority.

The Chair asked if the medication prescribed, GTN (Glyceryl trinitrate), could cause dizziness.

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) replied that this was a potential side effect, but that the licensee had not reported any such reaction.

The Chair asked for confirmation that the licensee had been driving his vehicle, as a taxi, illegally for the past six years.

The Public Protection Officer (Licensing) replied that had Licensing been aware of the medical conditions at the time of diagnosis, the licensee’s initial application would have been refused pending further medical information.

The licensee addressed the Sub-Committee and apologised for not declaring their medical diagnosis. They said that as part of this recent process they had been declared medically fit to drive and that they had always considered themselves to be fit at all times.

They said that they had been scared at the time and feared losing their job, but would never put the safety of the public at risk.

Councillor Tomlin asked if following the diagnosis in 2018 if they had been advised not to drive at all by their doctor.

The licensee replied that they were advised only to rest for four days as it had not been a major attack.

Councillor Tomlin asked the licensee for further explanation of why they had not declared their diagnosis to the Licensing department.

The licensee replied that it had been at the time that they were transferring from South Gloucestershire to B&NES and that they had submitted the D4 medical form with their diagnosis on it to South Gloucestershire Council incorrectly instead of B&NES.

The Chair asked the licensee if they had had a stent fitted following their attack.

The licensee replied that they have two stents that have been fitted.

The Chair asked the Licensing officers present if they felt that if the D4 medical form had been sent to South Gloucestershire in error would they have not contacted B&NES to inform them.

The Lead Officer (Licensing) replied that the form that the licensee had completed was a B&NES one.

The licensee acknowledged that it was their responsibility to have checked that the correct forms should have gone to the right place. They reiterated that they have been declared medically fit to drive.

The Chair asked the licensee why they had made a total of three false declarations to the Licensing team when applying for a licence.

The licensee replied that when re-applying and stating that there had been no change to their previous medical form this was because they thought that they had already made a declaration, but that this must have been to the wrong Council (South Gloucestershire).

Councillor Tomlin asked the licensee what the response had been from South Gloucestershire when they learnt of their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123