Test Valley Council approves amendment to restricted taxi driver licence policy
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 21
- 1 min read
Test Valley Borough Council has approved an amendment to its taxi licensing policy allowing restricted private hire driver licences to be used for a wider range of social care transport services.
The decision means that drivers providing prearranged journeys for social care organisations, such as those supporting elderly or vulnerable passengers, can now operate under the restricted licence previously limited to school and social services transport contracts.
Under the current system, drivers holding a restricted private hire licence are exempt from sitting the local area knowledge test but must still complete a criminal record check, medical assessment and safeguarding training.
The change follows a request from the operator Driving Miss Daisy, which offers companion-based transport for people requiring assistance. The company’s Romsey franchise said recruitment had been difficult due to the knowledge test requirement and asked that drivers working solely on social care transport be exempt.
Council officers supported the proposal, stating that expanding the restricted licence category would not compromise public safety. The revised policy includes a safeguard requiring applicants to provide evidence that their work is limited to specific types of approved transport before a licence is granted.
The move brings Test Valley in line with other licensing authorities, including Portsmouth City Council, which already exempts similar social care drivers from local knowledge tests.
In approving the change, councillors said the amendment aligns with the council’s corporate plan to support communities and promote public safety while helping operators meet growing demand for social care transport services.
