Private hire driver has licence renewed despite a previous conviction of illegally plying for hire

A Sandwell private hire driver has been given the go ahead to continue driving despite a previous conviction of illegally plying for hire. 

Minutes made public from a council licensing committee meeting revealed the man, only referred to as Mr Z A, had previously appeared before the Licensing Sub Committee on 4 August 2017 and 19 September 2016.

He had been called for a number of driving convictions including totting up, obstructing a constable and failing to declare a plying for hire conviction.

Mr Z A was suspended for 56 days for those offences, and during his licence renewal hearing, it was considered that he had served his punishment and the decision was made to grant him a new licence. 

The Sub Committee said they were satisfied that Mr Z A had a good driving record over the 22 years that he had held a licence and he had received a period of suspension from a previous Committee.

In making the decision the Committee had regard to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Council Policy and Guidelines, relevant case law and the Human Rights Act 1998. 

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