The Regulatory and Appeals Sub-Committee of Newcastle upon Tyne Council is scheduled to convene on 6 October 2025 to discuss several applications and reviews related to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licences. The committee, composed of Councillor Rob Higgins (Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor), Councillor Linda Wright, and Councillor Henry Gallagher, will consider these matters in a meeting held in the Armstrong/Stephenson Room at the Civic Centre. The reports relating to these items are exempt from press and public access under Section 100A and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972¹.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Applications/Licences

The Sub-Committee is scheduled to review multiple applications for both new and renewed Hackney Carriage² and Private Hire Driver Licences, as well as conduct a review of an existing Private Hire Driver's Licence. The applications to be discussed are:

• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 115290
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref:
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 112855
• Application for New Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 103814
• Application for Renewal of Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Driver Licence (DUAL Status) - Ref: 80229
• Review of Private Hire Driver's Licence - Ref: 78788

The Sub-Committee will use pre-agreed guidelines to ensure consistency in their decision making. These guidelines have been formulated using guidance from the Department for Transport³ and the Institute of Licensing⁴. The guidelines state that:

Each case is dealt with on its own merits. The overriding objective is the protection of the public.

The guidelines also state that the Sub-Committee will consider both spent and unspent convictions when determining whether an applicant is a 'fit and proper person' to hold a licence. The guidelines contain specific information about how previous convictions will be treated:

• Offences of Dishonesty a licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Offences of Violence a licence will not normally be granted until at least 10 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed. A licence will normally be refused for an offence of murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide.
• Offences of Discrimination a licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Possession of a Weapon a licence will not normally be granted until at least 7 years have elapsed since the conviction or completion of any custodial sentence imposed.
• Supply of Drugs/ Cultivation of Drugs a licence will not normally be grated until at least 10 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Possession of Drugs a licence will not normally be granted until at least 5 years have elapsed since the completion of any sentence imposed.
• Sexual and Indecency Offences where an applicant has a conviction for any offence involving or connecting with illegal sexual activity or any form of indecency, a licence will not normally be granted.
• Licensing Offences where an applicant has been convicted of an offence such as driving a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle without the appropriate licence or using an unlicensed vehicle during the previous 2 years preceding the application or review, they will usually be refused a licence.

The guidelines also contain specific information about how driving offences will be treated.