Source: Taxi Driver Online
List of Restricted Councils 15/04/2010.
Total number of Authorities that restrict Hackney carriage numbers = 90 or 26%.
Total number of Authorities that do not restrict or have voted to remove restrictions at a future date = 253 or 74%.
Total number of licensing Authorities in England & Wales 343. (subject to new UAs created 2009 and decisions on new zones within them)
The following list is an accurate account of “restricted” “unrestricted” and “undecided” local authorities in England and Wales, who prior to June 2004 had a policy of restricting Hackney carriage proprietor licenses.
As of 15/04/2010 the number of Authorities retaining a restriction on licenses is 90.
As of 15/04/2010 the number of Authorities that have removed or given a firm commitment to remove licensing restrictions of hackney carriages since 2004 is 65.
This leaves 86 of the 151 licensing authorities in England and Wales who were asked to review their policy of Quantity Control by the DfT in June 2004, retaining restrictions. The figure of 86 becomes 90 by virtue of the fact that Sheffield council made a decision in January 2008, and Derbyshire Dales made a decision in late 2008, to change its policy from that of “unrestricted” to “restricted”, as did Birmingham in 2008 and Bracknell in 2009. This leaves 65 of the 151 restricting authorities in 2004 that have chosen to remove restrictions either immediately or at a future date.
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The 90 Councils who have made a decision to retain quantity control.
1. Aylesbury Vale. Survey by Mouchel 2008. Licensing committee agree to keep 50 restricted plates. Cabinet member agreed September 10th 2009.
2. Barnsley. TPI Survey adopted, issuing 5 new licenses and retaining quantity controls. Surveying next 2011. 67 taxis.
3. Barrow in Furness. Surveyed 2009. Retained quantity control. 151 taxis.
4. Basingstoke. 02/02/10 Council agreed to survey SUD. HC vehicle license fees to increase by £273 for the year 2010/11 to pay for survey. 55 taxis.
5. Bath and North East Somerset. Two Zones. Bath City restricted. Surveying demand 2008/2009. Plate numbers increased to 122 taxis.
6. Bedford. Committee voted 04/12/08 to suspend managed growth for 12 months. Never independently assess. 70 taxis.
7. Birmingham. Council decided to stop issuing new plates in October 2008. Currently surveying. 1405 taxis.
8. Blackburn Darwen ua. Halcrow survey. Decided July 2005 to issue 10 new licenses, WAV only, 3 year age limit. So far only 5 have been issued others deferred because of regeneration in city centre.
9. Blackpool. Voted on 11/02/2010 to retain restricted policy 256 hacks, 44 horse drawn.
10. Blyth Valley. No Survey? Now part of the new Northumberland County Council. Decision on taxi restrictions to be made in due course.
11. Bolton. Keeping their restricted policy. Current plate values 11k, policy change & survey 2003. No future plans for a survey. Open to legal challenge.
12. Bournemouth. Halcrow survey. Full council decided on 18/4/06 to retain quantity controls. Quotas policy currently under review. 249 taxis.
13. Bradford. In October 2008 councillors decided to keep taxi quotas, and from January 2009 adopt a 100% WAV policy.
14. Bracknell. Decided in 2009 to limit taxi numbers.
15. Braintree. Surveyed 2009. Still restricting
16. Brighton and Hove UA. Retaining current restricted policy after 2006 Halcrow survey. Surveyed 2009. Currently issuing 2 new WAV plates a year. Plate value 40k.
17. Calderdale. Zoned, Halifax remains restricted. TPI Survey 2007. Plans to survey 2010. 37 taxis (in Halifax zoned area).
18. Cardiff. Voted to lift numbers control On 14th January 2003. Voted to re-restrict early 2010. 893 taxis.
19. Carrick. KNW survey 2005. 5/1/06 decided to issue 2 plates in Truro zone + 1 a year for the next 3 years. Now part of the new Cornwall Council. Restrictions review early 2010.
20. Chester le street. TPI survey revealed no unmet demand, restricted policy unchanged. Now part of Durham County Council UA.
21. Chorley. March 2010 decided to keep taxi quotas after 2008 SUD survey! 37 plates.
22. Colchester. Resolved to accept findings of 2008 survey. 131 taxis.
23. Congleton. Only zone in the new Cheshire East Council that still restrict. Council to review that restriction in due course.
24. Corby. Voted on 15th April 2008 to keep restrictions to 114 taxis.
25. Derbyshire Dales. Re-restricted 2008.
26. Dover. Conducting SUD survey 2010. 69 taxis.
27. Durham. Now part of Durham County Council. Taxi quotas to be reviewed in due course.
28. Ellesmere Port. Now part of Cheshire West and Chester Council. Taxi quotas to be reviewed in due course.
29. Exeter. 11/02/08 the licensing committee decided to retain current restrictions of 61 H/C. Surveying Spring/Summer 2010.
