Posted on the 6th January 2026 in PHTM News
DUDLEY COUNCIL TAXI COMMITTEE MINUTES REVEAL ASTONISHING PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LICENCE APPLICATIONS
Minutes from Dudley Council’s Taxi Committee meetings have shed light on some of the more astonishing private hire driver applications considered this year.
The committee meets behind closed doors to protect the identities of applicants, but Birmingham Live has reviewed records from meetings held throughout the year, revealing why several individuals were deemed not to be “fit and proper” to hold a taxi licence.
In March, a driver identified as SM was subject to a licence review after it emerged that his DVLA driving licence had been revoked.
The committee also found that he had failed to declare an ongoing case at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. Councillors rejected his explanation and revoked his private hire licence “in the interests of public safety”.
In April, another individual, referred to as AA, had his private hire driver’s licence revoked after the committee took into account his numerous offences, his failure to declare those offences, and the revocation of his Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) licence.
In September, driver SB had his private hire licence revoked after his DVLA driving licence was suspended and “numerous offences” were presented to the committee.
Earlier in the year, in February, an application from driver AM was rejected after it was discovered that he had previous convictions, including offences involving dishonesty, which he had failed to declare on his application form. Councillors were not persuaded by his explanation and ruled that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire licence.
In July, councillors concluded that driver MAR was unsuitable to hold a private hire licence after he failed to satisfactorily explain allegations of “inappropriate conduct towards female passengers” and plying for hire.
Also in July, the committee refused to renew driver YM’s private hire licence in the interests of public safety after he committed a serious offence by submitting false documents to Uber.
Throughout the year, several other drivers were allowed to retain their licences following reviews, though they were issued with stern warnings regarding their future conduct.
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