Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council set to update taxi and private hire policies after consultation
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 19, 2025
- 2 min read
BCP Council will consider revised taxi and private hire driver, vehicle and operator policies on 22 October 2025, following a spring consultation and a two-year review against updated Department for Transport standards and best practice. The policies aim to improve safety, accessibility, emissions and regulatory consistency across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The council received 33 consultation responses between 3 March and 28 April 2025, split between the public and licence holders. Overall support was recorded for driver and operator policy changes, with more mixed views on vehicle rules, particularly around hackney carriage matters.
Officials highlighted persistent concerns about out-of-town vehicles operating locally since the Deregulation Act 2015 widened subcontracting beyond local boundaries. The report says BCP has limited direct powers over non-local vehicles and relies on liaison with home authorities, while continuing to investigate plying for hire allegations within the conurbation.
The committee will debate lifting the cap on new hackney carriage licences to align with DfT best practice, noting many authorities do not impose quantity limits. With significant numbers of wheelchair-accessible hackney carriage licences already unallocated, officers argue removing the cap is unlikely to harm the market and would avoid the need for periodic unmet demand surveys costing around £20,000, a saving that would be reflected in fees.
The current policy requiring all new hackney carriage licences to be wheelchair accessible would be retained in principle, with adjustments to make compliance more affordable. Eligible WAVs must be Euro 6 and can have up to 100,000 miles at replacement, compared with under five years and 60,000 miles for standard vehicles. The report underlines the importance of maintaining availability for disabled passengers, who make more licensed vehicle trips than non-wheelchair users.
On emissions, all licensed vehicles now meet the council’s minimum standards. Vehicles below Euro 6 were not renewed after 31 December 2023, with the final non-compliant vehicles replaced by the end of December 2024.
Driver policy changes received broad backing. The council proposes clearer, phased enforcement to support consistent decision-making and transparency. Driver medical rules would be clarified, with Group 2 medicals from a driver’s GP or an approved provider for renewals, and GP-only for new applicants. Evidence of additional training for drivers of wheelchair-accessible vehicles would continue to be required.
Vehicle policy drafting will tighten compliance dates. Failure to complete the required mechanical check or MOT within two months of the due date would lead to revocation. Conviction disclosures will expressly align with the assessment annex to the DfT statutory standards.
Operator policy updates reflect the rise of app-based services. The council would accept a verifiable virtual office address to allow record inspection, replacing the previous expectation of a physical premises within the conurbation.
The report confirms Uber submitted a private hire operator licence application in August 2025. The application is being processed in line with policy, with no grounds for refusal if requirements are met.
An Equality Impact Assessment rated the package green on 24 September 2025. Officers say costs linked to the review are covered by existing fee income, and the licensing team can deliver the policy within current resources. Members will decide whether to amend the drafts in light of feedback and recommend a final version to Full Council.
