Taxi Policy and Conditions Review

Overview

Following publication of the Department for Transport’s ‘statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards’ in July 2020, Winchester City Council is reviewing the following documents:

• Statement of Licensing Policy with respect to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers, Vehicles and Private Hire Operators
• Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers Conditions
• Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Conditions
• Private Hire Operator’s Licence Conditions

The standards focus on establishing common core minimum standards across the taxi and private hire sector and aim to protect children and vulnerable adults. The Department for Transport expects all licensing authorities to implement these recommendations unless there are compelling local reasons not to.

The Council is proposing changes to the above documents to align its licensing requirements with those suggested by the Department for Transport.

The Department for Transport states that, in the interest of transparency, all licensing authorities should publish their consideration of the measures contained in Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards. This document is available to view and download below.

A public consultation will run for four weeks until 14 March. The Council welcomes the views of the general public, the taxi and private hire trade, neighbouring licensing authorities and any other person that may be affected by the proposed changes.

Consultation responses will be collected and presented to the Licensing and Regulation Committee for consideration prior to any policy or conditions being amended. The meeting of the Licensing and Regulation Committee will be open to the public and broadcasted live on the Council’s website.

What happens next

Consultation responses will be collected and presented to the Licensing and Regulation Committee for consideration prior to any policy or conditions being amended. The meeting of the Licensing and Regulation Committee will be open to the public and broadcasted live on the Council’s website.