RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL LICENSING BOARD
Agenda Item 4
Renfrewshire Council
To: Regulatory Functions Board
On: 27 April 2006
Report by
Director of Corporate Services
Complaint regarding Private Hire Car Driver
1. Summary
1.1 This report outlines the details of a complaint made in connection with a
private hire car driver. Recommendations are made with regard to further
action.
2. Recommendations
2.1 That the Regulatory Functions Board hold a hearing to consider the grounds
of complaint.
2.2 If the complaint is substantiated to consider the imposition of an appropriate
sanction which may include suspension of the licence.
3. Background
3.1 The complainer wrote to the Council on 2nd March, 2006. She advised that
about 6.30 a.m., on Saturday 25th February, 2006 she was uplifted from her
home address by a private hire driver from Clyde 1 cars, Renfrew to take her
to the Braehead Shopping Centre at Renfrew.
She advises that the driver was nice at first, but as soon as any car pulled in
front of him or wasn’t going fast enough, the driver would start ranting which
made her feel uneasy. She further states that the driver was constantly
swearing calling everyone and anything “b...s”.
As the private hire car approached a roundabout at Braehead which leads to
the bus terminals, a taxi which was approaching from the Ikea furniture
showroom drove round the roundabout without signalling.
The complainer states that when the taxi was heading for the bus terminal,
the driver of the hire car she was travelling in drove out in front of the taxi on
purpose, which made the taxi driver swerve to avoid colliding with the private
hire car that she was in.
The driver of her private hire car shouted “you dirty black b...s”. The
complainer was stunned at the drivers statement but did not say anything. A
few minutes later her private hire car stopped at the rear of the taxi which had
nearly collided with her private hire car and she then saw two Asian women
get out and look over at her private hire car.
Her driver shouted at the two Asian women “what are you looking at you black
b....s”. The complainer then told the driver that he should not be saying
things like that and he replied “if you came from where I come from then you
would understand”.
3.2 The private hire driver concerned has been interviewed by the Taxi
Enforcement Officer. He accepts taking the hire but denies making racist
comments about the two Asian women.
However, he admitted shouting “ya bammy b....d” at the other taxi driver who
nearly collided with him at the roundabout. He further stated that when he
stopped to let his passenger out at Braehead he did not see two Asian
women as he was dealing with the fare for his own passenger.
Implications of this Report
1 Financial Implications -Nil
2 Personnel Implications -Nil
3 Community Plan Implications
Social inclusion -Nil
Modernising government -Nil
Sustainable development -The continued monitoring and enforcement of
licensing conditions, improve the quality of life for the local community.
4 Legal Implications -In considering whether to suspend the licence the
Regulatory Functions Board may, in terms of paragraph 11(4)(a)(i) of
Schedule 1 to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 have regard to
“any misconduct on the part of the holder of a licence whether or not
constituting a breach of any provision of part I or II of this Act or this
schedule, which in the opinion of the authority has a bearing on his fitness
to hold a licence”.
5 Property Implications -Nil
6 Information Technology Implications -Nil
7 Equal Opportunities Implications -Nil