Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gordon Blair, Rory Colville, Robin Currie, Mary Jean Devon, George Freeman and Fred Hall.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.  Thereafter he outlined the procedure that would be followed.  It was noted that the applicant was not present and the Chair invited Inspector Watson to speak to the objection to the application by Strathclyde Police.

Inspector Watson advised that Strathclyde Police were objecting to the application on the grounds that Mr McGuinness was not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver’s licence.  Inspector Watson advised that after investigation it had become apparent that the applicant actually held two driving licences and the points that had been disclosed on the application were those that were held on one of the licences.  He told the Committee that the applicants second licence held 5 offences and that in his opinion this had been a deliberate attempt by the applicant to deceive the Council.  Inspector Watson advised that further investigation was being carried out and that the applicant would be prosecuted for further road traffic offences for holding the two driving licences.  He concluded by highlighting that Strathclyde Police assert that Mr McGuinness was not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver’s licence.

Members did not ask any questions.

Inspector Watson was asked to confirm that he had received a fair hearing to which he confirmed that he had.

Councillor Kinniburgh congratulated the Police on finding out about the two driving licences and advised that this was a clear cut case, that Mr McGuinness was not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver’s licence.

Decision

The Committee unanimously agreed to refuse the application for a taxi driver’s licence on the basis that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence given the information received from Strathclyde Police.

(Reference:  Report by Head of Governance and Law dated February 2013, submitted)