The Buckinghamshire Council Licensing (Public Protection) Committee met on Tuesday 11 August 2026 to discuss new street trading consent fees and receive an update on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing enforcement. The committee approved a new harmonised fee structure for street trading consents, which will take effect from 1 October 2026, and noted the contents of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing enforcement update report.

Street Trading Consent Fees

The committee approved a new harmonised fee structure for street trading consents, which will be implemented from 1 October 2026. This new structure supports the council's move to a single county-wide street trading regime. The proposed fees are based on the principle of cost recovery, meaning they are calculated to cover the reasonable costs of administering, monitoring, and enforcing the regime, rather than to generate a profit. These fees reflect efficiencies gained from a unified county-wide approach and streamlined processes.

The new regime means that all streets within Buckinghamshire will become consent streets for street trading purposes, creating a consistent approach across the county. This will bring some areas, previously unregulated, into scope, including mobile traders like ice cream vans. The fees are split into an application fee and an ongoing maintenance fee. Reduced fees are available in certain circumstances, such as for traders operating fewer than 20 hours per week or for additional trading sites or vehicles.

The proposed fees for a new application are £1,668, and for a renewal, £1,458. These figures are benchmarked against neighbouring authorities and are noted to be below the average charged by those authorities, while still supporting the cost recovery principle. The report highlighted that the current number of licensed traders is approximately 19, with an estimated rise to around 40 under the new regime. The efficiencies gained from the new policy and administration have allowed the proposed fees to be set significantly lower than those currently paid by many existing traders. Income and expenditure will be closely monitored, with a report to be presented to the committee within 12 months of implementation to review the fee structure.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Enforcement Update

The committee received a regular update on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing enforcement activities for the period of 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026. The report indicated that the number of licensed drivers remained relatively stable, decreasing by just under 2% to 3,427, while the number of licensed vehicles reduced by around 4% to 2,450. Conversely, the number of licensed private hire operators increased by approximately 5% to 221. The number of licensed wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) saw an increase of around 8% compared to the previous year, reaching 314.

The report detailed that renewals accounted for approximately 64% of all application activity, with private hire licensing making up about 78% of transactions. Vehicle licensing generated the most activity, accounting for 65% of applications, largely due to annual licensing.

In terms of enforcement, 184 complaints were received during the period, with driver behaviour and conduct being the most common issue. Of these, 129 investigations were carried out, resulting in various sanctions including penalty point notices, warning letters, and driver suspensions. There were 22 driver licence revocations, a slight increase from the previous year, with reasons including serious motoring offences, dishonesty, and safeguarding concerns. Twenty vehicle licences were also revoked, primarily due to vehicles not being repaired or deemed safe after an accident.

The report also touched upon national developments, including the government's proposals to introduce national minimum standards for taxi and private hire licensing, aimed at improving passenger safety and addressing inconsistencies between authorities. The Department for Transport has also consulted on transferring licensing responsibilities to Local Transport Authorities. The House of Commons Transport Committee has recommended substantial reforms, including national minimum standards and a national database of drivers, vehicles, and operators.

The committee noted the contents of the report, with no policy or financial decisions required at this meeting.