The Licensing Sub-Committee of Doncaster Council scheduled a meeting for Wednesday 22 October 2025, to discuss several licensing matters. The agenda included applications for new licenses, as well as reviews of existing licenses for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers and vehicles. Some of the items were expected to be discussed in private session due to the confidential nature of the information.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider several applications and reviews related to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licenses. These were:

• An application for a new Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Licence.
• A review of an existing Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Licence and a review of an existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence.
• An application for a new Private Hire Drivers Licence.
• A review of an existing Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Licence and a review of an existing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence.
• An application for a new Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Licence.

These items were listed under reports where the public and press may be excluded, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, because they contained information relating to an individual.

Approval of Minutes

The sub-committee was also scheduled to approve the minutes of previous meetings held on:

• 2 September 2025
• 5 September 2025
• 8 September 2025
• 16 September 2025

A summary of the minutes of these meetings is provided below:

Meeting on 2 September 2025

Councillor Karl Hughes chaired a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee on 2 September 2025, where they considered the review of an existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence. The Senior Licensing Practitioner introduced the report, outlining the circumstances that led to the sub-committee needing to decide whether the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a licence. The applicant was allowed to explain their past actions and make a closing statement, after which they were informed that they would receive the decision in writing within 7 working days. The sub-committee then decided that the applicant was not a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Drivers Licence, referencing the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an existing Private Hire Drivers Licence and review of an existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was not a 'fit and proper' person to hold either licence.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an existing Private Hire Drivers Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Private Hire Drivers Licence.

Finally, the sub-committee considered a review of an existing Private Hire Drivers Licence and review of an existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold either licence.

Meeting on 5 September 2025

Councillor Karl Hughes chaired a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee on 5 September 2025, where they considered an application to vary a Premises Licence to specify an individual as Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for Danum News, 35 High Street, Doncaster, DN1 1DL. Hayley Oxley, the Senior Licensing Practitioner, introduced the report.

The applicant did not attend the meeting, but a representative, Mr Butler, attended on their behalf, as well as those who had made representations in objection to the application.

Mr Butler argued that the police evidence had not reached the threshold required to object to the application, quoting the Home Office Guidance issued under the Licensing Act 2003, which states that:

'The police may object to the designation of a new DPS where, in exceptional circumstances, they believe that the appointment would undermine the crime prevention objective.'

'The portability of personal licences between premises is an important concept under the 2003 Act. It is expected that police objections would arise in only genuinely exceptional circumstances.'

Mr Butler also suggested that if the police had concerns about these premises, they could have made an application to revoke the premises licence, but chose not to.

The committee raised concerns about serious issues at another premises, Donny Drinks, where the proposed DPS, Mr Khan, had previously been the DPS. These included the seizure of illicit tobacco and vapes, non-compliant issues such as a single can being sold when it should not have been, CCTV not working, and no refusal log. Mr Khan was interviewed under caution and stated he was not involved in the business and could not say who was employed, and that he would remove himself as the DPS the following day, which he did not do. A failed test purchase also occurred.

Mr Khan said that he had been a personal licence holder since 2007 and he had never had any issues until these incidents, that he was primarily involved in the restaurant trade so this was new to him, but he accepted responsibility and said he should have known better and done his homework.

The lawyer for South Yorks Police, Mr Petherbridge, confirmed that the police considered that the incidents did amount to exceptional reasons for rejecting the application.

The committee rejected the application, stating:

The Committee were very concerned about the incidents at Donny Drinks at the time MR Khan was DPS, the incidents are very serious and place sufficient doubt on him to be DPS of Danum News. MR Khan did not act on advice when it was given and did not take action when he said that he would, illicit tobacco and vapes present a very serious challenge to the prevention of crime and disorder and we do consider that the incidents to amount to exceptional circumstances and believe that the appointment of Mr Khan as DPS of Danum News would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder. In our view, Mr Khan showed an apparent disregard for his role as DPS and did not take the incidents as seriously as he we would expect him to.

Meeting on 8 September 2025

Councillor Karl Hughes chaired a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee on 8 September 2025, where they considered a review of an Existing Private Hire Drivers Licence and Existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence. The Licensing Compliance Officer introduced the report, outlining the circumstances that led to the sub-committee needing to decide whether the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a licence. The applicant was allowed to explain their past actions and make a closing statement, after which they were informed that they would receive the decision in writing within 14 working days. The sub-committee then decided that the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Private Hire Drivers Licence and Private Hire Vehicle Licence, referencing the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an Existing Private Hire Driver Licence and Existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Private Hire Drivers Licence and Private Hire Vehicle Licence.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an Existing Private Hire Drivers Licence and Existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was not a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Private Hire Drivers Licence and Private Hire Vehicle Licence and therefore revoked the licences.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an Existing Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Drivers Licence and Review of an Existing Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was not a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Drivers Licence and a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Vehicle Licence and therefore revoked the licences.

The sub-committee also considered a review of an Existing Private Hire Drivers Licence and Existing Private Hire Vehicle Licence, following the same procedure as above. They decided that the applicant was a 'fit and proper' person to hold a Private Hire Drivers Licence and Private Hire Vehicle Licence.

Meeting on 16 September 2025

Councillor Karl Hughes chaired a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee on 16 September 2025, where they considered an application for a new premises license in respect of Costa Coffee, Argo Drive, Wheatley, Doncaster, DN2 4FR. Hayley Oxley, the Senior Licensing Practitioner, introduced the report. The applicant and objector had notified the Licensing Department that they were unable to attend the meeting.

The sub-committee decided to grant the application, stating:

There has been no attendance today, from either the Applicant, their representatives, or the objector. We have taken into account all of the information in the written application, the objection, and an accompanying email from the objector.

In particular, we have considered that the objector has concerns around anti-social behaviour, crime, noise and safety...

In relation to the licensing objective of crime and disorder, we have also noted that the Police, as a responsible body, has not made any representations in relation to this application. Whilst there may be some concerns about what issues could develop from Costa Coffee opening late at night, there is no evidence that this is likely at this time, and we are mindful that there is a right of review if any issues do occur.

Whilst this committee sympathises with the objector's concerns, we have not been presented with evidence that this premises will cause a public nuisance, be a risk to public safety, or result in crime and disorder...

Having read the application from the Applicant, in particular the proposed steps set out at section 18 in the application form, we are satisfied that the licensing objectives can be upheld, and this premises licence application is therefore granted.