ROUND THE COUNCILS PERTH:
24 NEW TAXI PLATES TO BE ISSUED
Perth and Kinross Council’s Licensing Committee has approved a controversial new scheme to issue 24 additional taxi licence plates, ignoring warnings from the local trade that the move could “destroy” the industry. The decision, made on December 15, aims to address “unmet demand” in the city, but local drivers argue the council is misreading the market. The scheme introduces strict conditions for the 24 new licences to ensure “fairness and transparency”: l Non-Transferable: plates must be returned to the council if no longer used.
l Accessibility: all new vehicles must be WAVs. l New entrants first: priority is given to operators who do not currently hold a licence to “grow the local taxi trade.”
Council officials defended the legality of the move, with Head of Legal Services, Lisa Simpson, insisting the process was “legal, competent, appropriate and lawful.” She noted that a 2024 survey showed that while total hires were down, the number of people waiting for cabs was “significantly higher.” The Perth Taxi Association launched a scathing attack on the plan. Vice-chairman Kevin Kulik, a cabbie for 32 years, warned: “We are fighting to save an industry that’s been built up over many years by working class people; yet decisions are being made by officials and councillors who, with respect, have little understanding of how a taxi/PH business actually operates. The consequences of these decisions will be devastating for livelihoods, public safety and the people of Perth.” He claimed the whole process had been “marred from the beginning” and there were “major flaws”. He added: “This is not a system in a position to safely expand; it’s a system struggling to cope. The trade has repeatedly asked to work with the council and was told we would have an input. Yet we had late notification of this meeting then discovered the decision already appeared to have been drafted up without consent.” He added: “Waiting times have fallen dramatically from 12 minutes, 32 seconds in 2021 to five minutes and 30 seconds in 2024 yet you are being asked to introduce five times the number of plates that were previously added. The figures don’t add up. “This decision will dilute the market to the point where many operators will walk away.”
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Veteran driver Peter Milne argued the council is solving the wrong problem, suggesting that the city lacks drivers, not cars. He claimed the restriction on transferring plates was unlawful and would discourage investment. Despite these pleas, the committee unanimously agreed to approve the scheme.
BLACKBURN w DARWEN: PRIVATE TAXI MOTS REJECTED
Blackburn with Darwen Council is set to uphold strict taxi testing regulations, prioritising passenger safety over calls from drivers for more flexibility. A new report heading to the Executive Board on January 8 recommends that all locally licensed taxis must continue to use the council’s own Motor Vehicle Service Station (MVSS) at Davyfield Road for their MOTs, rather than private garages. The recommendation follows a summer consultation that revealed a sharp divide between the trade and the public: The Trade: Most taxi operators and drivers lobbied for the freedom to use any MOT testing station within the borough. The Public: In a July 2025 survey of 500 residents, 84% rated vehicle safety as “extremely important.” A combined 82% of residents insisted that tests should remain at council-run or council-approved facilities. Despite the pressure from the taxi industry, officials argue that keeping the process in-house ensures the highest possible standards. To accommodate drivers, the MVSS currently aims to provide test and retest slots within 24 hours of a request. Councillor Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment and Resident Services, emphasised that public trust is the deciding factor. “Public confidence in taxi safety is key, and we’ve received a clear message from our residents that MOT tests must continue to be undertaken by the council,” Smith stated.
He added that the move aligns with broader goals to build “safer communities,” noting: “The recommend- ation to continue with our existing arrangements... is made with consistency and safety in mind.” If the Executive Board approves the proposal, the current system will remain locked in for the foreseeable future, with the next formal review not scheduled until 2028.
JANUARY 2026 PHTM
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