The Public Safety & Protection Sub-Committee of Bristol Council met on 16 September 2025 to discuss several licensing issues. The agenda included determining actions related to private hire driver licences and an application for a private hire vehicle licence exemption. Due to the nature of the topics, it was recommended that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during these discussions.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The agenda included a recommendation to exclude the press and public from the meeting during specific items. This recommendation was made under Section 11A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, which allows for the exclusion of the public when discussions involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Private Hire Licensing Matters

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to address several private hire licensing matters:

• KW: To determine whether action should be taken against the holder of a Private Hire Driver Licence.
• RK: An application for the grant of a Private Hire Vehicle Licence seeking exemption from Bristol City Council policy.
• OS: To determine whether action should be taken against the holder of a Private Hire Driver and Private Hire Vehicle Licence.
• AA: To determine whether any action be taken on a Private Hire Driver Licence.

Public Forum

The agenda allocated up to 30 minutes for a public forum, allowing members of the public or councillors to participate. Those wishing to speak were advised to submit questions and statements via the council's website, and petitions via email, adhering to specified deadlines. The Public reports pack stated that submissions should be respectful, factual, and relevant. It also noted that:

By participating in public forum business, we will assume that you have consented to your name and the details of your submission being recorded and circulated to the Committee and published within the minutes. Your statement or question will also be made available to the public via publication on the Council's website and may be provided upon request in response to Freedom of Information Act requests in the future.

Suspension of Committee Procedure Rules

The agenda included a recommendation to suspend Committee Procedure Rules CMR10 and CMR11, which relate to the moving of motions and rules of debate. The reason given was the quasi-judicial nature of the business on the Agenda .