The Bolton News reports that Shaz Malik, boss of 4Sixes Taxis and a driving force of the Chorley Taxi Association, has warned drivers that one mistake can cost them their livelihood, after Bolton Council revoked both private hire operator licences held by an unnamed operator responsible for a large number of vehicles.
The October hearing
On Tuesday 6 October 2026 the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee met in the council chamber at Bolton Town Hall. The press and public were excluded. The operator is not named in the minutes. He attended without a representative, and each side had a maximum of 15 minutes.
The Director of Place had reported alleged misconduct. The operator asked to introduce further evidence at the hearing. The licensing officer objected, because it had not been sent in advance and could not be checked in time. The chair explained that the invitation had asked for material to be sent ahead, and that a summary could be given in the submissions. A letter from Bury Council was read out. It recorded that a warning letter had been sent to the operator. The minutes do not say what that warning concerned.
The committee took account of a conviction on 25 March 2026 for failure to give information as to the identity of a driver. Under the council's Statement of Fitness and Suitability that is a major traffic offence, and a conviction less than three years old would generally mean that a licence would be revoked. The conviction had not been declared, contrary to the conditions of the licence. The committee recorded that a fit and proper person would give the police the information when asked, and that the licence holder could not give a consistent explanation for failing to provide the driver details or for the delay in informing licensing. He was responsible for a large number of vehicles under the operator licence, and the minutes state that compliance mattered in that position. There was reasonable cause to revoke both private hire operator licences.
Councillor Toby Hewitt moved the revocation and Councillor Anne Galloway seconded it. Councillors Donaghy, Galloway, Hewitt, Pedley and Flitcroft voted for. Councillors F. Khan, B. Khan and McHugh voted against. The motion carried. The committee did not consider the licence holder a fit and proper person to hold the operator licences at this time.
What must be reported
On 23 February 2026 Bolton Council reminded private hire and hackney carriage licence holders to notify specified matters immediately in writing, and in any case within 24 hours. The reminder lists an arrest or criminal investigation, a summons, a charge, a conviction, a formal or simple caution, a fixed penalty or a speed awareness course, a criminal court order, a criminal behaviour order or an anti-social behaviour injunction, a domestic violence related order, a warning or a bind over, and any matter of restorative justice. The council may require further information about the circumstances.
A newly diagnosed medical condition, or a change in one, must be notified immediately, and in any case within 48 hours, where it may restrict entitlement to drive to the DVSA Group 2 standard.
The council wrote that, over recent months, it had seen a significant number of cases in which drivers had not reported relevant changes. That is the council's description, not a published count. Failure to inform the council is treated as a serious breach of licence conditions. The outcomes listed are a written warning, suspension, revocation, or a refusal to renew, and the reminder states that these can follow even where the offence or the medical issue would not, on its own, have caused concern. Notifications go to licensing.unit@bolton.gov.uk.
The warning to drivers
In the same report, Malik treated payment of a fixed penalty as leaving a separate reporting duty in place, and an arrest as something that may have to be disclosed even where no charge or conviction follows. An arrest, on that account, does not establish guilt, but a missed report can itself raise a licensing concern, and drivers should understand the conditions before an investigation or a hearing rather than discovering them once a licence is already under scrutiny.
"For taxi and private hire drivers, a badge represents years of investment, professional responsibility and the means to support their families. But here are drivers who do not even know the conditions attached to their badge. That is why driver awareness matters. Drivers need to understand what they must report, when they must report it and the standards expected of them. Licensing officers have a job to do in checking compliance and protecting the public. Drivers also have a responsibility to read their conditions, understand them and follow them. Those responsibilities continue for as long as they hold the badge. A driver may have spent considerable time and money getting their badge and building their livelihood. Understanding the conditions and dealing with problems promptly is part of protecting that investment. Drivers should be able to explain their account and provide supporting evidence. A small administrative omission can become a serious licensing issue. Understanding the rules is an important part of protecting your passengers, your badge and your livelihood."