The Licensing Committee of Middlesbrough Council met on Monday 20 July 2026 to review a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle driver's licence and consider a new application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence. The committee decided to revoke the licence of one driver due to repeated breaches of policy and granted a licence to another applicant with a warning.

Review of Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence (Ref: 18/26)

The committee reviewed the licence of a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle driver, Ref: 18/26, and ultimately decided to revoke it. The driver had initially been granted a licence in August 2023, subject to completing a Driver Improvement Scheme within three months due to two speeding offences. However, records indicated this scheme was not completed. The driver's licence was renewed in 2024 and again in 2025.

The review was triggered by a conviction in March 2026 for using a mobile phone while driving, which came to light during a routine DVLA check in June 2026. The driver had failed to notify the Licensing Department of this conviction within the required 48 hours. During interviews, the driver provided explanations for the offences, including claiming he had forgotten to report the mobile phone conviction as he was driving his private vehicle at the time and mistakenly believed he was not required to do so. He also initially claimed he had not received the letter regarding the Driver Improvement Scheme, but later admitted he had.

The committee found the driver's accounts to be unreliable and contradictory, stating he had continually made excuses for his failures. They concluded that the driver had not complied with licence conditions by failing to notify the council of his offences and did not accept his explanation for not reporting the March 2026 conviction. The committee also expressed confusion over the driver's assertion that he would have informed the council if he had been banned from driving, but not if he received penalty points. The driver's failure to inform the council of a change of address was also noted.

The committee determined that the driver's standards fell below those expected of a licensed taxi driver, and that his previous speeding convictions, combined with the recent mobile phone offence, meant he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The committee found no compelling reasons to depart from the council's policy and therefore decided to revoke the licence. The driver has the right to appeal this decision to the Magistrates Court within 21 days.

Application for Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence (Ref: 14/26)

The committee considered an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref: 14/26. The applicant had declared a conviction for using a vehicle uninsured against third-party risks (an IN10 offence) on 3 July 2024, which resulted in a £120 fine and six penalty points on his licence.

During an interview with a Licensing Enforcement Officer on 1 April 2026, the applicant explained that the offence occurred on 10 November 2023 when he was test-driving his brother's car with the intention of selling it. He believed the car was insured but discovered it was not. The applicant stated that he had his own car and insurance for his work at the time. He took full responsibility for the mistake, acknowledging it was his duty to check the insurance details. He also confirmed this was an isolated incident and he had no further motoring cautions or convictions since.

The committee acknowledged that the offence was serious and that there is an expectation for individuals to be responsible for checking insurance. However, they also took into account the applicant's honesty, the fact that it was an isolated incident, and his apparent maturity and learning from the error. The committee noted that the endorsement would no longer appear on his DVLA licence in July 2027.

After considering all the information, the committee decided to grant the licence but with a warning. This warning will be recorded on the council's records and serves to emphasise the seriousness of the conviction, with the understanding that any further driving incidents may result in the revocation of his licence. The decision is final, with the applicant having the option of seeking judicial review in the High Court if grounds are established.