A taxi driver licensed by Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been suspended for a period of 12 weeks by the Council's Licensing Panel on 23rd July 2025, for failing to report 3 driving convictions to the local authority.
The driver, a 65-year-old from Stratford-upon-Avon, had failed to inform the licensing authority of these convictions, which totalled 9 penalty points on his licence. The existence of these penalty points was only revealed as part of his application to renew his Dual Driver's licence. The points had been incurred between the period of April 2023 to March 2025.
The Council's Policy and Conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers state that 'the proprietor of a licensed vehicle should notify the Council in writing of any conviction or caution recorded against him or of any penalty points incurred within 7 days of such a conviction being imposed.'
The driver was also requested to provide a DVLA share code to the licensing department every 3 months for the duration of the next 18 months, so that his driving licence can be checked for penalty points that may have accrued.
The decision can be appealed to the Magistrate's Court, and any such appeal must be brought within 21 days from the date on which the notice of the decision is served. However, the driver has chosen not to appeal, and the suspension has commenced.
Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Portfolio Holder for Environmental and Neighbourhood Services, said: "Public safety is our highest priority when determining whether a driver is fit and proper to hold a licence. All licensed drivers and their vehicles are expected to meet the high standards set by the District Council. In this case, the driver's conduct did not meet those standards."
