Portsmouth urges action on taxi licensing loopholes

At a recent full council meeting, members unanimously supported a notice of motion tabled by councillor Emily Strudwick, the former chair of the licensing committee.

Her motion concerned cross-border licensing, where taxis and private hire vehicles operate in one area despite being licensed by another council.

Portsmouth councillors have for some years remarked on the presence of taxis licensed by The City of Wolverhampton Council, which is known for its cheaper, quicker application process and comparatively lower safety standards.

In her maiden speech, Cllr Strudwick said residents deserve to understand the reality of the situation, as many assume PCC allows out-of-town taxis or is lowering standards.

“Due to national legislation, particularly the de-regulation act, local authorities have very limited powers to control cross-border licensing.

“Over time this has allowed vehicles licensed in other areas to operate widely across the country and we saw a significant increase during the Covid-19 period and it does not appear to be slowing down.”

She added the issue is not only administrative but also concerns public safety and confidence, as different councils can apply different safety standards.

She said Portsmouth has worked hard to secure safety improvements, including mandatory CCTV inside vehicles, a standard not adopted in Wolverhampton.

She stressed the importance of CCTV in protecting passengers and drivers and asked “why any authority would choose not to adopt them”.

In closing, she highlighted the Department for Transport’s open consultation on taxi licensing changes and said the motion “clearly expresses Portsmouth’s position”.

She said residents deserved “confidence” when entering a licensed vehicle, that local drivers deserve a “level playing field”, and that councils should be able to use “the tools they need to protect the public they serve”.

Cllr Lee Hunt, the newly appointed chair of the licensing committee, thanked her for her work on this issue, which gained her recognition by the Local Government Association (LGA).

He criticised the “dark side” of de-regulation as the “headlong rush of successive governments cosying up to market forces”.

Members unanimously voted in support of the motion, which resolves to write to central government and the LGA calling for urgent taxi licensing reform, including a national database, mandatory CCTV, journey limits tied to licensing areas, and stronger local enforcement powers.

It also asks the leader to seek support from Hampshire MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner and reaffirms its commitment to the safety of women and girls and all passengers.