The Licensing Committee of Crawley Borough Council is scheduled to meet on 23 September 2025 to discuss revisions to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, and the Animal Licensing Policy. The committee will also review minutes from previous meetings of the Licensing Committee and Licensing Sub-Committee. Additionally, there will be an information item regarding upcoming constitutional changes.

Proposed Revisions to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

The committee is scheduled to discuss proposed revisions to the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, as detailed in report HCS/097 from the Head of Community Services. These revisions are intended to update licensing conditions, ensure regulatory compliance, and prioritise public safety, in line with best practice guidance and the Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards.

The report pack indicates that the committee will consider the feedback from a consultation that was carried out between 10 July and 11 August 2025, and determine whether or not to implement the policies as set out in the report.

The topics for discussion include:

• Vehicle Livery: The report pack says that the committee will consider changes to private hire vehicle livery, specifically:
  • Removing top boxes (roof boxes)
  • Removing all door signage
  • Replacing teal licence plates on vehicles operating at Gatwick Airport with yellow licence plates. The report pack indicates that if any of the above private hire vehicle livery are to be retained, the committee will agree what will be retained in addition to rear and internal licence plates. The report pack also says that the committee will approve the rebranding and a change to permanent hackney carriage vehicle livery, determining which livery will be permanently affixed to the vehicle in accordance with council policy and Crawley Borough Council branding. The report pack says that subject to relevant aspects of recommendations being agreed, the committee will approve the implementation period for vehicle livery matters to come into effect from 1 April 2026.
• Mandatory CCTV: The report pack says that the committee will consider whether to require mandatory close circuit television (CCTV) in all hackney carriage and private hire licensed vehicles from 1 October 2027, operational at all times when the vehicle engine is on. The report pack says that if mandated, this would include:
  • Audio and visual recording capability
  • Inclusion of panic buttons for both licensed drivers and passengers
• Electronic Payments: The report pack says that the committee will consider whether to confirm that all licensed vehicles and/or private hire operators offer the facility for passengers to make payment by electronic means in addition to cash payments.
• Tyre Tread Depth: The report pack says that the committee will consider whether to confirm that the vehicle standards be updated so that the minimum tyre tread depth on vehicles reflects the MOT[^1] standards in relation to vehicle safety and roadworthiness and is not less than 1.6mm at any time. [^1]: MOT stands for Motor Ordinance Testing, and is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness and emissions required in the United Kingdom.
• Delegation of Policy Revisions: The report pack says that the committee will consider delegating to the Head of Community Services in agreement with the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Licensing Chair and Vice Chair of the Licensing Committee, revisions to the Policy to reflect any changes agreed, with the changes reflected in the Policy no later than 1 February 2026.

The report pack notes that these proposed changes follow a consultation exercise carried out between 10 July and 11 August 2025 with various stakeholders, including licensed drivers, trade organisations, regulatory partners, and members of the public. The consultation sought feedback on measures surrounding public safety, vehicle identification, and safety of licensed vehicles and individuals.

The report pack also refers to the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, 2025 (The Casey Review), which emphasises the importance of in-vehicle CCTV as a safeguarding measure and recommends more rigorous standards for local authority licensing and regulation of taxi drivers.

The report pack includes a summary of the consultation feedback, with key themes including concerns about privacy related to CCTV, suggestions for further safety measures, and observations regarding vehicle livery and visibility.

The report pack also includes correspondence from Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Cabinet Member for Communities at Mid Sussex District Council, expressing support for the installation of CCTV in licensed vehicles and the removal of roof boxes from private hire vehicles. Inspector McCaig, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for the Crawley borough, also responded to the consultation, expressing Sussex Police's full support for the proposal to introduce mandatory CCTV in all Crawley Borough Council licensed vehicles.

The report pack notes that the council has a statutory duty under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act to exercise all their functions with due regard to the likely effect on crime and disorder, and to do all that they reasonably can to prevent it within their area.

The report pack also includes an Equality Impact Assessment, which notes that the policy contributes to the council's equality and diversity policy, taking account of service users' needs.

Animal Licensing Policy

The committee is also scheduled to discuss report HCS/098 from the Head of Community Services, regarding updates to the council's Animal Licensing Policy, in relation to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

The report pack says that the committee will consider incorporating additional information relating to the fit and proper person requirements, as well as new sections relating to Dangerous Wild Animals and Primate Licensing, and a proposed fee structure.

The report pack indicates that the committee will consider:

• Dangerous Wild Animals: The report pack says that the committee will consider incorporating information relating to activities involving animals classified as dangerous wild animals within the Animal Licensing Policy. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 regulates the keeping of certain wild animals to ensure public safety and animal welfare, requiring individuals to obtain a licence for specific species.
• Primate Licensing: The report pack says that the committee will consider incorporating information relating to activities relating to animals falling within the new licensing regime as primates within the Animal Licensing Policy. In England, the keeping of primates as pets is subject to new legislation, particularly the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2023 and the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024. These regulations came into effect on 6 April 2025, and all current private keepers have until 6 April 2026 to be fully compliant.
• Fee Structure: The report pack says that the committee will consider agreeing the fee structure in respect of primate licensing, as set out in Appendix 1 of the Animal Licensing Policy.
• Fit and Proper Person Test: The report pack says that the committee will consider agreeing the proposed revisions to the Animal Licensing Policy in relation to the fit and proper person test where applicable.
• Minor Revisions: The report pack says that the committee will consider agreeing other minor revisions to the Policy in terms of form and content, as set out in the table included in Appendix 2 of the Animal Licensing Policy.
• Delegation of Policy Revisions: The report pack says that the committee will consider delegating any further minor revisions to the Animal Licensing Policy to the Head of Community Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and the Chair of the Licensing Committee.

The report pack notes that there are currently no settings in the borough where a dangerous wild animal licence is held, and no known primate keepers in the Crawley Borough.

The report pack also includes an Equality Impact Assessment, which notes that the policy contributes to the council's equality and diversity policy, taking account of service users' needs, private owners, and businesses where animals are involved.

Licensing Sub-Committee Minutes

The committee is also scheduled to approve as a correct record the minutes of the following meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee:

• 10 March 2025: Application for the Grant of a Premises Licence for Taste of the Caribbean, Goffs Park, Horsham Road, Crawley, RH11 7JX (chaired by Councillor Kim Jaggard).
• 15 April 2025: Application to Review the Premises Licence at Chicken Cottage, 38 The Boulevard, Crawley, RH10 1XP, and Application to Review the Premises Licence at Caramello Coffee and Gelato, 40 The Boulevard, Crawley, RH10 1XP (chaired by Councillor Nick Hilton).

Upcoming Constitutional Changes

The committee is scheduled to receive a verbal update on two constitutional changes relating to the Licensing Committee that will be coming forward for adoption by Full Council, via Governance Committee. This is listed as an information item only.