The Government has stopped short of committing to amend statutory taxi and private hire vehicle licensing guidance to mandate safeguarding training for all drivers, instead pointing to existing recommendations and proposed new regulation-making powers. In a written parliamentary answer published , Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that current Department for Transport guidance already advises licensing authorities to require safeguarding training. However, she did

A Cheltenham private hire driver has lost his appeal at Crown Court against the revocation of his licence after his vehicle was found with bald tyres during a joint enforcement operation at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Cheltenham Borough Council confirmed that Mr Rahman’s appeal was dismissed at a hearing on 9 February 2026, with the court ordering him to pay £4,180.50 in costs. The ruling brings to an end a series of legal challenges following the council’s decision to revo

Ashford Borough Council has defended its decision to intervene in a charitable ‘pub taxi’ service operated by The Flying Horse in Smarden, stating that the scheme amounted to a licensable private hire activity and could not continue without the appropriate authorisations. The council confirmed it contacted the business informally after becoming aware of the service, which was linked to fundraising efforts for the MND Association, one of the Mayor’s charities for 2025/26. Whil