Woking Council seeks to streamline taxi licence refusals amid public safety concerns
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
Woking Borough Council is looking to amend its licensing process to allow officers to refuse new taxi driver licence applications without needing a committee hearing, in cases where public safety is at risk.
Currently, all refusals must go before the Licensing Sub-Committee. The proposal, set to be discussed on 16 September, would permit the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee and Legal Services, to make direct decisions in these high-risk cases.
The council’s current scheme only allows officers to reject licence renewal applications or revoke existing ones. This has created a procedural gap when dealing with new applicants, despite serious safety concerns. The new powers aim to address this inconsistency.
An example cited in the report involves a recent case where an applicant had previous convictions for sexual offences against female passengers. Despite the clear risk to public safety, the case was delayed for months due to the requirement for a full committee hearing.
Council officers argue that the current setup leads to inefficiencies and delays. Between September 2023 and September 2025, four sub-committee meetings could have been avoided if the delegation powers were already in place. Legal, licensing and democratic services staff spend considerable time preparing reports for decisions that are often straightforward.
The proposal is backed by national guidance including the Department for Transport’s 2023 best practice, the Local Government Association’s councillor handbook, and the Institute of Licensing’s 2024 suitability guidance. All recommend timely, risk-based decisions that prioritise public protection.
According to the report, the change would not remove oversight. The ability for officers and members to refer difficult cases to the full committee remains. The council also notes that only one licence refusal has been overturned in the magistrates’ court over the last six years.
If approved, the amendment would be a permanent change and require full council sign-off. Officers say the move would save money, free up time, and improve public safety outcomes.
