Three private hire drivers have faced disciplinary action after Bolton Council’s Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee ruled on driving offences and repeated breaches of licence conditions, following separate hearings on 7 July 2026.
Councillors concluded that each case raised serious doubts about whether the individuals remained “fit and proper” to hold or be granted a licence. In the first case, members unanimously refused a new driver application following a January 2026 conviction for driving without due care and attention — classified as an intermediate offence under the council’s Statement of Fitness and Suitability, where convictions under two years old generally trigger refusal. The committee found there was reasonable cause to refuse, as the applicant was not considered fit and proper at this time.
In a second hearing, councillors unanimously revoked an existing driver’s licence following an April 2026 conviction for failing to identify a driver — commonly recorded as an MS90 offence. The panel found the driver had breached licence conditions by failing to notify the council of the conviction within the required timescale, and that this had happened before. Some councillors proposed immediate revocation on public safety grounds, arguing the driver’s actions involved dishonesty. Legal advice given at the meeting clarified that an MS90 offence is not a dishonesty offence but a major motoring offence; that amendment was defeated, though the licence was still revoked under the council’s standard fitness and suitability policy.
The third driver was suspended for eight weeks after a similar April 2026 conviction for driving without due care and attention, again failing to declare it promptly. An amendment seeking immediate revocation cited the driver’s motorway conduct and a past incident involving a pedestrian’s foot, along with previous complaints — but this was rejected by the committee. No action was taken against the driver’s vehicle licence. The driver must now complete safeguarding training and receive advice on motorway behaviour before returning to work.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
Sources:
- THREE BOLTON PH DRIVERS FACE REFUSAL, REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION FOLLOWING COUNCIL RULINGS – PHTM
- Three Bolton private hire drivers face refusal, revocation and suspension after licensing committee rulings – TaxiPoint
- Bolton Council Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee minutes, 7 July 2026 – Bolton Council
