IN THE NEWS
CONCERNS RAISED OVER TAXI LICENCE REVIEW PROCEDURE AT BRADFORD COUNCIL
PH firm Local Cars is formally raising serious concerns about the fairness, transparency, and independence of certain taxi and PH
licence review panels
conducted by Bradford Council’s Licensing and Enforcement Team. Under the current structure at Bradford
council, investigating
officers prepare statements and present cases before panels com- prised of colleagues from within the same department, including senior officers and managers/line managers. These panels then determine if a driver’s
licence
should be suspended or revoked. While we fully support firm and appropriate action against drivers who pose genuine risks to public safety, we are increasingly con- cerned about procedural fairness in a number of cases, in particular: l Statements prepared by investigating officers may not always reflect the full context or mitigating circumstances.
l Drivers are often left to represent themselves in proceedings that directly affect their livelihood.
l Panel members are not neces- sarily legally qualified, yet they
CABBIE WINS TRIBUNAL AFTER FIRM TOOK £500 EXCESS FROM WAGES AFTER CRASH
An Aberdeenshire taxi driver has won a legal battle against his employer after the company deducted £500 from his wages to cover insurance
excess cost
following a car accident. Fraser Allan, who worked for Central Taxis (North East) Ltd, took the firm to an employment tribunal after they began taking £100 a month from his pay following a crash in June 2024. While Mr. Allan admitted he was at fault for reversing into a wall, the tribunal ruled the company had no legal right to take the money without his written consent. Central Taxis argued that it was “company policy” to make drivers pay up to £500 for damages to be taken from their wages and had even posted a notice on an internal driver app. However, Employment Judge Mr. A. Kemp found that a message on an app did not count
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as a legal contract. The court heard that Mr. Allan had never signed a written agreement or a formal statement of employ- ment. The company defended its actions by claiming the policy was fair and had been used for years without being challenged. Judge Kemp rejected this, stating fairness was not the issue, but rather the law. In his ruling, he said: “Having regard to all the evidence I con- cluded that there was no term of the contract between the parties permitting a deduction... the deductions made totalling £500 did not meet the requirements of section 13 of the 1996 Act, and were unauthorised accordingly.” Central Taxis has been ordered to repay the full £500 to Mr. Allan. The firm indicated it intends to introduce new paperwork for staff to sign to ensure future deduct- ions are handled legally.
are making determinations with life-changing consequences.
l The structure raises legitimate concerns about independence, as the investigator and decision makers operate within the same internal team.
Local Cars told PHTM: “A taxi/PH licence is not simply a permit but it is a driver’s profession and means of supporting a family. Any process that risks revocation must meet the highest standards of natural justice, fairness, and impartiality. We’re not trying to weaken enforcement. We believe in public safety. We
are seeking to
strengthen fairness.” Local Cars believes: l Licence review decisions should be demonstrably independent.
l Drivers should have a clear and fair opportunity to present their case.
l Representation should be properly facilitated.
l Panels should operate with full transparency & balanced evidence. Where decisions are justified, they should stand. However, where procedural fairness is in question, drivers deserve the opportunity for proper review and challenge. The firm has now partnered with an independent legal team to examine cases where drivers believe they were treated unfairly during the review process. Drivers: if you have been through a licence review and believe the process was not fair, transparent, or properly conducted, we invite you to come forward and share your experience
confidentially
weather you work with us or any other operator/app company. Email :
localcars@hotmail.com
MARCH 2026 PHTM
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