'Wolverhampton council leader should visit Liverpool'
The leader of Liverpool City Council said he has had "frank conversations" with the leader of Wolverhampton's Council over the number of taxis being registered there.
Liam Robinson said government proposals to tighten up the rules around the licencing of "out of area" taxis were "a step in the right direction" and would make the system "safer and fairer".
Robinson claimed some drivers in Liverpool are being "undercut" by others who are licenced by other local authorities with "less stringent" rules.
He said he had invited the leader of Wolverhampton council, who licence more taxis than other local authorities, to "come to Liverpool on a Friday or Saturday night and see the issue".
Up to 96% of taxi driver licences issued in Wolverhampton between April 2023 and the end of March 2024 were for people living outside the city.
A council spokesperson previously told the BBC: "Under the current law, it is illegal for us to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences we can issue.
"Existing legislation requires that if an application is submitted and requirements are met, then the application must be granted.
"Applicants are able to apply to any licensing authority. Many have chosen to be licensed in Wolverhampton due to our early adoption of digital technology and our efficient, yet rigorous, licensing process."
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Robinson said "It's a real patchwork quilt. The standards here in Liverpool rightfully are very high - we want to see those standards nationally brought up to our level".
He also said he wanted local councils to have powers to enforce checks on taxis registered in different local authority areas.
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