FIVE MONTHS AND WAITING: GMB Union calls for urgent action over Wolverhampton private hire licensing delays
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
GMB Union has demanded Wolverhampton City Council take immediate steps to address major delays within its private hire licensing system, with some drivers reportedly waiting up to five months for simple licence renewals.
The union said drivers are being left unable to work as a result of the backlog, with some losing income while waiting for their badges or vehicle plates to be renewed. In many cases, drivers have faced unanswered emails and long call waits when trying to contact the licensing team.
Although the council has introduced six-month emergency extensions for some drivers, GMB warned that the measure is only a short-term fix and does not address the root of the issue. The extensions are also limited to those who meet specific criteria, leaving others without an income while they wait.
Wolverhampton’s licensing system has faced growing pressure in recent years, with the council becoming one of the largest issuers of private hire licences in the country. A recent study found that almost 90% of new private hire licences issued by major councils in the Midlands now come from Wolverhampton.
GMB is calling for the West Midlands Combined Authority to be given powers to intervene when councils fail to maintain fair and timely licensing processes. The union said the current situation is “unsustainable” and risks worsening conditions for drivers already under financial pressure.
Kate Gorton, GMB Organiser, said: “Wolverhampton have deliberately built a private hire licence factory, issuing thousands and thousands of licences.
“Now it's becoming unsustainable and hard-working drivers are being forced to pay the price.
“Our members are being left in the dark, without clear advice or timelines. That means sky high costs for them, or even being forced out of the business altogether.
“If council bosses can’t handle the workload they’ve created for themselves, then questions need to be answered about why one authority has been allowed to issue 8,563 licences in the first five months of last year.
“If Wolverhampton Council bosses can’t sort the mess, then it’s time for their licensing powers to be passed to the West Midlands Combined Authority.
“We need answers, and quick.”
