Limo firm loses licence after Uttlesford District Council prosecutes over prom tripA PRIVATE vehicle hire company has lost its operator’s licence following a prosecution by Uttlesford District Council.
The authority took action against Essex Limos Ltd at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court and Andrew Cooper, a director of the company, pleaded guilty to using an unlicensed driver to take Saffron Walden County High students to their school prom.
He was fined £500 plus a £50 victim surcharge and was ordered to pay full costs of £339.30.
In addition, Stephen Chambers, a driver used by Essex Limos, was prosecuted by police for driving a private hire vehicle without a licence. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £20 victim surcharge and £90 costs.
Essex Limos was licensed as a private hire operator by Uttlesford District Council to operate from Felsted. The company is also licensed by Braintree District Council and has a base at Rayne.
On June 28, a private hire vehicle driven by Chambers was stopped by a police officer near Parklands, the wedding and conference venue in Quendon. Chambers was not wearing a private hire driver’s badge and, when interviewed by police, admitted that he did not hold a private hire driver’s licence.
He had just dropped off a party of eight pupils from Saffron Walden County High School for their prom.
As part of the investigation, enforcement officers attended the premises in Felsted but found it unattended with no licensed vehicles at the site.
The officers then went to the Rayne site, where they found a portable building being used as an office. A number of private hire vehicles were parked there, including the one stopped on June 28.
A director of the company was present, as were computers containing hire records. He stated, however, that the business was trying to find suitable premises in Uttlesford to move to.
Enforcement officers interviewed another director of the company, Andrew Cooper, under caution. He said that another licensed driver was meant to do the job on June 28, but he had pulled out late on.
Mr Cooper did not want to let the children down and gave the job to Mr Chambers, even though he knew that he was not licensed and admitted the offence of using an unlicensed driver.
There was also a strong probability that as Mr Chambers did not hold a private hire driver’s licence, he would not have been covered by insurance to drive the students.
On September 26, the council’s licensing committee decided to revoke the firm’s licence as members were not satisfied that the operator was a fit and proper person to hold a licence and not actually operating within the district, even though it claimed otherwise.
The company appealed to the magistrates’ court but withdrew the appeal prior to the hearing. Uttlesford District Council is now seeking to recover the costs of the appeal.
Cllr Doug Perry, pictured, chairman of Uttlesford’s licensing and environmental health committee, said: “Uttlesford District Council has a duty to ensure private vehicle hire companies are employing fit and proper people and have the necessary paperwork and insurance, in order to keep members of the public safe.
“In this case Essex Limos Ltd took a conscious decision to use a driver who was not licensed. The level of fine and costs imposed for a first offence demonstrates the seriousness with which magistrates regarded the offence.”
source:
http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/ ... 155212.htm
Login
Register
FAQ
