ROUND THE COUNCILS NORTH NORTHANTS: HUMAN COST OF LICENSING DECISIONS
Neil Rielly told PHTM that he is challenging North Northants Council (NNC) to explain how its licensing decisions protect the public when drivers face losing their livelihoods and passengers could face reduced access to reliable and accessible transport. In an email addressed to senior council officers and Cllr Kirk Harrison, Neil raises concerns about medical assessment procedures, knowledge testing, vehicle requirements and oversight of OOT PH operations. The challenge follows correspondence in which a long-serving Corby taxi driver indicated that he intends to surrender his badge after 35 years, citing difficulty establishing where to obtain a medical assessment required by the council. On 2 October, the driver reported that his GP could not provide the required test. The council advised him to approach his GP again. On 8 October, after he indicated his intention to surrender his badge, a council officer suggested Corby Community Diagnostic Centre. The correspondence did not confirm whether the centre provides the required assessment or how to access it. Neil said: “Drivers understand that medical fitness and passenger safety are essential. What is deeply frustrating is seeing someone unable to earn a living while being passed between organisations without a clear route to obtaining the evidence the council requires. These decisions affect real people: drivers with bills to pay, families depending on their income and passengers depending on taxis.” The email also questions the impact of knowledge testing on established drivers and recruitment, and seeks clarification about the Licensing Panel safeguard described in the council’s knowledge-test consultation. Concerns about vehicle licensing include whether sufficient individual consideration is available when licences lapse, and how decisions affect the availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis. Neil said: “The council needs to demonstrate that it has considered those consequences alongside the intended benefits of its rules.” The email also refers to the council’s response concerning Uber which stated that NNC had not conducted a detailed investigation into Uber’s booking allocation or undertaken a formal local impact assessment. Neil acknowledges that cross-
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border working can be lawful and that the council’s enforcement powers are limited. He asks what pro- active checks and arrangements with other licensing authorities provide assurance for passengers. He added: “‘Protecting the public’ must be supported by evidence and effective action. The council should explain how its approach improves safety overall, including transport availability and enforcement gaps. “Drivers and their families are members of the public too. Their welfare deserves consideration, alongside the needs of the passengers they serve.” The email requests a substantive written response within 14 days and a separate urgent response concerning the driver’s medical assessment.
WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD: REFORMS ON LOWERING EMISSIONS
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council is considering sweeping changes to its licensing regu- lations in an effort to combat air pollution and reduce emissions. However, officials warn that implement- ing these stricter restrictions could lead to “unforeseen consequences” for local drivers, prompting the council to launch a public consultation on October 13. The proposed rules mark a shift away from traditional vehicle age limits towards emissions-based standards, aligning with DfT guidance which cautioned that rigid age limits can be “inappropriate and counter- productive” for clean air initiatives, noting: “an older EV may produce lower emissions than a new petrol/ diesel vehicle, so rigid age restrictions can hinder moves towards clean air initiatives.” Under the new framework, age limits will be com- pletely removed from April 2027 for both existing and newly licensed vehicles that meet zero emission, Euro 6, ULEV, or ZEC standards. For all other taxis and PHVs, strict age caps will remain in force, requiring vehicles to be five years old or less when first licensed and capping their operating at 12 years from registration. Transition deadlines will also come into effect in stages: from April 1, 2028, all newly licensed vehicles must be Euro 6, ULEV, or ZEC compliant, and by April 2030, all newly licensed vehicles must be ULEV or ZEC. A council report highlighted that transport is the primary driver of local emissions, urging that the borough “make every effort” to reduce pollution where it holds influence, adding that phasing out age caps on eco-friendly taxis will lower emissions “in a meaningful way.”
NOVEMBER 2026 PHTM
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