Miscellaneous Licensing Committee - 20 June 2025

The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee elected its leadership for the 2025/26 term. Councillor O’Keefe was appointed Chairman after a motion moved by Councillor Moorcroft and seconded by Councillor Emery, while Councillor Saunby was appointed Vice‑Chairman following a motion moved by Councillor Dennis and seconded by the Chairman. The committee also approved the minutes of its previous meeting held on 25 April 2025, with the motion moved by Councillor Batters and seconded by Councillor Moorcroft. No declarations of interest were recorded.

The committee considered a report from the Principal Licensing Practitioner (Policy) on a revised licensing policy. After a detailed review of the consultation responses and the licensing service’s comments, the committee resolved to note the responses, endorse the licensing service’s comments, and recommend the revised policy to Council for adoption. The recommendation was based on the view that the policy was appropriate after considering all feedback.

During the meeting, the committee voted to exclude the press and public from a subsequent agenda item in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, citing the likelihood of disclosing exempt personal information. The committee then heard two applications for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle driver’s licences. The first application, from applicant WD202, was refused on the grounds that the applicant did not meet the council’s suitability guidelines concerning a 2019 drink‑driving conviction and the required seven‑year period after such a conviction. The committee also considered the statutory taxi and private‑hire standards and concluded that WD202 was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

The second application, from applicant WD203, was also refused. The decision was based on medical evidence indicating that WD203 did not satisfy the DVLA Group 2 medical standards, as well as a recent three‑point driving endorsement. The committee affirmed that, in line with statutory standards, WD203 was not a fit and proper person to operate a licensed vehicle. The meeting concluded after a brief comfort break, with all items resolved as recorded.