30. Halton ua. Retained policy of restriction. Limit is 267 taxis, although not all are taken up.
31. Harrogate. Voted on 19/03/09 to retain quantity control. 149 taxis.
32. Hastings. Council retained restricted policy on 10/7/06. Planning to survey in 2011. 48 hacks.
33. Havant. Committee decision taken in Feb 2004 to keep restricted policy. Last Survey 2003. No plan to survey this year. 40 taxis.
34. High Peak. Restricted policy retained after KNW survey in 2007. No plans to survey 2010. 131 taxis.
35. Hyndburn. Issuing 5 licenses per annum over 3 years. Wav only, age limit of one year, Policy review in 2008, No Survey. Open to legal challenge.
36. Kingston upon Hull. Halcrow survey 2009. 170 hacks.
37. Kirklees. 2009 survey finalised. Before councillors April/May 2010 for decision.
38. Knowsley. Currently surveying. Outcome due late 2009.
39. Lancaster. Committee 21/04/08 decided to keep restrictions. Surveying end of 2010. 109 taxis.
40. Leeds. Keeping taxi quotas via committee decision March 2010. 537 taxis.
41. Leicester. Last surveyed 2009. 338 taxis.
42. Lincoln. Policy unchanged, keeping restrictions. Plate values thought to be one of the lowest in the country at around 4k.
43. Liverpool. Restricted policy unchanged. Survey by Mouchel, Plate Value 40k committee decision 24/07/2008.
44. Maidstone. Survey complete, committee decided to retain restrictions on 22/01/09. 48 taxis.
45. Manchester. Has a policy of issuing 30 new licences annually. Committee voted on 01/06/09 to review restrictions/waiting lists as currently 1000+ waiting. Plate value £45k.
46. Mid Sussex. Surveyed in 2007, and surveying in 2010. 154 taxis.
47. Newcastle on Tyne. Voted on 16/05/2008 to retain restrictions.
48. Newcastle under Lyme. Cabinet voted to consult on a proposal to delimit in 2008. No final decision as of 11/06/09. Currently surveying.
49. North East Lincs UA. Retained taxi quotas 2010, after delimiting 2008.
50. North Tyneside. Surveyed 2009. Still restricting.
51. Nottingham. Halcrow survey. Committee decided on 3/10/05 to review their policy in 2006. Review has not yet been confirmed? Still retain quantity controls. As of 27/03/10
52. Oldham. Full council meeting on 27/11/2008 voted to keep taxi restrictions following SUD survey. Next survey planned for 2011. 85 taxis.
53. Oxford. Keeping restricted numbers policy TPI survey 2002 and spring 2006. Surveyed 2009, before committee June 2010. 107 taxis.
54. Pendle. Voted to retain quantity controls, no survey. Ignored LO advice, open to legal challenge. Last surveyed in 1998. Surveying this year. 71 taxis.
55. Penwith. 2005 decided to retain restrictions without having a recent survey. Now part of Cornwall Council. Restrictions to be reviewed early 2010.
56. Plymouth ua. Decided on 24/5/05 to retain current restricted policy. Plate Value 20k. Lost a legal challenge to its TPI survey on 7/3/06. Aspects of the survey deemed fraudulent. Plymouth council undertook another survey in 2006 by Halcrow which found no unmet demand. Plan to consult public 2010, and then consider Independent SUD survey. 366 taxis.
57. Poole ua. On 10/3/05 voted to retain controls. Intention is to top up their 2005 in-house survey in 2006. No plans to survey 2010. 78 taxis.
58. Portsmouth. Last surveyed 2006. Surveying 2010/11. 234 taxis.
59. Preston. Halcrow survey, 21/04/2009 Committee retained restricted policy. Plate value 15k. 187 taxis.
60. Reading. Delimited 2008. Committee decided to freeze applications until March 2010. Survey late 2009.
61. Restormel. KNW Survey. Committee date 21/6/06. Voted to retain present policy 74 H/C/V. Now part of Cornwall Council. Restrictions to be reviewed early 2010.
62. Ribble Valley. Voted in November 2008 to keep restrictions. No record of ever surveying, nor any plans to. 53 taxis.
63. Richmondshire. Survey carried out 2008. 65 taxis.
64. Rochdale. 21/11/05 keeping restrictions. Issuing three new licenses as per survey. Plate value 22k.
65. Rotherham. Committee decided on 12/09/09 to retain taxi quotas.
66. Scarborough. Committee resolved on 23/03/2009 to increase taxi numbers from 97 to 105 following survey by Halcrow.
67. Sefton. KNW survey completed 2006. Retaining current policy of quantity control, 271 hacks.
68. Sheffield. Re introduced a policy of quantity control in Jan 2008 after years of badgering by the local taxi trade. Surveying demand late 2010. 857 taxis.
