A consultation on two matters relating to RBWM licenced hackney carriage and private hire drivers is underway - and your views are welcome.

The details are as follows, and survey link is attached. You have until 21st December to tell us what you think. 

Hackney Carriage Livery

RBWM licenced hackney carriages (taxis) are currently required to be white with a purple bonnet and boot and a large RBWM coat of arms on the side. This livery makes the vehicles instantly identifiable as RBWM licenced vehicles.

 The RBWM Licensing Panel of 16 October 2023 agreed that consultation should be conducted with taxi users, taxi drivers and all other interested parties as to possible changes to this livery.

The consultation can consider whether any changes should be linked to a move from fossil fuelled vehicles to electric/hybrid vehicles so that electric/hybrid vehicles can be identified. 

DBS Checks on Licenced Drivers

RBWM Licensing are looking to introduce six monthly checks on the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service - formerly known as the Criminal Records Office) records of all RBWM licenced hackney carriage and private hire drivers. This is a requirement of statutory standard (the Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards) which the Council is obliged to implement unless there are compelling local reasons not to.

The RBWM Licensing Panel of 16 October 2023 agreed that consultation should be conducted with licenced drivers, operators all interested parties and residents to determine how this was best achieved.

The views of licenced drivers, operators all interested parties and residents are sought to see if there are any compelling reasons why these six-monthly checks should not be introduced at RBWM.

Tell us your views now, by completing this short survey, click here: