Council defers vote on controversial taxi licensing policy

Protests from local taxi drivers have seen West Northamptonshire Council defer a vote on controversial new licensing rules.

Under the scheme, the council could refuse drivers a license if they have more than 7 points on their DVLA licence for minor traffic offences until at least five years after the completion of any sentence imposed.

Drivers "must always be clean and respectable" in their dress and wear at a minimum "standard long-legged trousers, or knee length style shorts, skirt or dress and tee shirts which have a full body and short sleeves," the draft policy says.

The draft policy also stated that foreign nationals would be required to provide a "certificate of good conduct," and the council would assess drivers' character through their social media usage.

A council officer presented the report to the council's licensing committee earlier this month with a recommendation for adoption.

The report said that the introduction of the policy "ensures that all decisions made under it are legally compliant and ensures that, when correctly applied, any decision may be defended robustly if challenged."

But protests from local taxi drivers, supported by the App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU), saw the licensing committee resolve to defer its decision on the policy.

The council's draft policy said it aimed to increase standards and public safety.

The policy underwent an eight-week public consultation that was extended by a further four weeks after a request from representatives of the taxi trade.

A total of 305 responses to the consultation were received, but 202 were left without comment, leaving 103 "considered to be complete," according to the officer's report.

Shafqat Shah, Chair of ADCU Northampton, said: "I am grateful for the common sense exercised by the licensing committee in their decision to defer any vote on the regulations until those of us working in the trade have been properly listened to and until an equalities impact assessment has been properly carried out. It is regrettable that so much time and money has been wasted by the council of the development of unworkable regulations when problems could have been avoided if they had been willing to properly engage with the trade."

West Northamptonshire Council has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey