CCTV TO CARD PAYMENTS: Darlington to decide on taxi policy updates after public consultation
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 19
- 3 min read
Darlington Borough Council will consider a series of changes to its Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy at a Licensing Committee meeting on 21 October 2025. The review follows a summer consultation and could see updates on card payments, signage, CCTV, testing and driver training.
The current policy, first introduced in 2021 and tweaked in 2022, is back before members to keep pace with government guidance and local trade conditions. Officers say any agreed changes will be recommended to Full Council.
Darlington licenses 126 hackney carriage vehicles and 136 private hire vehicles, with 11 wheelchair accessible in total. Driver numbers stand at 93 hackney carriage drivers, 164 private hire drivers and 103 combined licence holders. There are six licensed private hire operators.
The review sits within the framework of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. The committee is reminded of appeal rights to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days for licence conditions.
A SurveyMonkey exercise returned 182 responses by 10 August. Uber and the council’s CCTV manager also sent submissions. The council amplified the consultation through local and trade media.
Mandatory disability awareness training secured 67% support. Officers propose a local online module developed with Darlington Association on Disability, checked through the knowledge test for new drivers and required at renewal for existing licence holders. The training is expected to be free other than the driver’s time.
Inward-facing CCTV gained 64% support, yet officers advise caution. They note privacy and cost impacts, the low level of complaints, and that the council would become the data controller if systems were mandated. Estimated system costs run at £500 to £1,000 per vehicle, with ongoing maintenance. No neighbouring North East authority currently mandates CCTV. A voluntary approach is suggested while national work on consistent standards progresses.
Card payment availability drew 94% support. Officers cite issues at late-night ranks when cash-only taxi drivers refuse passengers without cash, causing disputes and leaving some people seeking alternative ways home. The proposal would require drivers to offer card as an option, while cash remains accepted.
A move to annual testing for vehicles under three years old received 61% support. Six-monthly tests could still be applied at the authority’s discretion where safety concerns exist, and write-off vehicles would be excluded from the relaxation.
Daily recorded vehicle checks are backed by 64% of respondents. Drivers would complete a simple dated checklist retained for inspection, aligning with Department for Transport best practice. An example checklist is included in the papers.
For private hire vehicles, 81% supported front-door decals stating “Private Hire Pre-Booked Only” and showing the vehicle number. Officers propose removing the operator name requirement to reflect multi-operator working. Uber argued for minimal signage due to app identification, but officers favour clear pre-booked messaging for the public.
A points-based system for minor rule breaches gained 61% support. The model would log low-level non-compliance and trigger review or training once thresholds are reached, while preserving officer discretion to refer any case to committee. Detailed scheme design would return to members if approved in principle.
On fire extinguishers, 66% supported retaining the requirement. While the National Fire Chiefs Council advises extinguishers are unnecessary without training, officers suggest keeping the rule for now and note a local byelaw change would be needed to remove it.
The report flags wider policy shifts. Government is consulting on moving taxi and private hire licensing to Local Transport Authorities, which could lead to a Tees Valley-wide policy. The council will also develop an Inclusive Service Plan in line with national best practice.
Members are asked to agree amendments for recommendation to Full Council so the policy remains current, supports safety and service quality, and reflects local evidence from the consultation.
