See answers to previous information requests

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.

1. Licensed drivers - The total number of licensed:
• Taxi (hackney carriage) drivers: 153
• Private hire drivers: 119
Also we have LTF School and Community Services Driver Licence: 77

2. Applications and licensing decisions - The number of driver licence applications:
• Received: 212
• Granted: 294
• Refused: Not currently known

3. Suspensions and revocations - The number of driver licences:
• Suspended: 8
• Revoked: 5
Where recorded, please indicate how many were related to:
• Sexual offences: We do not report on this, this would require manually inspecting action diary lists for each case
• Violent offences: We do not report on this, this would require manually inspecting action diary lists for each case

4. Safeguarding and adverse information decisions
For the purposes of this request, “adverse information” includes: criminal convictions, police intelligence, safeguarding referrals and any other information considered relevant to the “fit and proper person” assessment
a) Please provide the number of cases where a taxi or private hire driver licence was granted, or renewed, where adverse information was known to the authority at the time of the decision: We do not hold this data, not quantifiable. The Civica cases are created only if a person has passed validation checks.
b) Where possible, please also indicate: How many of these cases involved sexual or violent offences (convicted or otherwise, where recorded); We do not hold this data, not quantifiable. The Civica cases are created only if a person has passed validation checks.
If exact categorisation is not held, please provide any internal category used to record such decisions: We do not hold this data, not quantifiable. The Civica cases are created only if a person has passed validation checks.

5. Background checks and safeguarding systems. Please confirm:
a) Whether your authority uses the NR3 register when assessing applicants: Yes
b) Whether your authority subscribes to the DBS Update Service for ongoing monitoring: Yes
c) How frequently enhanced DBS checks are required for licensed drivers:
• At application only
• At renewal
• Other (please specify)
At application and at renewal of their DBS check. Renewals are every 3 years on the anniversary of initial DBS application date.

6. Private hire operators (including app-based services)
a) The number of licensed private hire operators under your authority, including app-based booking platforms such as Uber, Bolt or similar services where licensed locally: 43
b) Where available, please provide:
• Number of operator licences granted: 18
• Refused: 0
• Suspended or revoked: 0
• Any enforcement action taken against operators: 0