ROUND THE COUNCILS
BLACKBURN w DARWEN: DRIVERS’ MOT OPPOSITION IGNORED
Dozens of taxi and private hire drivers descended upon Blackburn with Darwen’s council chamber on Thursday, January 8, in a heated but ultimately unsuccessful protest against the borough’s restrictive vehicle MOT testing policy. Despite a two-hour session of the authority’s executive board and a “barrage of questions” from drivers and opposition councillors, Labour members voted to maintain the status quo. This means the borough’s 1,200 drivers remain legally required to use a single, local authority-run station at Davyfield Road for roadworthiness certificates. The decision comes despite a consultation and subsequent report, where 94% of driver respondents expressed “significant dissatisfaction with the process,” citing high costs and logistical delays. Drivers challenged the council’s logic, questioning why they are restricted to one site when vehicles licensed elsewhere operate locally using private garages.
Muhammad Saqib asked the board: “Has the council assessed the real-world impact of this policy on drivers’ income, working hours and wellbeing?” Meanwhile, Maqboul Hussain demanded to know: “Why was widespread opposition from licensed drivers not reflected in the final decision?” Representing the trade, Ashraf Mangera, Chair of the Blackburn Hackney Drivers Association, asked: “What objective evidence shows that restricting taxi MOT testing to a single council run station is necessary to protect public safety?” Environment boss Cllr Jim Smith remained firm, arguing that the centralised system ensures a “consistent, high-standard assessment” that private garages might not provide. Defending the report against claims of inaccuracies, Cllr Smith stated: “The recommendation is based on protecting public safety. We will always put public safety first.” “Fees are based on cost recovery.” To mitigate the burden on drivers, the council noted the introduction of an incentive where those who pass the MOT the first time received an “eight-month licence for the price of six months.” The policy passed with support from Labour executive members, but Council Leader Cllr Mustafa Desai notably abstained.
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Following the meeting, Cllr Desai signalled a desire for reform, stating: “The safety of drivers and passengers is and should always be the top priority... Here is an opportunity to work together to make the MOT testing process smoother and more effective. “I have put forward some recommendations with a view to improving the current system.”
NOTTINGHAM: MANDATORY RETRAINING EVERY 3 YEARS
All hackney and private hire drivers licensed by Nottingham City Council will be required to undergo safeguarding training every three years following a damning national report that found current licensing arrangements are “not fit for purpose.” The proposal by Nottingham City Council follows a major investigation led by Baroness Casey into the sexual exploitation of children in England. The report exposed a “link between taxi licensing and abuse,” detailing how perpetrators have “exploited weaknesses in the current system” to
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vulnerable youngsters. Under the new plans, the council intends to scrap the current “one-and-done” approach, where drivers are only trained when they first receive their badge. Instead, from 1st April 2026, all cabbies will be required to complete an online refresher course when they renew their combined driver’s licence every three years, to help them “identify suspicious activities” and “recognise types of abuse.” A city council document outlining the shift stated: “Clearly the number of failings in areas shows how perpetrators have exploited weaknesses in the current system of setting and enforcing standards within the taxi trade.” To ensure the highest standards, the authority is also considering raising the examination pass mark to 100 per cent, replacing the current 70 per cent threshold. The council confirmed that the enhanced training will not be funded by the public, as the £20 fee will be paid for by the drivers themselves. The curriculum aims to ensure drivers know exactly “how they can report concerns” to keep passengers safe from harm. The council insists the policy change is essential to “aligning the frequency of the mandatory training with the good practice set out in the report” and restoring public trust in the trade.
FEBRUARY 2026 PHTM
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