Issues with licensing checks of Wolverhampton licensed vehicles, mainly Ubers, across Nuneaton and Bedworth has been raised with the council. File image(Image: Getty Images)
New enforcement powers could be brought in to check the ‘ever increasing’ number of Wolverhampton licenced taxis in Nuneaton and Bedworth. The borough council is aware of the rising number of taxis, mainly Ubers, operating in the borough which have been licenced by Wolverhampton City Council.
This is not illegal because ‘right to roam’ laws allow journeys pre-booked through a private hire vehicle operator to start, drive through and end in any area of the country, regardless of which licensing authority issued their licences.
“This has led to an ever-increasing number of Wolverhampton licensed vehicles operating in Nuneaton and Bedworth, mainly via Uber,” a council report explains, adding: “The issue of Wolverhampton licensed vehicles has been raised as an issue by various members of the trade/committee and public previously.”
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It adds: “Mainly due to Uber being licensed as an operator in Wolverhampton and so the majority of bookings via Uber in this area are carried outby their licensed private hire vehicles.”
Currently local officers do not have the power to check the safety of any vehicles or drivers that are licensed by another authority.
So the council’s licensing committee are being asked to approve new powers so that checks can be made locally and, in turn, by Wolverhampton City Council too.
“The council has approached Wolverhampton Council for permission, by way of discharging authority to NBBC officers, to be able to undertake enforcement on its vehicles and drivers in the interests of public safety,” the council licensing committee papers explain.
“In turn, Wolverhampton have asked that their officers be granted permission by way of discharging authority to undertake enforcement on NBBC council vehicles and drivers.”
The final decision on if the authorisation is approved will be made by licensing committee members at a meeting at the Town Hall on March 11.
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