Fareham Borough Council is consulting on three changes to its taxi and private hire licensing policy. Nothing in the draft replaces the current rules until the council adopts a new policy.
The consultation opened on 13 October and closes on 20 November 2026. Comments go to [licensingofficers@fareham.gov.uk](mailto:licensingofficers@fareham.gov.uk). The council says people can comment on the wording of the policy. They cannot change the statutory duties the council already has.
The three proposals
A new applicant would have to have held a full UK driving licence for four years. The rule now is two years. The council's notice describes this as a requirement for applicants. It does not say that drivers who are already licensed must meet the four-year mark.
New applicants would get two attempts at the knowledge test, not three. Both hackney carriage and private hire applicants have to pass it.
On a letter of good conduct, the council's [consultation page](https://lets-talk.fareham.gov.uk/consultation/LetsTalkTaxiLicensing) says criminal record checks would no longer be considered for ages under 18. The [press release](https://www.fareham.gov.uk/latest_news/pressrelease/pr_20261013_1) puts that more widely, as "only considering offences committed by applicants aged 18 and over." The consultation page is the narrower of the two. A Disclosure and Barring Service check is still part of an application.
Time spent abroad
On 30 September the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee agreed the draft for consultation, with one change. Institute of Licensing guidance asks for a criminal record check from another country where someone has spent six months or more outside the UK in any year, whether in one stay or added up across trips. Members said that could catch older drivers who take several holidays. The draft going out to consultation is to require the check for a continuous six months abroad, not six months in total.
The same meeting was told that a tougher knowledge test is intended to be brought in separately, and before the rest of the policy changes. That is not one of the three items on the consultation form.
Executive member Joanne Burton said the updates reflect current guidance and best practice, and asked people affected to respond.