Nottingham: New taxi rule extends licensing to 10 years

The policy was introduced following a public consultation

A council policy has been introduced to allow taxis in Nottingham to be licensed for 10 years.

Nottingham City Council's current rule allows private-hire vehicles to be licensed for up to four years, and six years for black cabs.

Both types will now be licensed until they reach 10 years from the date of first registration.

The authority said the 2017 policy was reviewed in light of different circumstances and changes in the trade.

The city council's regulatory and appeals committee approved the policy following a public consultation.

Now private-hire vehicles and black cabs will be initially licensed for up to 10 years, and then continue to be licensed, if required, for up to 15 years.

Black cab driver Amjid Hussain said: "We, as the local trade, welcome these licensing changes.

"They were necessary to bring us in line with the taxi industry up and down the country."

'Safe and maintained'

In addition to the policy, private hires will now have annual enhanced MOTs up to 10 years of age, or 11 years if they are fully electric.

They would then be subject to further six-monthly checks.

Black cabs will have the annual enhanced MOT up to 11 years of age, with checks twice a year.

The city council says taxis will be subject to spot checks.

If found to have flaws that affect public safety, the driver could have their licence suspended, the authority said.

It added the policy was also revised to reflect alterations to national guidance and policy.

Audrey Dinnall, chair of the committee, said he understood the pressures felt by the trade in recovering from the pandemic, the national cost-of-living crisis and changes to customer demand.

Sajid Mohammed, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, safety and inclusion, said: "We're working to support and promote the taxi trade, making it as resilient as possible.

"It's an industry which provides close to 3,000 jobs in our city and it's right that we work with drivers and taxi firms to show that this is a safe and convenient mode of transport to get around Nottingham."

He reassured customers the taxis would be "safe and maintained to the highest standards".