The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee of Cornwall Council met on Friday 05 June 2026. The meeting's agenda included discussions on licensing applications for hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and drivers. The committee was scheduled to consider several licence applications, with reports detailing the reasons for potential refusal or approval.

Application to Licence a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Not Meeting Policy Specifications (WV80)

The committee was scheduled to consider an application to licence a Hackney Carriage vehicle, registration number BX25 JVG, which did not meet the council's policy specifications. The vehicle, a Toyota Voxy, was intended to carry seven passengers, but an inspection revealed that the back row seating width did not comply with the council's policy, which states that Each seat must not be less than 16 inches in width at its widest point. ¹ Consequently, the vehicle was initially licensed to carry only six passengers. The applicant, A2B Taxis Truro Ltd, requested a departure from the policy to allow the vehicle to be licensed for seven passengers. The report indicated that the vehicle proprietor(s) would be heard before the committee considered the application.

Applications for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licences

Several applications for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licences were scheduled for discussion. These included:

• Application for Renewal of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (CD297): This item involved the renewal of a driver's licence. The report pack indicated that the committee would consider the applicant's suitability based on factors such as penalty points on their DVLA licence, failure to notify the council of these points or changes of address, and any undisclosed information on the application form. The council's Statement of Practices, Procedures and Policy notes that By attaining 7 or more penalty points on their DVLA licence, a driver is demonstrating that they may not be fit and proper. ² The committee was to consider the applicant's personal circumstances and any support they had put in place.

• Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (CD298): This agenda item concerned a new application for a driver's licence. The report pack highlighted that the committee would review the applicant's suitability, potentially referencing guidelines for determining suitability in relation to convictions, cautions, and endorsements. Specifically, the guidelines state that where an applicant has a conviction for drink driving, a licence will not be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence or driving ban imposed. ³ The response from HR Safeguarding was also to be considered.

• Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (WD227): Similar to the previous item, this was an application for a new driver's licence. The report pack indicated that the committee would assess the applicant's suitability, with particular attention to any convictions, cautions, or endorsements. The guidelines regarding drink driving convictions were noted, as was the response from HR Safeguarding.

• Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (WD228): This agenda item also related to a new application for a driver's licence. The report pack suggested that the committee would consider the applicant's history, including any offences involving violence, for which the guidelines state a licence will not be granted until at least 10 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed. ⁴ The response from HR Safeguarding was also to be taken into account.

• Application for Grant of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (E1D219): This was another application for a new driver's licence. The report pack indicated that the committee would review the applicant's suitability, with reference to the guidelines concerning drink driving convictions and the response from HR Safeguarding.

• Application for Renewal of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence (E1D220): This item concerned the renewal of an existing driver's licence. The report pack highlighted potential issues such as failure to disclose penalty points, failure to subscribe to the DBS Update Service, and continuing to drive after a licence suspension. The committee was to consider the applicant's explanation for these issues, including their failure to check emails or other correspondence. The report also noted concerns about the applicant potentially driving without a valid licence and insurance for approximately five months.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The committee was asked to consider a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting for certain business. This was on the grounds that the discussions were likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information, specifically Information relating to an individual. ⁵