The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bath and North East Somerset Council was scheduled to consider the fit and proper status of two Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers. The meeting's agenda also included procedural items such as the emergency evacuation procedure, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the minutes of the previous meeting.

Consideration of Fit and Proper Status for Taxi Drivers

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to review the fit and proper status of two Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers. This assessment is a legal requirement for the granting and retention of licences under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. The report pack indicates that the committee would consider whether the individuals remained suitable to hold their licences, taking into account various factors.

The first driver, identified in the report pack as 2026/SEP/01/TAXI, had previously been before the Sub-Committee in August 2015 regarding convictions on their DBS certificate, and again in October 2024 for breaching licensing conditions and possessing an offensive weapon, where a final warning was issued. The report pack details discussions around the licensee's failure to provide timely documentation, including insurance and MOT certificates, and an incident in March 2025 where the vehicle was driven while not properly licensed. The licensee reportedly stated that they take their responsibilities seriously, admitted to mistakes in document submission timing, and claimed no gaps in insurance or MOT over the past 10 years. They also explained an incident involving parking in a Hackney Carriage stand, stating they were not working at the time. The report pack notes a recommendation was made that the licensee is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, but issued a final warning, requiring them to implement a system for timely document submission and to provide confirmation of this system by 24 September 2026.

The second driver, 2026/SEP/02/TAXI, was scheduled for consideration due to a failure to inform the licensing authority of a medical condition that affected their driving. The report pack indicates this driver was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in June 2023. While the licensee stated they had not lost consciousness and were not advised by a medical professional to disclose the condition, they accepted they should have reported it to the Licensing department. The driver also admitted to errors in not submitting a valid insurance certificate on two occasions and a delay in reporting a road traffic collision. The report pack details that the driver's licence was temporarily suspended on public safety grounds on 24 March 2026, but reinstated later the same day after a GP's letter confirmed the condition was well-controlled. The report pack notes a recommendation was made that this licensee is a fit and proper person to continue to hold their licence, but a warning was issued regarding compliance with all requirements and obligations.

Procedural Matters

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the Chair drawing attention to the emergency evacuation procedure. This was to be followed by the consideration of apologies for absence and the declaration of any interests by councillors. The agenda also included an item to announce any urgent business agreed by the Chair and the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 13th August 2026.

A further item on the agenda was the explanation of the licensing procedure by the Chair, if required. The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to consider a resolution to exclude the public from the meeting for specific items of business, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information. This exclusion was recommended for the Consideration of Fit and Proper Status items.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Kaposvar Room at the Guildhall, Bath.