Shropshire Council pushing for taxi licence review
A root-and-branch review into taxi licensing is needed at a national level, according to Shropshire Council bosses.
The authority says it is backing calls from the Local Government Association (LGA) for a review into the private hire taxi industry.
It comes after concern from the council which says vehicles licensed by other authorities are operating in the county.
Some say it can be a public safety issue as drivers registered elsewhere do not have to work under the same conditions and restrictions.
Frances Darling, trading standards and licensing operations manager for the council, believes change is needed at a national level.
She says loopholes in the Deregulation Act allow operators to sub-contract jobs to drivers licensed elsewhere in the country.
She added that this needed to be looked at to make the issue of enforcement easier for councils and to protect local firms.
"There were a couple of elements of the act that allow operators to sub-contract so jobs can be booked through a Shropshire-based operator but sub-contracted to others who may not be licensed by Shropshire Council," she said.
"It potentially is taking business away from operators here and I do have sympathy.
"I suspect the Government looks at it from the point of view of generating market forces and better customer service and generating choice for customers, but it can have an impact on local business.
"We work very closely with other councils but around enforcement the practicalities are not helped by the situation we have."
She said that enforcement action has to be referred to the authority which has licensed a vehicle or driver, meaning an extra step in the process.
She said: "A national approach to the legislation would be helpful along with national enforcement powers so that it does not matter if the driver is licensed by Shropshire Council or another.
"We are really doing a root and branch look at the legislation to get the changes that are needed.
"The LGA is supporting that approach and that message is given to government."
Telford & Wrekin Council says it is concerned as drivers not licensed by them operating in the borough are not subject to conditions imposed to maximise public safety.
