The Cheltenham Borough Council Licensing Sub-Committee - Miscellaneous met on Wednesday 1 October 2025 to review three hackney carriage driver's licences. Decisions were made on two licence reviews, with outcomes including a written warning and mandatory training, and a licence suspension. For the third licence review, the decision was that no further action should be taken.

Review of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence

The committee reviewed the licence of a hackney carriage driver. Following a debate in closed session, members decided to issue a written warning to the driver. Additionally, the driver will be required to complete training courses on car maintenance, driver safety, and road safety law, provided by Reed.co.uk or a similar provider, within three months. Certificates of completion must be submitted to the licensing authority.

Review of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence

In a second review of a hackney carriage driver's licence, the committee voted to suspend the driver's licence with immediate effect due to public safety concerns. The decision was made following debate in closed session, and the licence suspension will remain in place until the next committee meeting, at which point the driver will have had the opportunity to seek legal representation.

Review of a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence

The third review concerned another hackney carriage driver's licence. After the Licensing Officer and officers from the County Council responded to members' questions, and the driver addressed the committee, members debated the matter. The meeting concluded with a decision that no further action should be taken regarding this driver's licence.

Public Question

A public question was raised regarding the cancellation of the Cheltenham Tribute Festival. The questioner expressed concerns about ticket holders not receiving full refunds due to an 'admin fee' and the late timing of a licence hearing, which they felt left insufficient time to address safety and nuisance concerns. The response provided stated that any future licensing applications would be subject to the same application, consultation, and determination criteria. If objections are received regarding a wider pattern of poor management, a committee hearing would be required, and applicants would need to provide sufficient evidence to alleviate these concerns for a licence to be issued. The response also outlined the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.