The Licensing (Public Protection) Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Monday 19 January 2026 to discuss proposed changes to the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy and a review of the associated budget and fees. The meeting agenda focused on ensuring public safety, improving the efficiency of the licensing process, and aligning policies with national guidance.

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Budget Review and Fees and Charges

The committee was scheduled to consider a review of the budget for taxi and private hire licensing and proposed adjustments to fees and charges for the 2026/27 period. The report indicated a recommendation for a 3.5% uplift in fees and charges to ensure the service remains cost-neutral to the council. This proposal was to be considered prior to statutory advertisement. The report detailed the legislative framework governing taxi and private hire fees, referencing the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and outlined the methodology behind the fee review, drawing on guidance from the Local Government Association (LGA). It also presented a projected budget position for the 2025/26 financial period, highlighting a forecast deficit that had been partially offset by carried-forward surpluses. A benchmarking exercise comparing proposed fees with those of neighbouring local authorities was also included.

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy Review Post Consultation

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing proposed amendments to the Buckinghamshire Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, following a public consultation. The report detailed outcomes from consultations on new national guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Institute of Licensing (IOL). The recommended changes aimed to enhance public safety by elevating driver and operator standards, improve services for passengers, including those with accessibility needs, and provide additional support to the local licensed trade. Key proposed amendments included:

• Driver Medicals: Revisions to the policy on medical assessments, allowing for greater flexibility in the choice of GMC-registered doctors and clarifying requirements for access to medical history.
• Driving Experience: A proposal to reduce the minimum driving experience required for applicants from three years to 12 months, with an age requirement of at least 21 years old, or a more thorough assessment for younger applicants.
• Intended Use Policy: The introduction of a new policy requiring applicants for hackney carriage licences to demonstrate a genuine intention to operate within Buckinghamshire Council's area.
• Certificates of Good Conduct: Amending the requirement for criminal record certificates to align with Home Office rules for visa applicants, focusing on periods of residence abroad of 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
• Violence Against Women and Girls Awareness: Requiring all applicants to affirm their understanding that verbal, physical, and emotional abuse of any person, regardless of gender or protected characteristic, will not be tolerated.
• Vehicle Age Limits: Proposals to extend the maximum age limit for regular private hire and hackney carriage vehicles to 12 years (if meeting Euro 6 emissions standards), while maintaining the 15-year limit for WAVs and zero/ultra-low emission vehicles. A revised enhanced WAV specification was also to be developed.
• Vehicle Testing Frequency: Maintaining the current annual testing frequency for all licensed vehicles, with no changes proposed.
• Emissions: Amending the policy to aim for all new vehicle licence applications to be zero-emission by 2035, aligning with national targets.
• Vehicle Signage: No changes were proposed to mandatory signage requirements, but council officers were to prepare a revised advertising policy for private hire and hackney carriage vehicles to offer greater flexibility.
• Executive Vehicles: Amending the policy to allow executive vehicle status for vehicles used predominantly for executive work, with limited non-executive journeys permitted.
• Fire Extinguishers and First Aid Kits: Maintaining the mandatory requirement for licensed vehicles to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
• Euro NCAP Safety Rating: Recommending against adopting the Euro NCAP safety rating system as a criterion for determining vehicle suitability at this time.
• Contactless Payments: Requiring all hackney carriage and private hire vehicle journeys to offer mandatory acceptance of card or cashless payments.
• Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs): A proposal to phase out grandfather rights for non-WAV hackney carriages, requiring replacement with WAVs meeting updated specifications. The age limit for saloon vehicles would be extended to 12 years, with WAVs meeting the new specification potentially having no age limit, subject to inspections. A revised enhanced WAV specification was to be developed.
• Staff Training: Requiring all operating staff with customer-facing roles to attend disability awareness and safeguarding awareness training.
• CCTV: Maintaining the current optional approach to CCTV installation in licensed vehicles.
• Landline Numbers: Amending the policy to remove the requirement for operators to maintain a local fixed landline number, allowing any telephone number provided it does not imply the operating base is outside the council's area.
• Executive Operators: Maintaining the current position and not introducing a separate licence type for executive vehicle operators.
• Criminal Records and Unacceptable Behaviour Policy: Revising Appendix 4 of the policy to reflect the content of the Institute of Licensing's 2024 Suitability Guidance.

The report also included detailed survey responses and benchmarking information from other local authorities regarding these policy areas.