The Regulatory and Appeals Sub-Committee of Newcastle City Council met on 1 September 2025 to discuss several applications for private hire licences, as well as a review of an existing licence. The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Armstrong/Stephenson Room at the Civic Centre. Councillors Jacqui Robinson, Rob Higgins (Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor), and Rob Austin were the scheduled members of the committee.

Private Hire Driver Applications and Review

The sub-committee was scheduled to review a private hire driver's licence and consider six applications for new private hire driver's licences. These were listed on the supplemental agenda as exempt reports of the Director of City Operations, Neighbourhoods, and Regulatory Services. The applications were:

• Review of Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 105638
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 107689
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 109515
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 105607
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 105586
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 107227

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Guidelines

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider guidelines relating to hackney carriage¹ and private hire driver applications and licences. These guidelines were formulated using guidance from the Department for Transport and the Institute of Licensing. The aim of the guidance is to maintain consistency in decision making, with the protection of the public as the overriding objective.

The guidelines state that the sub-committee will take into account both unspent and spent convictions under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974². Cautions, fixed penalties, and community resolutions are to be treated as convictions.

The guidelines also provide information on how the sub-committee should treat different types of offences:

• Offences of Dishonesty A licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Offences of Violence A licence will not normally be granted until at least 10 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed. A licence will normally be refused for an offence of murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide.
• Offences of Discrimination A licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Possession of a Weapon A licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the conviction or completion of any custodial sentence imposed.
• Supply of Drugs/ Cultivation of Drugs A licence will not normally be grated until at least 10 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Possession of Drugs A licence will not normally be granted until at least 5 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Sexual and Indecency Offences Where an applicant has a conviction for any offence involving or connecting with illegal sexual activity or any form of indecency, a licence will not normally be granted.
• Licensing Offences Where an applicant has been convicted of an offence such as driving a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle without the appropriate licence or using an unlicensed vehicle during the previous 2 years preceding the application or review, they will usually be refused a licence.

The guidelines also cover driving offences, including major driving offences and DVLA disqualifications. Existing licensed drivers who accrue more than 6 penalty points and up to 9 penalty points for minor driving offences within a three-year period may be requested by the Licensing Manager to undertake a driver improvement course.