ROUND THE COUNCILS HARTLEPOOL: VEHICLE AGE LIMITS COULD BE SCRAPPED
Hartlepool taxi drivers are on the verge of a significant win as the borough council considers scrapping controversial vehicle age limits. A new draft licensing policy, approved by the council’s licensing committee, proposes to eliminate the current rule that restricts licences to vehicles under five years old. The move follows a petition submitted in December, spearheaded by Khalid Hussain of Khalid Taxis, who expressed concerns over the financial burden on drivers. “It comes down to costs,” Hussain stated, highlighting the impact of Uber’s recent entry into the Hartlepool market. While the proposed policy would remove age restrictions, it maintains the requirement for all licensed vehicles to be Euro 6 compliant. However, the deadline for this has been pushed back to September 1, 2025, with wheelchair accessible vehicles granted an additional year.
This postponement addresses some of the concerns raised by drivers, though Hussain called for a further delay. Council officers clarified that the Euro 6 standard, mandatory for new cars since 2015, was initially implemented in council policy in 2019, with a planned implementation date of April 2023, later delayed due to COVID-19. They also noted that out of the 225 licensed vehicles, only 32 are currently not Euro 6 compliant. The draft policy will now undergo public consultation, allowing residents and drivers to voice their opinions before a final decision is made.
BARNSLEY: TAXI LICENSING FEES SET TO RISE
Fees for taxi drivers operating in Barnsley are set to climb next year for the first time since 2014. Single drivers currently pay either £137 for one year or £221 for three years, but under new plans this will rise to £150 or £240 respectively. Operators’ fees have also been revealed, with firms whose fleets are between 11 and 50 vehicles having to pay £664, 51 to 100 vehicles to pay £1,993, 101 to 250 vehicles to pay £4,650 and those with more facing a £6,643 cost for a year’s licence.
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A report, which was discussed by Barnsley MBC licensing board members on Tuesday 15 April, said: “A review of vehicle licence fees has not been carried out since 2014. “Fees have been calculated to accurately reflect costs following changes to working practices and increases in staffing costs since the current fees were adopted.”
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: ACCESSIBLE TAXI ACCESS REVIEW
Dumfries and Galloway Council is exploring ways to improve access to taxis and wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) following the findings of an independent survey carried out on behalf of the council, discussed at the Enabling and Customer Services Committee on 25 March. The survey highlighted ongoing challenges in accessible taxi availability across the region, particularly for wheelchair users. Provision of WAVs remains low, reflecting broader challenges around cost, operational pressures and service coverage. The council will work collaboratively with taxi operators, community groups and accessibility representatives to explore potential improvements – this includes reviewing licensing policies and exploring potential incentives for operators. Councillor Ivor Hyslop, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council's Enabling and Customer Services Committee, said: "This review helps us better understand where improvements might be needed, particularly for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges. "We will continue working with local operators and communities to explore ways to make transport services more accessible and responsive to local needs.” The committee considered the findings and signalled support for further work on licensing policies, stakeholder engagement and support for operators – helping ensure that future services better reflect the needs of all residents. Cllr Richard Marsh, Vice Chair, added: “We recognise the challenges in transport accessibility and the impact this has on people’s daily lives. This review allows us to look at potential solutions with those who rely on these services and those who provide them, ensuring any changes are fair and effective.”
MAY 2025 PHTM
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