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Taxi Hearing (Private Meeting), Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Sub Committee (Licensing Sub Committee) - Monday, 23rd June, 2025 10.00 am
June 23, 2025 View on council websiteSummary
The Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Sub Committee (Licensing Sub Committee) met to discuss taxi licensing regulations within Cambridge City Council. The main item on the agenda was to consider the standing of Driver A as a licensed driver with Cambridge City Council. The meeting was scheduled to be held in private, with the press and public excluded.
Consideration of Driver A's Licence
The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding Driver A's standing as a licensed driver. The report pack includes the procedure for taxi regulatory hearings, stating that if an officer believes that the Taxi Regulatory Sub-Committee should decide whether an applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence, the officer will refer the matter to the sub-committee.
The procedure outlines the preparation of the report:
Following investigation and where the Officer considers it appropriate to do so, the Officer will prepare a report for the Sub-Committee setting out the following:
• the relevant law, Council policy and the powers of the Sub-Committee;
• the information obtained as a result of the investigation and the source of that information;
• any matters in dispute.
The report pack also details the process for the hearing itself, including the opportunity for Driver A to present their case, call witnesses, and be represented by someone else. The sub-committee is to consider all evidence before making a decision, which will then be formally communicated to Driver A, including their right to appeal to the Magistrates Court.
The report pack also references sections 60 and 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which grant the council the power to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a vehicle or driver's licence under certain conditions. These conditions include:
- The vehicle being unfit for use as a hackney carriage1 or private hire vehicle2.
- Offences or non-compliance with the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
- Convictions of offences involving dishonesty, indecency, or violence.
- Convictions of immigration offences or the requirement to pay an immigration penalty.
- Any other reasonable cause.
The report pack also refers to the council's 'Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Enforcement System', and states that the Environmental Health Manager, and subsequently the Licensing Sub-Committee, may exercise discretion to grant or to renew a licence, or to suspend or revoke an existing licence. It lists a number of items that will be given specific consideration, including:
- Actions covered in levels 1 and 2 of the enforcement system, where the licence holder has been interviewed by an officer of the Commercial & Licensing Team in the previous 12-month period and a final written warning has been given.
- Convictions of offences of a sexual nature, or involving possession or supply of drugs.
- Convictions of offences involving dishonesty or violence.
- Multiple convictions for drunkenness or related offences within the last 5 years.
- Holding a DVLA[^4] driver's licence for less than 2 years after its return following a suspension.
- Convictions of offences relating to alcohol and motor vehicles.
- Accumulation of 6 or more points on their DVLA driver's licence within the past 3 years.
- More than 9 points attached to their DVLA driver's licence at the time of application.
- Convictions relating to specific legislation, including the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the Transport Act 1980, the Health Act 2006, and the Equality Act 2010.
- Living or working in the UK without the required authorisation, or committing offences arising from Asylum & Immigration matters.
- Failing the safeguarding training test.
- Presenting a medical assessment that does not declare them unfit to drive.
- Intelligence, supplementary information, or any other reasonable cause for concern.
Exclusion of Press and Public
The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting, citing paragraphs 1 & 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as the reason.
Attendees



Topics
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