East Herts Council considers fresh taxi and private hire policy changes after consultation

East Herts Council’s Licensing Committee is set to consider a series of proposed changes to its hackney carriage and private hire policies after officers recommended that the wording consulted on should remain unchanged.

The proposals cover the Licensing Record Points Scheme, vehicle age and emissions requirements, vehicle and trailer specifications, driver licence conditions, conduct and dress rules, private hire operator conditions, and rules on signs and advertising.

A key proposal would remove East Herts’ existing limit on the number of hackney carriage vehicles that can be licensed. The council’s report does not set out the current numerical cap or provide a proposed implementation date, with members due to discuss the recommendations at their meeting on 9 September.

The consultation ran for six weeks, from 6 July to 17 August 2026. The council said it contacted affected licence holders directly at the start of the process and issued reminders during the consultation period.

Fifteen responses were received, including two from East Herts residents and one anonymous response. The remaining responses came from licensed taxi and private hire trade members, although two submissions were from the same individual, leaving 11 individual trade respondents.

Across each policy area, officers reported more support than opposition. The strongest support was recorded for changes to the Suitability Policy, with 10 respondents agreeing in full and three disagreeing. Proposals covering conduct and dress rules received eight full agreements, while eight respondents also backed changes to private hire operator conditions.

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The removal of the hackney carriage vehicle limit received eight responses in full support and five in opposition. The consultation findings show no partly supportive responses on that specific proposal, indicating a more divided response than on several of the other amendments.

Officers have advised that no changes should be made to the wording originally consulted on. If supported through the council’s decision-making process, the amended policies would form part of East Herts’ taxi and private hire licensing framework, which the authority says is designed to support public safety.

The council said its review should proceed despite ongoing parliamentary discussions around potential new legislation and national standards for the sector. It noted that national guidance is not binding and that local licensing authorities continue to set their own policies.