Agenda and minutes

In the event the fire alarm sounds attendees will be advised to evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit and assemble at the Bottle of Notes opposite MIMA.

The Chair welcomed those present and highlighted the Council’s Fire Evacuation Procedure.

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 15 December 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Licensing Officer will provide a verbal update, if applicable, on any licensing appeals/revocations since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Licensing Manager provided an update which included notification that a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence had recently been revoked with immediate effect following information received from Cleveland Police in relation to a serious alleged offence.

The Licensing Manager further reported that a separate Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence had also been revoked with immediate effect following reports from two separate occasions concerning inappropriate comments made by the driver.

The Council’s Legal Representative advised the Committee that two appeals had been lodged with the Crown Court against previous decisions of the Licensing Committee to refuse applications for Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licences.  It was reported that both appeals had been dismissed and that the Crown Court had upheld the decisions of the Licensing Committee.

NOTED

There were no urgent items.

To consider passing a Resolution Pursuant to Section 100A

(4) Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the

press and public from the meeting during consideration of the

following items on the grounds that if present there would be

disclosure to them of exempt information falling within

paragraphs X, X of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act

and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs

the public interest in disclosing the information.

ORDERED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that, if present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Corporate Director of Regeneration and Housing submitted a report in relation to the application for a Private Hire Operator Licence, Ref: 1/26, highlighting the circumstances that required the Committee’s special consideration.

The Chair introduced those present and outlined the procedure to be followed.  The applicant, who attended the meeting accompanied by his wife, verified his name, address, and confirmed he had received a copy of the report.  He advised that he had not brought a printed copy of the report to the meeting but confirmed that the report was available to him electronically on a laptop brought to the meeting.

The Licensing Manger presented the report which outlined the application for a Private Hire Operator Licence in respect of proposed operating premises.  The applicant had attended an interview with the Licensing Manager in January 2026 to discuss the application and the proposed operating model.

Members were advised that the applicant intended to operate a private hire business using an app-based booking system, with bookings managed electronically rather than through a traditional call-handling arrangement.  It was explained that the business would initially operate with a limited number of vehicles and would not operate a public-facing booking office.

Members were informed that discussions had taken place between the applicant, Licensing Officers and Planning Officers prior to submission of the application.  Planning Officers had advised that the existing planning use of the premises did not permit use as a traditional private hire base.  However, it was confirmed that a Private Hire Operator Licence could be granted subject to conditions restricting the use of the premises.  These conditions were listed in the report.

It was explained that the proposed conditions would limit the use of the premises to administrative functions only, with no customer access, no booking staff operating from the premises, and no attendance by private hire drivers or vehicles.  Members were advised that, subject to these restrictions, there would be no adverse impact on nearby residents.

Members were advised that the applicant had satisfied all relevant pre-application requirements, including disclosure and barring checks, safeguarding training, right-to-work-checks and the Private Hire Operator knowledge test.

The applicant and his wife spoke in support of the application and responded to questions from Members, Council’s Licensing Manager and Council’s Legal Representative. 

It was confirmed that were no further questions and the applicant, his wife, and Officers of the Council, other than representatives of the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services teams, withdrew from the meeting whilst the Committee determined the application.

Subsequently, all parties returned, and the Chair announced a summary of the Committee’s decision and highlighted that the applicant would receive the full decision and reasons within five working days. 

ORDERED that the application for a Private Hire Operator Licence, Ref No: 1/26, be granted, as follows:-

Authority to Act

1.     Under Section 55 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 (“the Act”), the Committee may decide to grant a private hire vehicle operator licence only if it was satisfied that:-

-        the applicant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/80