69. Southampton. Surveyed 2008. Issuing 8 plates 2010 and 8 plates in 2011. 267 taxis.
70. Southend on sea ua. Change of policy to quality control on 23/2/06. Yearly issues of 8, 10, 12, 14, licenses, followed by complete de-limitation. Decided in 2009 to retain limits.
71. South Tyneside. Unmet demand survey complete, issuing 12 licenses and retaining quantity control. 236 taxis.
72. Stevenage. Last surveyed 2006, propose to survey 2010/11. 100 taxis.
73. St Helens. TPI Survey found no unmet demand. On 4/1/06 committee voted retain Quantity controls.
74. Stockport. Removed restrictions 2009. Council having a rethink. Still restricting, but adding 5 a year for the next three years. 120 taxis.
75. Sunderland. Halcrow survey. Committee decided on 02/02/2009 to keep taxi restrictions. Two zones 284 in Sunderland, 65 in outer zone.
76. Tameside. Feb 2006 kept restrictions, issued five licenses by ballot, restricted to taxi badge holders only. Decided not to issue five plates after officers decided they were not required. 149 taxis.
77. Test Valley. Currently consulting with the trade with a view to ending taxi quotas. 35 taxis.
78. Thurrock ua. Halcrow Survey, Committee 27/9/06. Issuing 2 licenses each year for the next three years then undertaking another survey. Surveying 2010. 100 taxis.
79. Torbay. Decided 29/05/2008 to keep taxis restrictions. Surveying 2010. 162 full-time, 7 summer only taxis.
80. Torridge. Survey in 2008, retained quantity controls July 2008. 49 taxis.
81. Trafford. Mouchel survey 2009. Committee to decide on 18/06/2009. 143 taxis.
82. Tunbridge wells. KNW survey 2007, decided to issue five new licenses and keep restrictions, WAV only. 105 hacks. As of 27/9/07
83. Wakefield. TPI Survey. Decided to Issue 39 licenses, 21 in Wakefield zone 18 spread across the other 11 zones. Report date 23/3/06. 12 Zones.
84. Wansbeck. Survey costs paid for by local taxi trade, Council voted on 5/7/05 to accept the survey findings and retain restrictions. 30 H/C vehicles. Now part of Northumberland Council. Restrictions to be reviewed in due course.
85. Warrington ua. Keeping restrictions after “in house survey”. Issuing 15 licenses in 2005, 15 in 2006 and reviewing their policy in 2007. 109 hacks. No independent survey, open to legal challenge.
86. Weymouth. 2006 TPI survey. Members voted to retain restrictions. Currently consulting on restriction.
87. Wigan. “Closed” Regulatory committee meeting, 8/9/06 voted to retain restricted policy. Decision confirmed by Cabinet on 21/9/08. Halcrow survey, 136 hacks. Wigan is the only authority in the country that held their decision making in private. In fact they would not release any survey or related data to the public, before a decision on numbers was made.
88. Windsor and Maidenhead UA. Council retained quantity controls 21/07/2008. All zones merged, and 13 extra taxis licensed taking total to 100.
89. Wyre. Survey 2008 found no unmet demand. Committee met 26/05/2008 policy unchanged. 160 H/C.
90. York UA. Surveying early 2011. Issuing two plates July 2010. Plate values 40k. 179 taxis (from July 2010).
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The above list comprises the 90 councils who have made a policy decision to retain quantity controls. There are also 65 councils who have voted to remove Quantity controls making a combined Total of 151 councils with the original status of “restriction” plus the 4 councils of Sheffield, Derbyshire Dales, Birmingham and Bracknell, who independently changed their policy to quantity control making a total of 155 councils.
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65 Councils who have changed their policy from Quantity to mainly Quality control.
