A Hull MP has echoed Hull City Council’s calls to tackle a taxi licensing ‘loop-hole’ that allows drivers from across the country to operate in Hull.
At last month’s full council meeting, councillors unanimously backed a motion calling upon the Government to alter the licensing system. The leader of the Labour Group on Hull City Council, Cllr Daren Hale, brought the motion to the council after The Casey Review (the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) made a number of recommendations including the tightening of taxi licensing rules.
The concerns pertain to the licensing of private hire vehicles (PHVs) which, despite being licensed by a specific local authority, can operate throughout the country. The process of getting a PHV licence differs from council to council. The application fees as well as the level of vehicle standards are set by each individual council meaning it is in theory ‘easier’ to get a licence from some councils than others. This has led to situation in which Hull City Council “is left with a lack of control over who operates on our streets and who transports our residents,” according to the chair of the council’s licensing committee, Cllr Ted Dolman.
The Labour MP for Hull East, Karl Turner has echoed the council’s calls by writing to the Transport Secretary calling for urgent action to address concerns with the current licensing rules. Mr Turner is calling for a review of national taxi licensing laws and is requesting a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss potential reforms.
(Image: Karl Turner / Labour Party)
Commenting on the situation, Mr Turner said: “The current system is not just unfair to local taxi drivers — it means we have taxis in Hull which won’t have the local knowledge that many passengers would expect. The Government must close this loop-hole and create a system that is consistent, safe, and locally enforceable.”
Both Cllr Hale and Mr Turner have specifically referred to City of Wolverhampton Council in their concerns. Mr Turner’s letter cites figures showing that 96% of drivers licensed by Wolverhampton Council are operating outside of the area, with Wolverhampton alone issuing 10% of all taxi licences across the UK last year.
(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
City of Wolverhampton Council has responded to the concerns raised by councillors in Hull. A spokesperson said: “Safeguarding is our number one priority in taxi licensing. City of Wolverhampton Council is investing in innovative technology to lead the way nationally.
- We are the only local authority which checks drivers on the Update Service DBS status every day.
- We are the first authority to offer driver licence checks by smartphone – passengers can verify their driver’s licence status and identity before they enter the vehicle.
- We were the first to implement the government’s statutory standards and best practice guidance
“We welcome any measures from Government to help tackle the important matter of safeguarding.
“We work in partnership with Hull City Council and have carried out 23 operations over the last three years, checking 206 vehicles. We have been accompanied by local licensing officers on 19 of these operations.
“It is illegal for the council to refuse applicants a taxi licence on the basis of where they live. Under the current law, applicants are able to apply to any licensing authority for a licence.
“It is also illegal for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences they issue.
“The council does not gain financially from taxi licensing, as the fees are legally ringfenced for spend only on related activities.
“Our early adoption of digital technology has allowed us to offer a simple and efficient online application procedure, with the requirement that drivers attend in person for training and strict assessment before an application can be processed.
“We take enforcement responsibilities seriously and our officers are out across the country, every Friday and Saturday night, working to protect the public. The council has three teams of compliance officers, one based in Wolverhampton, another in the East Midlands and another in the North of England. Our safeguarding statement and requirements for drivers can be found here.”
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