Review of black cabs and private hire vehicles
AN independent review is set to be carried out into the number of black cabs and private hire vehicles on the streets of the city.
The city council is responsible for the licensing and regulation of taxis and private hires operating within its boundary.
It is allowed to refuse new taxi licenses to limit the number of black cabs operating but only if it is satisfied there is no significant unmet need.
The council has had a longstanding policy that the maximum of back cab licenses issued should be 1428.
Until recently, councillors had no power to limit the number of private hires on the streets but that changed with the introduction of new legislation which came into effect in May last year.
That allows the licensing authority to refuse to grant an application for a private hire license on the grounds it is satisfied there is already an overprovision of private hire cars in the areas the driver plans to operate.
At present there are 1420 black cab licenses and 3410 private hire care licenses in the city.
This week, councillors will be asked to agree that an independent assessment be carried out to look at the issue of private hire cars in the city as well as black cab taxis.
A report says: “It is considered an assessment of demand for the services of either taxis or private hire cars cannot properly be made in isolation of the other.”
If it is approved, the independent assessment will review the provision, use and demand for the services of both taxis and private hires.
That would allow councillors to consider a possible change to the existing policy on the number of taxi licenses and the possible introduction of a limit on the number of private hires.