Powys Taxi Driver Loses Licence, Another Suspended for Five Years by Council Committee

A POWYS taxi driver has lost their licence to operate, and another driver has been given a five year suspension following a hearing by councillors.
At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way committee on Thursday, November 23. the minutes of a Taxi Licensing sub-committee held last month were approved by councillors.
The document shows that the sub-committee which is made up of three councillors including Cllr Karl Lewis who chairs both the Planning meeting and the Taxi Licensing sub-committee – met on October 12 for the hearings which took place in confidential session.
The minutes show that the first licence holder, known as JD/02/23 did not attend the licence review hearing which was held at the council’s County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.
The council’s licensing officer presented the case, with a Mr Bowen presenting Dyfed Powys Police force’s case on the suitability of JD/03/23’s to hold the licence.
After hearing the evidence, the committee which included Cllr Heulwen Hulme and Cllr Peter James withdrew to consider their verdict.
Upon their return, committee chairman, Cllr Karl Lewis said that the panel had decided to: “revoke the joint hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence held by JD/02/23.”
According to the minutes Cllr Lewis explained that the decision had been taken because: “The licence holder is no longer a fit and proper person to hold a licence, in line with the council’s adopted suitability criteria.”
The panel then moved on to the second case which was an application for a taxi licence.
They were told that the applicant known as JD/05/23 had declared three driving offences on the application form.
Dyfed Powys Police licensing officer, Mr Bowen presented a case on the applicant’s suitability “to continue” to hold a joint hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.
He explained that JD/05/23 had committed three speeding offences between February and September 2022 and had racked up nine penalty points on his driving licence.
JD/05/23 told the committee that “no one was in the car” when the speeding offences occurred.
The minutes show that he also explained what had happened and his personal circumstances at the time.
The triumvirate then withdrew to consider their judgement.
On their return Cllr Lewis announced that JD/05/23 would have his licence: “suspended for five years.”
The reason given by Cllr Lewis is that the licence holder is: “no longer
a fit and proper person to hold a licence, in line with the council’s adopted suitability criteria.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​