A Council licensing chief has today welcomed stricter guidelines for the granting of new and renewed licences for cabbies.

Under the new proposed criteria when hackney carriage and private-hire drivers apply for a new licence or renewed licences after being convicted of serious offences there will be "a presumption that a licence will be refused or revoked."

Despite this presumption a report to councillors states the new regulations will be dealt with on a "case by case basis."

Previously all applications went before councillors on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Panel. Now specified Council officers will deal with cases involving drivers with convictions.

Michael Walls, chairman of the panel, said this would help reduce the number of drivers being brought before the panel for minor issues.

The panel would now only deal with applications when a driver has a conviction for such offences as arson, kidnap, violence, indecency or anything drug-related and the officer believes there is a exceptional circumstance why it should be granted.

"The panel will deal more with the serious issues and this will help reduce the waiting time for drivers for their licences," said Coun Walls.

He said the public's safety was paramount.

Earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus reported various complaints from women passengers about sexual remarks made by taxi drivers and a cabbie was sacked after a teenager claimed she was assaulted in his car.

Mr Walls said all serious matters would be reported to the police.

"Since public concern has been expressed we are even more determined than we were to make sure the public is safe," he said.

If a decision is taken to refuse or revoke a licence the applicant has, by law, 21 days from receiving the decision to make an appeal to the Magist-rates Court.

The Regulatory and Appeals Committee will be asked to approve the new scheme at its meeting on Friday.

Committee chairman Councillor Stanley King said: "The safety of taxi passengers and road users must be given the highest priority and these proposed changes to the licensing system aim to do just that."

The guideline were drawn up with the help of Bradford Social Services, Education Bradford and West Yorkshire Transport Service who require the same details of criminal records for their drivers.

They also take into account comments made by the hackney carriage private hire trade.