1. Adur. Unofficial Quality control policy WAV only. Needs to be officially defined.
2. Amber Valley. Changed policy to quality control July 2004. Error in DfT Stats of March 2004.
3. Ashford. Removed restrictions on 3/3/05, quality control.
4. Babergh. Removed restrictions on 01/04/09.
5. Basildon. Implementing new policy of no restriction 1/4/05 Quality control
6. Bassetlaw. Quality control WAV only.
7. Bristol. Removed restriction November 2007.
8. Burnley. Changed policy from Quantity control, to quality control on 12/12/06. As of 16/12/06
9. Castle Point. Changed policy 6/1/03 Quality control.
10. Chelmsford. Decision to lift numbers control made on January 26th 2005. Quality control.
11. Cherwell. Policy changed to Quality control.
12. Chester. Removed restrictions July 2008.
13. Conwy. No restriction on numbers, Quality control, Wav only.
14. Copeland. Issuing 4 licences in 2006, 3 in 2007 and totally removing numbers control on 1/1/08.
15. Crawley. Lifted numbers control September 2002 Quality Control.
16. Denbighshire. Have lifted restrictions with no stipulation of wav requirement.
17. Easington. Changed policy to quality control in late 2005.
18. Eastbourne. Removed restriction 2009. Must be WAVs less than 12 months.
19. Eastleigh. Voted on 21/6/05 to remove numbers control in favour of quality control. Effective 1/7/05
20. East Lindsey Quality control.
21. East Northants. Quality control. Should not have been included in the OFT or DfT restricted statistics. Changed policy March 1997.
22. East Riding. Removing restrictions, multiple zoning delayed process rectified in November 2006.
23. Fylde. Removed restrictions 8/3/05, Quality control.
24. Gosport. Removed restrictions on 16/3/05 Quality control.
25. Great Yarmouth. Voted to remove limit on numbers 22/12/04 Quality control.
26. Guildford. Lifted numbers control in June 2004
27. Gwynedd. Removed restrictions October. Proposing grandfather rights for incumbent proprietors.
28. Harlow. Decision to remove numbers control taken in December 03. No longer restrict.
29. Huntingdonshire. Removed restrictions 2008.
30. Ipswich. Changed policy on 8/4/05 Quality control.
31. Kerrier. Now Quality control. Should never have been in the OFT or DfT restricted list. Changed policy in 1974.
32. Kettering. Quality control. Implementation 1/4/05
33. Kings Lynn. Survey complete. Committee voted in October to remove Quantity controls.
34. Luton ua. Voted on 8/3/05 to lift quantity control in favour of Quality control.
35. Merthyr removed restrictions 1/12/04 new policy of Quality control.
36. Middlesborough ua Quality control.
37. Mole Valley. Change of policy Feb 2005 from quantity control to quality control.
38. New Forest. Committee voted on 18/9/05 to remove numbers control on 1/4/06. Quality control.
39. Reigate and Banstead. 30/6/05 full council voted to remove restrictions, quality control.
40. Rugby. Licensing committee decided Jan 2010 to remove restrictions from April 2013.
41. Salford. Removed restrictions 13/04/09.
42. Selby. Quality control WAV only.
43. Sevenoaks. Delimited WAVs 2008.
44. Slough UA. Quality control.
45. Solihull. Voted to lift numbers control on 4/4/05
46. South Bedfordshire. Lifted numbers control on 9/3/05 quality control policy already in place.
47. South Ribble. Resolved to de limit numbers on 7/3/05.
48. South Somerset. Quality control.
49. St Eds. Removed restrictions 2008.
50. Stratford-upon-Avon. De-limited numbers June 2004. Q/C. Error in 2004 DfT T&PH report.
51. Stoke on Trent ua. Removed quantity controls on 11/2/08 in favour of a policy of qaulity controls.
52. Swindon ua. Voted on 20/7/05 to remove restrictions in favour of quality control.
53. Teignbridge. Committee voted to immediately remove quantity controls on 26/3/08.
54. Thanet. Decided on 17/5/05 to remove restrictions and also create one Taxi zone.
55. Torfan. Cabinet decided to end restrictions 01/07/08.
56. Walsall. Removed restrictions 1/4/05 Quality control policy.
57. Watford. Last survey 2001. Finally removed Quantity controls on 13/11/06 after initial decision in October 2005 was legally challenged for lack of consultation.
58. Welwyn Hatfield. Re-restricted in 2003 Set to remove restrictions on 11/4/06.
59. West Somerset. Quality control.
60. Wolverhampton. Removed restrictions late 2005 quality control.
61. Woking Policy Change of quantity control to quality control taking effect on on 1/4/08.
62. Worthing. Removed restrictions 2008.
63. Wrexham. Removed restrictions on numbers. Has recently implemented English language tests.
64. Wycombe. Policy change in principle to remove quantity controls July 2004. Full council meeting on 14/4/08 expected to confirm new policy of quantity controls. Restrictions to end Sept 2009. Must be WAVs.
65. Wyre Forest. Halcrow survey carried out, paid for by license holders. Decided on 18/5/05 to phase out numbers restrictions by issuing 10 new licenses immediately by ballot, 5 in 2006 and 2007 and completely remove numbers control in 2008.
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