Telford Council set to authorise reciprocal Wolverhampton taxi and private hire licensing enforcement powers
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Telford & Wrekin’s Regulatory Licensing Committee will be asked on Monday 20 October to approve reciprocal enforcement powers for Wolverhampton City Council officers and create a faster route to keep wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles in service for longer.
The report recommends granting Wolverhampton compliance officers authority under Sections 68 and 73 of the 1976 Act to inspect vehicles and deal with obstruction offences within Telford & Wrekin. The move mirrors authorisations Wolverhampton has already issued to Telford’s Licensing and Night-Time Economy officers under Section 101 of the 1972 Act. Officials say this ties in with Department for Transport best practice on cross-border compliance.
Telford officers regularly run roadside checks. The delegated powers would allow them to stop and, if necessary, suspend Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles found to be unsafe, with follow-up action taken by Wolverhampton. In return, Wolverhampton officers would be authorised to enforce against Telford-licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicles operating in the city. Letters of authorisation will be issued and policies shared between the authorities. Either council can revoke authorisations in writing.
The report sets out the scale of cross-border activity. Wolverhampton lists 343 private hire drivers and 237 vehicle proprietors with Telford addresses. Telford has 405 private hire drivers and 275 proprietors on its own books.
Members will also be asked to delegate to the Director of Policy & Governance the power to approve licence renewals for purpose-built or suitably adapted wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles beyond the current 12-year age limit, up to a maximum of 15 years, where “exceptional condition” criteria are met. At present, similar extensions for hackney carriage purpose-built vehicles are possible at committee, with six-monthly tests after 12 years.
The change would avoid convening a sub-committee for every case and speed decisions, which the council argues will help maintain accessible capacity. In the last 12 months three such private hire applications were received. The fleet currently includes 33 wheelchair accessible vehicles, split between 19 hackney carriages and 14 private hire vehicles.
Draft criteria require continuous licensing with the authority, a passed compliance test subject to only minor defects, excellent paintwork and interior, strong service history, and fully functioning access equipment including ramps. Mechanical condition must be excellent with no corrosion and passenger areas free from odours.
Officers warn that not approving joint authorisation would go against DfT guidance and could see Wolverhampton withdraw Telford’s delegated powers, hindering action against unfit out-of-area vehicles and increasing public safety risk. Financial and resource impacts are described as minimal, with suspensions expected only during planned operations or routine duties.
