South Oxfordshire and Vale move towards updated joint taxi licensing policy with seven-week consultation
- Perry Richardson
- 25 minutes ago
- 2 min read
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are preparing to launch a public consultation on a revised Joint Taxi Licensing Policy, with councillors asked to approve the draft and consultation process at a General Licensing Committee meeting on 15 January 2026.
The review marks the first full update of the policy since it was adopted in June 2021 and is intended to reflect newer Department for Transport best practice guidance.
The consultation is scheduled to run for seven weeks from 20 January to 10 March and will be open to the public, licensed drivers and operators, Thames Valley Police and neighbouring authorities. Subject to feedback and final committee approval, the councils are aiming for the updated policy to take effect from June 2026.
A detailed summary of proposed amendments shows a broad package of operational and compliance changes rather than a wholesale shift in licensing approach. Among the more notable measures is a requirement for all licensed vehicles to accept card and mobile payments from 1 January 2027, while explicitly prohibiting drivers from applying any surcharge for cashless payments. The councils state this is intended to improve safety, accessibility and consistency with consumer protection law.
Councillors are set to consult the trade and public on a revised joint taxi and private hire policy, with changes spanning payments, vehicle standards and driver compliance
Vehicle standards also feature heavily. The draft policy removes the current exemption that allowed brand new vehicles to avoid an initial compliance test, meaning all vehicles would need to be assessed by an authorised garage before licensing. The councils are also proposing to increase the permitted level of window tint to 30 percent light transmission, aligning with national guidance and reducing barriers for vehicles fitted with manufacturer standard tints.
On environmental policy, the councils propose retaining discounted licence fees for zero emission vehicles and confirming a target date of 2045 for the entire licensed fleet to be zero emission, bringing taxi and private hire policy into line with district climate objectives. At the same time, the draft clarifies that where a reduced fee has been granted for a wheelchair accessible or zero emission vehicle, any replacement vehicle must meet the same specification.
Driver and operator oversight is also tightened in several areas. Drivers with six DVLA penalty points would be subject to more frequent checks, following what officers describe as repeated failures by some licence holders to notify the council of endorsements. Additional guidance covers reporting of safeguarding concerns within 24 hours, disclosure of licence suspensions or refusals by other authorities, and clearer rules around touting and the use of the words “taxi” or “cab” on private hire vehicles.
The councils note that many of the changes are framed as guidance rather than new mandatory requirements, reflecting DfT advice that authorities should take a pragmatic approach when updating policies and reviewing existing licences. Officers have told councillors there are no anticipated financial implications arising from adoption of the revised policy, but warn that failure to keep the policy aligned with legislation and national standards could expose the councils to legal risk.
