The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee convened to address several applications and reviews related to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences, ultimately granting two applications, and adjourning three cases for further consideration. The committee reviewed applications WD214, WD215 and CD288, and reviewed licences WD216 and WV169.

Licensing Decisions

The committee addressed five cases related to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences, each assessed against the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.¹ Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence - WD214: The committee granted the application for applicant WD214, deeming them a fit and proper person to hold such a licence. Members considered the details of a caution received by WD214, but, after reviewing the HR Safeguarding response, information provided by the applicant, and the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, they felt it appropriate to depart from the guidelines on this occasion.

Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence - WD215: The committee granted the application for applicant WD215, considering them a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The committee noted five convictions between 2018 and 2020, including an insurance offence for which guidelines state a licence will not be granted until seven years after completion of any sentence. However, after hearing from WD215 and their potential future employer, reviewing the HR Safeguarding response, information provided by the applicant, and the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, the committee felt it appropriate to depart from the guidelines on this specific occasion.

Review of Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence - WD216: The committee resolved to adjourn the review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence WD216 until the meeting on 09 January 2026, to allow the licence holder to obtain legal advice and be legally represented at the hearing.

Review of Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence - WV169: The committee resolved to adjourn the review of Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence WV169 until the meeting on 09 January 2026, to allow the licence holder to obtain legal advice and be legally represented at the hearing. The holder of licence WV169 attended the meeting and advised that he had covered everything he wished to say in his presentation for agenda item 11.

Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence - CD288: The committee resolved to adjourn the application for CD288 until the meeting on 09 January 2026, to allow the applicant to attend the hearing. The applicant CD288 was not in attendance at the meeting.

Urgent Driver/Operator/Vehicle Sub-Committee Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the Urgent Driver/Operator/Vehicle Sub-Committee meetings held on 31 October 2025 and 13 November 2025. The 31 October meeting minutes record the revocation of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence WD212 with immediate effect, after the driver failed a roadside drug test, testing positive for cannabis and cocaine. The 13 November meeting minutes record the revocation of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence WD213 and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence WV168. Both were revoked with immediate effect after the drivers were arrested for driving whilst unfit through drink/drugs and for possession of a controlled substance.

Previous Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the Miscellaneous Licensing Committee meeting held on 7 November 2025. The minutes record the refusal of applications E1D216 and E1D217 for the Grant and Renewal of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licences. Application E1D216 was refused after HR Safeguarding stated that they did not consider E1D216 to be suitable, and members felt that the offences were serious and relevant to his application to be a licensed driver and that the offences impacted on public safety. Application E1D217 was refused after members noted that E1D217 had a total of 9 points on his driving licence for speeding, and that E1D217 admitted that he had undertaken a speed awareness course prior to receiving the 9 points. Members also noted that E1D217 had failed to notify the council of any of the endorsements despite it being a condition of his licence that he do so.