Here is a summary of the agenda for the General Purposes and Licensing Committee meeting of New Forest District Council, scheduled for Friday, 5 September 2025. The committee was expected to discuss amendments to the Taxi Licensing Policy, and to review a performance report on the work of the Licensing Authority. They were also scheduled to agree the dates for future meetings in 2026 and 2027.

Taxi Licensing Policy Amendment

The committee was scheduled to consider proposed changes to Appendix B of the Taxi Licensing Policy, which concerns convictions. The proposed amendments follow revisions to the Institute of Licensing's (IoL) Suitability Guidance¹.

The Convictions Policy in Appendix B of the Taxi Licensing Policy is based on the Institute of Licensing's Suitability Guidance. This has recently been updated and amendments are proposed to the Appendix B of the Taxi Licensing Policy to reflect the updates.

The report pack notes that the IoL Suitability Guidance was originally published in 2018 and revised in 2024, after consulting with the taxi and private hire trade, national and local government councillors, lawyers, the Probation Service, the Police and interested charities. It has been endorsed by Lawyers in Local Government (LLG), the National Association of Licensing and Enforcement Officers (NALEO) and the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN).

The key proposed amendments to the Convictions' Policy include:

• Section 5.0: Updating publication dates for the Suitability Guidance and Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards documents.
• Section 5.2: Offences involving exploitation and criminal harassment to include 'stalking without violence'.
• Section 5.3: Offences involving violence against persons, property or the State to include further information on 'fear of violence' and stating that a licence will never be granted where there has been an offence of violence committed against a child or vulnerable adult.
• Section 5.4: A new section stating that a licence will not be granted for a period of 5 years following a public order offence.
• Section 5.6: Offences involving Sex, indecency or obscene materials, which now includes 'sexual harassment'.
• Section 5.9: A new section stating that licences will not be granted until at least 5 years have elapsed from completing a sentence relating to drunkenness not in a motor vehicle and that medical testing or assessments may be required prior to an application being considered.
• Section 5.10: Offences involving Discrimination to include non-compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and including refusal to carry assistance dogs or to provide mobility assistance.
• Section 5.11: A new section to address regulatory crimes which demonstrate a lack of compliance with legal requirements and whether the applicant is a safe and suitable person to hold a licence.
• Section 5.15: Other motoring offences to include time restrictions on granting of a licence where an offence resulted in injury to a person, damage to property or an insurance offence.
• Section 8.0: A new section addressing driver behaviours which fall short of criminal behaviour but would give potential serious cause for concern, particularly for drivers with lone passengers, stating that where there is a pattern of repeated predatory behaviours, the applicant should not be licensed.

The report pack stated that a consultation process with key stakeholders would take place regarding the proposed amendments to Appendix B, following agreement by councillors at the meeting. Responses received would then be reviewed and presented to councillors at a future General Purposes and Licensing Committee meeting, to agree any changes based on responses received. The updated policy would then be presented to the Full Council for adoption.

Licensing Authority Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the Licensing Authority performance report, which sets out the work of the Licensing Authority over the past 12 months, and the workplan for 2025-26. The report included information on:

• The implementation of the taxi policy.
• Amendments to Appendix B – Conviction Policy.
• Licences for drivers, operators and vehicles.
• Driver Knowledge Tests.
• Hardley depot.
• Refusal and revocation of licences.
• Taxi driver appeal hearing.
• Fees and Charges.
• Applications under the Licensing Act.
• Licensing subcommittee hearings.
• Other licences.
• Workplan for 2025 – 2026.

The report noted that the new Taxi Licensing Policy became effective in February 2025, following consultation with members of the public, the business community and private hire trade. Amendments were approved and adopted on improvements to driver, vehicle and operator standards including safeguarding requirements, acceptable standards for vehicles and testing, the convictions policy, and revised licence conditions. Proposed amendments were approved and adopted that:

• all new licensed vehicles must meet Euro 6 emission standards²
• there are no upper age limits or emission standards on vehicles currently licensed
• wheelchair accessible vehicles are exempt from emissions and age criteria, and
• from 1 April 2025, door signage was required to be affixed to each rear passenger door panel of a private hire vehicle.

The report also noted that the team has seen an increase in vehicle licence applications from drivers outside of New Forest district, including Southampton and Bournemouth and as further afield as Reading. Legally, the council is required to licence all drivers and vehicles which meet the required standard, irrespective of where they live and potentially work. Reasons why applicants and drivers that live and work outside of the district may choose to apply and be licensed by New Forest District Council could include:

• New Forest District Council licence Uber, whereas others do not and therefore those wishing to work for Uber may apply to them.
• Efficiency of service often dictates where applicants apply, based on licence processing times. The Licensing Authority provide a good customer service, with quick response times and timely licensing processes.
• Variations in standards, such as for new and existing vehicles. Implications of the New Euro 6 Policy will not be reflected in the figures, as this was only introduced in February 2025.

The report stated that all new applicants must pass a knowledge test prior to gaining a driver licence and new and renewal drivers must complete safeguarding training. The driver knowledge test includes questions on the geographic area, taxi and private hire law, the highway code and English language and numeracy questions.

The report pack also included the Licensing Service Plan 2025-2026. Main priorities include the sub-contracting of the DBS application function to a third party, continue to update the Taxi Policy where appropriate when revised guidance is issued, annual review of fees and charges, whilst reviewing processes and procedures to ensure the best use is made of resources.

Dates of Future Meetings

The committee was scheduled to agree the following dates for meetings in 2026/27, all on Fridays at 10.00am:

• 19 June 2026
• 4 September 2026
• 27 November 2026
• 15 January 2027
• 12 March 2027