The Licensing Sub-Committee - Miscellaneous met on 5 August 2026 and made a decision to revoke a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence due to serious safety concerns regarding the condition of their vehicle's tyres. The committee also granted permission for a cake shed.

Review of Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence

The Sub-Committee decided to revoke a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence with immediate effect due to significant public safety concerns. The driver was unable to attend the hearing as they had to return to their home country due to a family emergency. The committee heard that the driver had previously received a written warning in March 2026 for accumulating three strikes for various issues and had attended a driver interview to understand their responsibilities. Despite signing a statement confirming regular tyre inspections, the driver's vehicle was found to have exposed tyre cords during a pre-arranged inspection with the Integrated Transport Unit (ITU).

The committee expressed extreme concern that the ITU would not allow the driver to move the vehicle from the inspection due to the dangerous condition of the tyre. Councillors debated whether to adjourn the hearing in the driver's absence, but ultimately decided against it, noting that a suspension would not lead to a different outcome. They had due regard to Sections 51 and 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976¹, the safety of the travelling public, and the Council's policy on private hire drivers. The overriding consideration for the Council is the safety of the public, and the driver's licence was revoked in the interests of public safety. The driver has the right to appeal the decision to a magistrates' court within 21 days.

Cake Shed Permission

The committee unanimously voted to grant permission for a cake shed.