Concerns over Wolverhampton taxis in Portsmouth

More councillors have raised concerns over taxis licensed in Wolverhampton operating outside of the city.

Members discussed the issue at a meeting of Portsmouth City Council's licensing committee last week, when they examined public feedback on the issue, with the chair advising residents: "If it's not Portsmouth, don't get in it."

The meeting also heard taxis licensed in Wolverhampton did not require interior CCTV cameras whereas those granted permission in Portsmouth did.

Some responses to the survey claimed the City of Wolverhampton Council had a cheaper and quicker taxi licensing application process.

However the authority had previously stressed it was illegal to refuse applicants "on the basis of where they live".

During the Portsmouth meeting, councillor Emily Strudwick, the committee's chair, said she had previously refused to get into Wolverhampton-plated taxis herself.

She added other councils she had spoken to through the Local Government Association were also complaining about Wolverhampton's licensing regime.

Councillor Lee Hunt said the out of town taxis were "out of control" while councillor Benedict Swann called for the council to lobby Wolverhampton directly, saying there is "a real safeguarding issue" and "we have a moral imperative to look after our residents".

Nickii Humphreys, the council's licensing manager, added cross-border licensing was a "national problem" linked to the growth of app-based private hire operators.

In January, the BBC reported a taxi association had defended Wolverhampton for processing large numbers of licences.

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association said the authority's "quick and efficient" process had earned them a huge influx in licence requests.

"Wolverhampton council is very, very strict and stringent and follows all of the taxi vetting process, with tests proving challenging to pass," Steve Wright, chair of the association, said.

A spokesperson for City of Wolverhampton Council stressed that it was illegal for it to refuse applicants a taxi licence "on the basis of where they live".

"Applicants are usually local to the area they drive in, but many have chosen to be licensed in Wolverhampton due to our efficient, yet rigorous, licensing process," they said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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