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Taxi (Private Meeting), Licensing Sub Committee - Monday, 14th April, 2025 12.00 pm

April 14, 2025 View on council website
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Summary

This meeting of the Cambridge City Council Licensing Sub Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a dual driver licence, and to decide whether to exclude the press and public from the meeting. Councillor Immy Blackburn-Horgan and Councillor Rosy Moore were scheduled to be in attendance.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The committee was scheduled to consider a recommendation to exclude the press and public from the meeting. The reason cited for this recommendation is paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 19721.

Application for Dual Driver Licence

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a dual driver licence with Cambridge City Council for Driver A.

The report pack includes a section on the procedure for taxi application hearings, which states that:

Where the Officer considers that the Taxi Regulatory Sub-Committee should decide whether an applicant for a licence is a fit and proper person to hold the licence for which she/he has applied, the Officer will refer the matter to the Sub-Committee.

The procedure outlines the preparation of a report by an officer, investigations conducted by the Environmental Health Manager, and the process for the hearing itself. This includes inviting the driver and witnesses to the hearing, presenting evidence, and allowing all parties to ask questions. The sub-committee may then consider their decision in private, and the driver will be notified of the decision in writing, along with their right to appeal to the Magistrates Court.

The report pack also references sections 60 and 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 19762, which detail the grounds on which the council can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a vehicle or driver's licence. These grounds include:

  • the vehicle being unfit
  • offences or non-compliance with relevant acts
  • convictions involving dishonesty, indecency, or violence
  • immigration offences
  • any other reasonable cause

The report pack also lists specific items under 'Level 3 Enforcement' of the 'Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Enforcement System' that would be considered. These include instances where a licence holder:

  • has committed actions covered in Levels 1 and 2 and received a final written warning
  • has been convicted of offences of a sexual nature, or involving drugs, dishonesty, or violence
  • has been convicted of multiple offences of drunkenness
  • has a DVLA driver’s licence for less than 2 years after suspension
  • has been convicted of offences relating to alcohol and motor vehicles
  • has accumulated a certain number of points on their DVLA driver’s licence
  • has convictions relating to specific acts such as the Town Police Clauses Act 18473, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Transport Act 19804, the Health Act 20065, and the Equality Act 20106
  • is living or working in the UK without authorisation
  • fails safeguarding training
  • presents a medical assessment but does not declare themselves unfit to drive
  • raises concerns due to intelligence, supplementary information, or any other reasonable cause

  1. The Local Government Act 1972 defines the powers and responsibilities of local authorities in England and Wales. Schedule 12A relates to the circumstances under which information can be kept confidential. 

  2. The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 covers a range of issues, including the licensing of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. 

  3. The Town Police Clauses Act 1847 is an act of Parliament regulating towns in the United Kingdom. 

  4. The Transport Act 1980 deregulated long-distance bus services in Great Britain, and also made changes to the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles. 

  5. The Health Act 2006 is an act of Parliament to make further provision about health. 

  6. The Equality Act 2010 is an act of Parliament that prohibits unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society. 

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorImmy Blackburn-Horgan
Councillor Immy Blackburn-Horgan  Liberal Democrat •  Queen Edith's
Profile image for Councillor Hugh Clough
Councillor Hugh Clough  Green (Spokes) Finance & Resources, Culture, Economy & Skills •  Green •  Newnham
Profile image for CouncillorRosy Moore
Councillor Rosy Moore  Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Environment •  Labour •  Coleridge
Profile image for CouncillorKaren Young
Councillor Karen Young  Lib Dem (Spokes) Safety, Wellbeing and Tackling Homelessness •  Liberal Democrat •  Queen Edith's
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