The Regulatory Sub-Committee of Westmorland and Furness Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 9 September 2025, at Kendal Town Hall. The agenda for the meeting included several licensing applications, focusing on private hire vehicles and drivers. A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to considering applications to depart from the council's vehicle age policy.

Applications to Depart from Vehicle Age Policy

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider four applications to depart from the council's vehicle age policy. The council's current policy, as outlined in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy of South Lakeland District Council issued in August 2022, sets age limits for vehicles to be licensed as Hackney Carriages¹ or Private Hire vehicles². The policy states that vehicles, excluding wheelchair accessible ones, must be less than 5 years old when first licensed, and will not be re-licensed after reaching 10 years old.

Paul Rushell - Ford Tourneo Custom 300 (HCV699)

The sub-committee was to consider an application from Paul Rushell for his Ford Tourneo Custom 300 (registration number L20 PEB) to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle for 12 months. According to the report pack, the vehicle was first registered on 2 April 2014, and had covered 154,162 miles. It had been licensed as a hackney carriage since 13 April 2014. The vehicle had failed two MOT tests, once in April 2022 and again in June 2023. The application noted that the vehicle does not meet a Euro 6 emission standard³. The applicant's letter requesting a departure from policy, and photos of the vehicle, were included in the report pack.

Alistair Stewart - Skoda Octavia (HCV156)

Alistair Stewart applied for a renewal of the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence HCV156 for a Skoda Octavia (registration number ND69 LNR). The Skoda Octavia was first registered on 31 December 2019 and had covered 101,639 miles. It had been licensed as a hackney carriage since August 2023. The vehicle meets a Euro 6 emission standard. The applicant's letter requesting a departure from policy, and photos of the vehicle, were included in the report pack.

Timothy Peter West - Hyundai I800 (PHV088)

Timothy Peter West applied for a Private Hire Vehicle licence for a Hyundai I800 (registration number GL19 MXX). The vehicle was previously licensed as Private Hire Vehicle Licence PHV088. The Hyundai I800 was first registered on 30 April 2019 and had covered 69,987 miles. It had been licensed as a private hire vehicle since August 2023. The vehicle meets a Euro 6 emission standard. The applicant requested that the existing exemption from displaying vehicle plates and signage be continued. The applicant's letter requesting a departure from policy, and photos of the vehicle, were included in the report pack.

Renewal of a Private Hire Driver Licence (PHD045)

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application from Mr Paul Coulson for the renewal of his Private Hire Driver Licence. According to the report pack, Mr Coulson had failed to declare nine penalty points on his driving licence, which is a breach of licensing conditions.

The report pack noted that failure to disclose motoring offences may amount to an offence under Section 57 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which states:

If any person knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement or omits any material particular in giving information under this section, he shall be guilty of an offence.

The report pack stated that the current taxi licensing Policy was adopted in August 2022 and the Convictions Policy was updated at that time in line with the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards.