NO CCTV AND VEHICLE CHOICE OPENED: Rushcliffe Council proposes wide-ranging taxi licensing reforms amid cabbie decline
- Perry Richardson
- Nov 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Rushcliffe Borough Council is preparing to implement a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for 2025 to 2030. The updated policy responds to national guidance and local challenges, most notably a sharp fall in the number of licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles operating in the area.
Figures show a drop from 23 licensed hackney vehicles in 2020 to just eight today. In response, the Council aims to reverse the trend by introducing more flexible rules and reducing the regulatory and financial burden on new drivers and vehicle owners.
One key proposal is the removal of the current requirement for drivers to pre-register before applying. Instead, applicants will use a streamlined online portal. If documents are not supplied within three months, the application will be refused. The shift places more responsibility on the applicant to ensure they are prepared, with known failure points such as knowledge tests and right-to-work checks encouraged before submission.
The policy retains a knowledge test for local area familiarity and English reading capability. However, drivers who have passed the more rigorous “Green Penny” test, required by certain operators, will now be exempt from taking the Council’s test. The current three-attempt limit is also set to be scrapped, bringing Rushcliffe in line with other Nottinghamshire authorities.
New drivers will also benefit from a more accessible licensing route. Currently, all licences are issued for three years. The proposed policy introduces an optional one-year licence for first-time drivers, easing financial pressure at the point of entry into the trade.
Vehicle licensing will also see significant change. The Council plans to remove the separate compliance test that currently sits alongside the annual MOT. Instead, only a standard MOT from an approved Rushcliffe garage will be required, saving time and cost for vehicle owners and simplifying the administrative process.
A further proposal will see the maximum age for newly licensed vehicles reduced from 12 to eight years. However, renewals will still be allowed up to 15 years, and exemptions will be made for electric vehicles, zero-emission vehicles and those used for special educational needs transport. The move is designed to improve the environmental profile of the local fleet and aligns with Rushcliffe’s wider carbon reduction plans.
To encourage more taxi drivers, the Council is also proposing to relax its requirement for vehicles to be black London-style taxis. This change is expected to support more uptake in rural parts of the borough, where taxi services are often limited.
Penalty point rules are set to tighten. Drivers, owners and operators found in breach of licensing conditions currently face Committee review if they accumulate 12 points within 12 months. Under the new policy, points will remain active for 36 months, increasing the risk of enforcement and encouraging greater compliance.
Other updates include allowing drivers to work for more than one licensed operator and aligning the Council’s convictions policy with Institute of Licensing standards.
One notable absence from the policy is any move to introduce mandatory CCTV in taxis. Although this was raised during consultation by Nottinghamshire County Council, Rushcliffe officers argue such a requirement would impose financial strain on drivers and potentially reduce fleet numbers. They cite the example of Bolsover, which saw a 40% drop in drivers following a similar mandate. Privacy concerns raised by national regulators were also referenced.
The draft policy is due for full Council approval on 27 November 2025. If endorsed, it will come into effect from January 2026 when the current policy expires.
