West Berkshire taxi licences fall as council reviews policy and trade engagement
- Perry Richardson
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
West Berkshire Council has reported a fall in the number of licensed taxi and private hire drivers and vehicles during the last financial year, while setting out plans for further policy reviews and a revised framework for engaging with the local trade. The figures were published as part of the council’s 2025-26 Licensing Annual Report, presented to the Licensing Committee on 6 July.
The report shows the Public Protection Partnership processed 417 taxi and private hire licensing applications during 2025-26. Licensing officers also dealt with 98 service requests relating to the trade, including 46 complaints, five of which involved safeguarding concerns. During the same period, three licensed drivers had their licences revoked in West Berkshire.
Licence numbers declined across most parts of the sector compared with the previous year. Private hire operator licences reduced from 66 to 59, private hire vehicle licences fell from 175 to 160, hackney carriage vehicle licences dropped sharply from 149 to 97, private hire driver licences decreased from 181 to 164, while dual hackney carriage and private hire driver licences reduced from 170 to 157.
Alongside the licensing figures, the council confirmed it had carried out consultations during the year on licensing fees and charges, the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, and proposed amendments covering protected plates and accessibility. Those proposed changes form part of separate committee business following an earlier decision by members to review the authority’s protected plate policy.
The committee is also being asked to approve revised Terms of Reference for the West Berkshire Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trade Meeting. The updated arrangements are intended to provide a structured forum where licensing officers and trade representatives can discuss licensing policies, tariffs, fees, operational issues, emerging legislation and new technology before recommendations are reported back to the Licensing Committee. Individual licensing cases will remain outside the group’s remit.
According to the annual report, officers continued to work with the taxi trade throughout the year through dedicated Taxi Trade Meetings aimed at maintaining communication and consultation between the licensing authority and licence holders. The Licensing Committee was told that improving engagement remains an important part of the council’s approach to regulation.
The report also highlights the council’s wider compliance work. Officers carried out annual inspections of private hire operators and visited taxi ranks to educate licence holders and encourage compliance before enforcement action becomes necessary. The Public Protection Partnership said its approach is based on engaging, educating and encouraging licence holders before enforcement is considered where appropriate.
Looking ahead, taxi licensing is expected to remain on the committee’s agenda during 2026-27. Members are scheduled to consider the outcome of the consultation on taxi plates and decide whether further amendments should be made to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, alongside the authority’s annual review of taxi fees and tariffs.
