Agenda item

Section 3.4.2          Private Hire

Section 3.11.0        Hackney Carriage

Members received an information report on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence Renewal Upper Age Limits.

The Principal Officer (Licensing), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) presented the report.

Members were reminded that the Committee had previously queried the number of applications received for hackney carriage and private hire licences which fell outside of the Council’s current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in terms of vehicle age limits. Members had asked if the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle age restrictions should be increased.

The Council’s current hackney carriage and private hire vehicle age requirements for both new and renewal licence applications were set out in section 3.0 to 3.4 of the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, Appendix 1 to the report.

At the Licensing Committee meeting held on 10^th November 2025, Members had requested that an information report be presented to the Committee in order for Committee Members to consider whether the current policy around the upper vehicle age limits was suitable and functional.

Members had raised some concern that a high proportion of vehicles were being presented to Licensing Sub-Committee meetings; and were subsequently being granted a licence due to their vehicles being of an exceptional standard.

Members were informed that, as detailed in the report, hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences may be issued to vehicles that fell outside of the vehicle age policy providing that the vehicle presented was of an ‘exceptional standard.’

In the past 3 years between February 2023 and February 2026, the Council had received and considered 11 applications to licence a vehicle outside of the vehicle age policy. This number compared to other districts across Worcestershire was relatively small.

The Principal Officer (Licensing) WRS, drew Members’ attention to paragraph 3.3 of the report (page 4 of the Supplementary Agenda Pack) (with regard to applications received and subsequently granted by Licensing Sub-Committee Members), the report detailed that:-

‘All of the 11 applications considered were in relation to hackney carriage vehicles, and all were granted.’

Members were informed that not all 11 applications were granted. 1 application was refused and went to an appeal, but it did not proceed as the appellant withdraw his appeal.

At the time of writing this report, the total number of licensed vehicles on the Council’s taxi fleet was 89, which consisted of 80 hackney carriage vehicles and 9 private hire vehicles.

It was difficult to predict how many applications might be made in 2026 requesting for a vehicle licence to be granted outside of age policy. However, records held indicated that of the 89 currently licensed vehicles, only three vehicles would be eligible to apply.

Officers had carried out a benchmarking exercise, setting out comparable vehicle age limits with neighbouring local authorities within and bordering Worcestershire, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Principal Officer (Licensing), WRS, reminded Members that should they wish to change Sections 3.4.2 and 3.11.0 of the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, then a consultation would have to be carried out with the relevant consultees.

In response the Chairman commented that the number of such applications presented to Licensing Sub-Committee meetings, was not as onerous as Members had thought they were.

Members briefly discussed other authorities criteria’s and age restrictions and noted that some authorities would only licence brand new vehicles, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

Members also queried if the costs (fees) had any impact. In response the Principal Officer (Licensing), WRS, stated that Wychavon District Council had the lowest fees, but fees charged did not actually have any impact.

The Principal Officer (Licensing), WRS further responded to questions from Members with regards to Uber, who Members were informed were an operator like any other operator. Local authorities could apply to work with Uber, Bromsgrove District Council had requested to do this, however, Uber did not accept the Council’s request.

It was highlighted to Members that since deregulation was introduced, cross border working had had an impact on local taxi drivers.

RESOLVED that the information report on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy review – Requirements as to the age of a vehicle upon renewal of licence, be noted.