Councillor Doggett was elected as Chairman for the meeting.

In the absence of Councillor Barnby the membership of the Sub-Committee had been amended by including Councillor Stocks.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of a Sub-Committee held on 10 December 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 10 December 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report on the above.

Members considered a report that sought a review of a Torbay Council issued Driver’s Licence. 

At the Hearing, Members were informed that during the past four months Torbay Council had received five complaints regarding Mr Woolacott’s conduct whilst on duty as a licensed driver, the complaints related specifically to Mr Woolacott losing his temper and on several occasions becoming aggressive.

Members had the opportunity to view CCTV footage of one of the incidents and were able to ask questions of both Mr Woolacott and his Legal Representative.

Decision

That Mr Rodney Woolacott’s Torbay Council Driver’s Licence be suspended for a period of three months, in accordance with Section 61(1)(b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1976 and that this suspension shall have immediate effect,  in accordance with Section 61(2B) of the Local Government Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1976.

During the period of suspension, Mr Rodney Woolacott must undertake an anger management course and produce written evidence to that effect to Torbay Council’s Licensing Department.  Failure to do so will result in Mr Rodney Woolacott’s Torbay Council Driver’s Licence being revoked with immediate effect.

Should Mr Woolacott complete the anger management course within a two month period from the date of the suspension and produce written evidence to that effect, then the period of suspension will be reduced by a period of one month.

Reason for Decision

Having carefully considered all the oral and written representations, Members resolved to suspend Mr Woolacott’s driver’s licence having unanimously voted that Mr Rodney Woolacott did not remain a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold a Torbay Council Driver’s Licence. In coming to that decision, Members applied the test set out in Appendix A, section 1.2 at page 26 of Torbay Council’s current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Members took in to consideration that all incidents occurred whilst Mr Rodney Woolacott was on duty as a driver licensed by Torbay Council, the time frame in which the incidents occurred, the nature and number of those incidents and unanimously resolved that Mr Rodney Woolacott’s conduct fell well below the standard reasonably expected by them of a driver licensed by Torbay Council.

In particular and despite evidence produced by Mr Rodney Wollacott to the contrary, Members were alarmed by Mr Rodney Woolacott’s conduct during the incident which they believe did occur, given the detailed account of the event, as evidenced in the written complaint received by Torbay Council on the 23^rd March 2016.  In addition, and on viewing the CCTV footage of the incident which occurred on 24 February 2016, Members resolved that Mr Rodney Woolacott conduct was unnecessarily confrontational, aggressive and unprofessional, Instead, in the opinion of Members, Mr Wollacott should have taken the number plate of the driver who was parked illegally but not on the taxi rank, as submitted by Mr Woolacott and passed these details on to the responsible authorities.  In Members opinion, Mr Woolacott inflamed and protracted an incident which they felt he had no need to involve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.