Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's General Licensing Committee refused a private hire driver's licence on Tuesday 28 July 2026. Applicant 001173 came to the hearing after the council had revoked his driver's licence. That revocation related to an alleged offence of sexual assault. The meeting was in the council chamber at Dunedin House, Columbia Drive, Thornaby, and the public was excluded under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, on the ground of exempt information under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A. Printed minutes of 28 July 2026
Members were asked to determine an application for a combined hackney carriage and private hire driver. The report included a Cleveland Police conditional bail document, the application form and DVLA check code, a summary transcript between the applicant and licensing officers, and the revocation letter.
The account at the hearing
On the applicant's account, the person who made the allegation was known to him and had a pre-existing relationship with that person's parents. He had agreed to collect the accuser and one other person on the night of the alleged assault. The first stop was the agreed location for the second passenger, before the agreed location of the accuser. After the first part of the journey he allowed the accuser to move into the front seat.
Members asked why the passenger had been allowed to change seats rather than the journey simply being completed. With hindsight he accepted that he should not have allowed it, and that in future he would insist all passengers remain seated in the back of the taxi. He assured the committee that the allegation had been unfounded and that the police had not proceeded with the case, and he gave his record as more than 20 years as a driver, a good one before this incident.
Why the licence was refused
The committee considered the papers and what it heard from the applicant and the licensing officers. It could not determine that applicant 001173 was a fit and proper person. The concern was the inconsistencies between the information in the papers and what he presented at the hearing. His application for a private hire driver's licence was refused.
A refusal of a private hire driver's licence can be appealed to the magistrates' court.
Who sat
Councillor Eileen Johnson chaired, with Councillor Mick Moore as vice-chair. Councillors Jim Beall, Marc Besford, Robert Cook, John Coulson, Elsi Hampton and Ann McCoy were present. Apologies were recorded for Councillors Diane Clarke OBE, Jason French, Andrew Sherris, Marilyn Surtees and Hilary Vickers.
The October agenda
The agenda for Thursday 29 October 2026 includes a hackney carriage driver application numbered 001173, and the report is restricted. Minutes of that meeting are not published. The refusal of 28 July is the decision on the public record. Agenda for 29 October 2026