Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 18 September 2025. The meeting was scheduled to cover a review of licensing procedures, and a private session to discuss whether a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle driver was a 'fit and proper person' to hold a license. Note that, although the report pack contains recommendations, it is not known whether these recommendations were followed.

Consideration of Fit and Proper – 2025/SEP/01/TAXI

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider whether a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle driver was a 'fit and proper person' to hold a license.

This matter was scheduled to be discussed in private, as the report to be considered contained exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, including:

• Information relating to any individual
• Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual
• Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

According to the LGA Exemption Certificate, it was determined that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure at this time.

The Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles 'Fit & Proper' Procedure sets out the steps the committee were expected to follow when considering this matter. According to the procedure, the Licensing Officer would outline the matter to be considered, before the Licensee presents their case, calls witnesses, and answers questions from the committee and other parties. After the Licensing Officers present have had the opportunity to comment, the Licensee would be invited to make a closing statement. The committee would then move into a private session to deliberate, accompanied by Legal and Democratic Services Officers who would assist them in drafting their reasoning for the decision. The committee would then reconvene the meeting, and the chair would announce the decision with reasons, and advise that the decision would be released in writing within the statutory time limits. A flow chart summarising this procedure was included in the report pack.¹

Exclusion of the Public

The sub-committee was asked to consider passing a resolution to exclude the public from the meeting during the discussion of the Consideration of Fit and Proper item. The reason given for this was that the discussion was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Licensing Procedure

The Chair was scheduled to explain the licensing procedure to be followed during the meeting, if required.