Agenda and minutes

In the event that 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 24 November 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 updated that a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence was recently revoked with immediate effect, following information from Cleveland Police that the driver was arrested, charged for the possession of class A drugs and for profiting from the proceeds of crime.

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 1, 2, 3 and 7 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 Director of Environment and Community Services submitted a report in relation to the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref: 40/25, 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, verified his name, address, and confirmed he had received a copy of the report, but had not brought it with him to the meeting.  He raised concerns regarding the accuracy and content of the report. 

The Licensing Manager provided the applicant with a copy of the report and circulated an email from the applicant dated 9 December 2025, in which the applicant disputed the accuracy of the report and indicated that he wished to withdraw his application.

The Committee was informed that the Principal Public Protection Officer (Licensing) had responded to the applicant advising that any concerns could be raised at the Committee meeting.  Subsequent correspondence from the applicant indicated that he wished to withdraw the application.  However, the applicant attended the Committee meeting on the day without prior notification to Licensing Officers.

The Committee considered the circumstances and agreed to proceed to hear the application.

The Licensing Manager presented the report, which outlined that the applicant had previously been licensed as a private hire driver from January 2015 to May 2018, when his licence was revoked with immediate effect following a failed drugs test.

The applicant’s original licence had been granted by the Licensing Committee after consideration of previous offences, which were deemed too old to be relevant at the time.  He later appeared before Members on 24 June 2024 in connection with a further application.  On that occasion, Members considered his previous licensing history, including complaints from members of the public and an allegation of drug use which had resulted in the revocation of his licence in May 2018.  Following the consideration of the report and the applicant’s representations, the application was refused.

The report detailed several complaints recorded during the applicant’s previous period of licensing.  These included a complaint in September 2017 relating to smoking in a licensed vehicle, a warning issued in November 2017 in relation to driver conduct, and a further complaint in March 2018 concerning inappropriate behaviour towards another motorist.  The applicant either could not recall the incidents or stated that he could not remember receiving the warnings, although he accepted remembering some aspects of the events.

The report also set out the circumstances surrounding the failed drugs test in May 2018.  The applicant had previously stated that he had taken cocaine while on a night out, which resulted in a positive test for cocaine and amphetamines.  His licence was revoked with immediate effect, and he did not appeal the decision.

Following the revocation, the application changed employment and worked within the security industry.  During an interview with Licensing Officers on 25 September 2025, the applicant stated that his earlier explanation regarding drug use was incorrect.  He said that he did not knowingly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/72

The Director of Environment and Community Services submitted a report in relation to an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref: 41/25, 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, verified his name, address, and confirmed he had received a copy of the report and understood its contents.

The Principal Public Protection Officer (Licensing) presented a summary of the report stating that the applicant appeared before Members due to convictions detailed at 1) in the submitted report.

The report stated that the offence had not been declared at the time of application.  The applicant was interviewed by Licensing Officers on 19 November 2025, when he confirmed that there were no outstanding matters of which the Council was unaware.  He provided an explanation for the non-disclosure, stating that he had been assisted in completing the online application by a representative of his prospective employer and believed the question only related to convictions within the previous five years.  He stated that the omission was a genuine mistake and that he had not intended to mislead the Council.

The applicant provided details of the circumstances leading to a conviction for driving with excess alcohol in December 2019.  The applicant explained that he had been experiencing personal difficulties at the time, including medical issues and being made unemployed.

The applicant also provided details of the events leading to the conviction and highlighted that his 14 month driving ban was later reduced by 14 weeks following completion of a Drink Driving Awareness Course.  He added that he had not consumed alcohol since the incident and that he no longer placed himself in situations where alcohol was present and frequently declined social invitations involving alcohol.

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

It was confirmed that there were no further questions and the applicant, 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 Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence, Ref No: 41/25, be refused, as follows:

Authority to Act

1.     Under Section 51 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 (“the Act”) the Committee may decide to grant a private hire vehicle driver’s licence only if it was satisfied the driver was a fit and proper person to be granted such a licence.

2.     The Committee considered Section 51 of the Act, the Middlesbrough Council Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Policy 2022 (“the Policy”), the report and representations made by the Applicant.

3.     The application was considered on its own particular facts and on its merits.

Decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/73