Ashford Borough Council DEFENDS intervention over unlicensed ‘PUB TAXI’ service
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
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. While acknowledging the pub’s intentions, the authority said it was required to act in line with its statutory duties as Licensing Authority.
An Ashford Borough Council spokesperson said: “We recognise the good intentions behind the ‘pub taxi’ service that has been offered by The Flying Horse, Smarden and their charitable community fundraising for the MND Association which remains one of our Mayor’s charities for 2025/26.
“However the council must balance good intentions with our regulatory responsibilities as the Licensing Authority and as soon as it came to our attention, the business was informally contacted to find out more. On confirming the service amounted to private hire, the business was initially asked to cease the service in absence of the relevant licences.”
Local authority says regulatory action was necessary to protect passenger safety despite charitable intentions behind Smarden pub initiative
Under current legislation, providing a vehicle for hire with the services of a driver, whether or not a fare is charged directly, constitutes a licensable private hire activity. The council said that once it established the arrangement fell within that definition, it had limited discretion but to require the activity to stop unless licensed.
The authority clarified that certain exemptions exist within private hire law, including for funeral and wedding cars, care workers transporting clients in the course of their duties, and genuine ambulance services. However, it said these exemptions are narrowly defined and did not apply in this case.
From an operational standpoint, councils are required to ensure that any business undertaking private hire work meets statutory and best practice standards. These include enhanced background checks on drivers, vehicle safety inspections, and confirmation that appropriate hire and reward insurance is in place. Failure to comply can expose passengers to uninsured travel and remove regulatory safeguards designed to mitigate safeguarding and road safety risks.
“The purposes of private hire licensing is to ensure that drivers, vehicles, and operators are safe and suitable, so that that unregulated transport services do not pose a risk to the safety of the passengers or the wider public,” the spokesperson added. “This is completed by performing checks mandated through best practice and statutory guidance relating to driver backgrounds, vehicle standards, and ensuring that the vehicle is appropriately insured for such services. Ashford Borough Council remain committed to ensuring public safety in this regard.”
For licensed taxi and private hire drivers in the borough, the council’s intervention is likely to be viewed as good consistent enforcement. Industry stakeholders across the UK have long argued that allowing unlicensed transport services, even for charitable purposes, risks creating uneven and unsafe competition, undermining strict regulatory standards.
The council said it has provided The Flying Horse with information on how to apply for the relevant private hire licences and confirmed its Licensing team remains available to assist should the business wish to formalise the arrangement within the legal framework.
