The Environmental Licensing Committee of Wrexham County Borough Council met on 22 September 2025, to discuss several licensing issues. The agenda included private hire driver licensing and conduct, as well as the confirmation of minutes from a previous meeting. Due to the confidential nature of some of the items, a recommendation was made to exclude the press and public for part of the meeting.

Private Hire Licensing

Several items on the agenda related to private hire licensing. These were:

• Conduct of a Private Hire Driver: A report from the Chief Officer Economy and Planning was included to consider the conduct of a private hire driver.
• Private Hire Driver's Licence Application: The committee was scheduled to consider a report from the Chief Officer Economy & Planning regarding a private hire driver's licence application.
• Private Hire Driver's Licence Application: Another report from the Chief Officer Economy & Planning was included to consider a separate application for a private hire driver's licence.
• Conduct of a Private Hire Driver: A further report from the Chief Officer Economy and Planning was included to consider the conduct of another private hire driver.

The Public Reports Pack notes that reports relating to these agenda items were not circulated to members who do not serve on the committee.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Agenda Frontsheet included a recommendation to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the private hire licensing items. The reason given was to prevent the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972¹.

The Proper Officer has determined in considering this report that Paragraph 12 should apply. Her view on the public interest test was that to make this information public would disclose personal data relating to an individual in contravention of the principles of the Data Protection Act. Because of this and since there did not appear to be an overwhelming public interest requiring the disclosure of personal data she felt that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Other Business

The agenda also included the following items:

• Apologies for Absence: To note any apologies for absence.
• Declarations of personal interests: A reminder to members to declare any personal interests relating to the agenda items, as required by the Members' Code of Conduct.
• Any other items which the Chair decides are urgent: To consider any other urgent items raised by Councillor I David Bithell MBE, Chair of the Environmental Licensing Committee.