Draft taxi driver, operator and vehicle licence proprietor policy

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is consulting on a new taxi and private hire driver, vehicle licence proprietor and operator policy.

The aim of the policy is to create a better standard of licence holder and increase public safety.

Have your say

Submit you comments to: licensing@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk.

• consultation starts on Thursday, 10 July and ends on Thursday, 7 August 2025

Background

The principal legislation governing the licensing of taxis and private hire is the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1976. The Department for Transport (DfT) has national responsibility for hackney carriage and private hire legislation in England and Wales.

The Department has produced Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and the Best Practice Guidance for licensing authorities which sets out standards which can be considered good practice in this area of licensing.

It also recognises that individual licensing authorities should produce their own policies in relation to specific licensing matters.  Both guidance documents have been taken into consideration in preparing this policy.

The policy includes six monthly DBS checks for all drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles, a penalty points scheme and other significant criteria for taxi and private hire licensing.