Council BLOCKS two private hire licence applications over undeclared Wolverhampton history and driving offences

Sandwell Council has refused a new private hire driver’s licence application after members found the applicant had failed to declare a previous licence refusal by City of Wolverhampton Council and omitted details of driving convictions during the application process.

The decision was made by Sandwell’s General Licensing Sub-Committee at a meeting held on 27 April 2026. Members considered an application from a new private hire driver applicant identified only as S.M., who attended the hearing accompanied by his sister.

During the hearing, councillors noted that S.M. had not declared on his Sandwell application that Wolverhampton Council had refused him a licence in September 2025 because of driving convictions. The committee also found that those previous driving convictions had not been disclosed on the application. The applicant further admitted committing another speeding offence, which had been dealt with through a speed awareness course.

After considering the evidence, the Sub-Committee concluded that S.M. had been dishonest both during the application process and while giving evidence at the hearing. Members were reminded that the council’s licensing policy states that, in cases involving dishonesty, an applicant would not normally be eligible to apply for a licence until they have been conviction-free for a period of 10 years.

The committee determined there were no substantial mitigating circumstances that justified departing from the council’s policy. Members also noted that private hire drivers occupy a position of trust and concluded they were unable to determine that S.M. was a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence.

As a result, the application was refused, with the applicant unable to reapply until after 27 April 2036 under the council’s policy. The applicant was advised of the right to appeal the decision to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days.

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At the same meeting, the Sub-Committee also refused a second application from another prospective private hire driver, identified as M.U. Members found the applicant had failed to accurately declare why a City of Wolverhampton Council taxi licence had previously been revoked and had also omitted previous driving convictions from the Sandwell application.

The committee again concluded the applicant had been dishonest and was not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence, meaning the individual will also be unable to apply again until after 27 April 2036 under the council’s policy.