Major shake-up planned as Teignbridge unveils toughest taxi licensing reforms in more than 15 years
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Teignbridge District Council has launched a public consultation on a comprehensive overhaul of its hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy, marking the authority’s first full review of the framework in more than 15 years.
The consultation, which opened on Friday 26 June and runs until midday on Friday 7 August, invites feedback from taxi drivers, private hire operators, passengers, residents and other stakeholders on a series of proposed changes designed to strengthen public safety while improving environmental sustainability.
While the council has updated elements of its licensing policy over the years to reflect legislative changes, officials say this is the first complete review of the document since it was originally introduced. The revised draft brings together current legal requirements, national standards, best practice guidance and local licensing conditions into a single policy intended to provide greater clarity for licensing decisions, enforcement activity and public protection.
Among the proposals are clearer expectations around driver suitability, including knowledge assessments and English language proficiency tests. The draft policy also introduces mandatory training covering safeguarding, disability awareness and county lines exploitation, reflecting a growing emphasis across the licensing sector on protecting vulnerable passengers.
Vehicle standards also feature prominently within the proposed changes. Drivers would be required to carry out daily vehicle safety checks, while licensed vehicles would continue to undergo inspections every six months. The draft policy also proposes tighter requirements relating to vehicle emissions and record keeping as the council looks to improve environmental performance alongside safety standards.
Another proposed change would require licensed drivers to demonstrate that they predominantly operate within the Teignbridge area. The revised policy also includes new provisions relating to the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles and establishes a framework covering horse-drawn carriages.
The consultation represents an opportunity for the local taxi trade to help shape the future regulatory framework before it is presented to councillors for approval later this year. Once the consultation closes, responses will be reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final version of the hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy ahead of consideration by full council.
The review reflects a wider trend among licensing authorities across England, with councils increasingly updating taxi and private hire policies to align with national safeguarding standards, strengthen enforcement powers and encourage cleaner, better-maintained vehicles while seeking to keep regulatory requirements proportionate for drivers and operators.
Councillor Suzanne Sanders, Teignbridge District Council Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Taxi and private hire services help people travel safely and confidently around Teignbridge. This consultation gives drivers, operators, passengers and residents the chance to shape a policy that protects the public while supporting a fair and practical licensing system. We want to know whether the proposals strike the right balance between safety, service and reasonable requirements for the trade.”
