Taxi and Private Hire Trade Forum - 13 March 2025

Trade Consultation with Southampton City Council Licensing

09:30 to 11:30 Thursday 13th March 2025

Conference Room 4, Civic Centre, Southampton.

Chair is Cllr Matthew Bunday

The purpose of this forum is defined as:

A two-way exchange of information, dialogue and discussion
To hear views, comments and concerns of the trade
To receive information, comments, and concerns of the Licensing Team, Members and the Council as a whole.
Not a decision making forum
Where matters of a particular concern and where appropriate, matters raised can be referred to the Licensing Committee where a formal decision can be made.

It should be borne in mind that consultation does not necessarily mean agreement with and that consultation meetings cannot be decision making meetings.
Cllr Bunday has also invited the following people to attend:

Ian Loynes - Spectrum

Agenda

Introductions/Apologies Chair

Apologies from Cllr Windle, Cllr Whitbread and Jay Choudhury
Notes from Previous Meeting Chair

Feedback received from Highways:

Terminus Terrace – An order has been raised for Balfour Beatty to advertise a Traffic Regulation Order to combine the taxi and loading bay. The proposal is to have loading bay during the day and taxi back of an evening. We will also be looking to extend the bay, but this will be very minimal. To be advertised in coming weeks.

Platform Road / Terminus Terrace signals – An order has been raised last week with the supplier to instal a right turn filter light on Canute Road. We are now just awaiting confirmation of the date when this happens. Typically, 6 week turnaround from order.

Southern Road / West Quay Road box junction – Discussed with network team who have supported the proposal. This has been added to a signage project in the area and is currently being designed. No delivery date yet but progressing.

Southern Road lane markings at approach to West Quay Road (changing the lane arrangement) – Not proposed to take this any further as discussion with network team suggests existing layout works well for overall use. We are being advised to leave the current arrangement as is.
Licensing Update Licensing
- Email of Thanks from a HC Passenger
PB Read out the following:

‘I wish to acknowledge the excellent service i received on March 1, 2025, from the driver of Taxi ***, Mr. ***.

I entered his immaculately kept vehicle from the unreserved taxi rank upon disembarking Iona.

He made suggestions for my several hours of enjoying Southampton, prior to coach travel to Heathrow.

He also arranged for secure luggage storage at ****, another enterprise I found to be accommodating, gracious and reliable.

As planned, Mr. *** collected me at Sea City Museum and delivered me and my two cases to the coach terminal.

I found his driving skills and knowledge to be of the highest standard, a model for taxi drivers anywhere and a true enhancement to my Southampton experience.

My thanks to all concerned, as I reflect upon the several pleasant days spent in Southampton before and after the cruise.

I look forward to more such opportunities in future visits, of which several are currently in the works.

Thank you.

Most sincerely,

*** ****

***, Massachusetts, USA
- Staffing Update
RH reported that a new Licensing Enforcement Officer post was approved and being appointed later this month.

PB reported that there is a current staff consultation by the Transformation Team that is suggesting that they will not replace his role when he leaves. This suggests that going forward there will be no dedicated Licensing Manager. This is at the consultation stage and no decision has yet been made.

(20/03/2025 update - Following representations senior officers have reconsidered this decision and the post will remain. Recruitment will commence imminently).
- New Taxi Forum section on website
As stated, this Forum now has a dedicated area on our website and all notes of previous meetings can be found there.
- Trade Rep Elections
2025 is a Trade Rep Elections year. SCC plans to run these in house with our elections team.
- 2026 – 2031 Taxi Policy (Vehicle Ages - SHO)
The 2026 – 2031 Taxi Policy will be consulted on later this year. An early draft of this does not contain any big changes from current policy. Officers will circulate this to the trade with tracked changes so the trade can easily see where the changes are.
- Compliance Operations
As we have already fed back, we undertook a compliance test operation on vehicle standards last month. As a result of poorly maintained vehicles, we have issued multiple written warnings, and two drivers have received driver badge suspensions because of poorly maintained vehicles.
- Test Purchase Operations
On 12th February 2025 during the daytime, SCC Licensing carried out a test purchasing operation using volunteers to test adherence to legislative and licence requirements.

This focused primarily on checking:
- Correct fares were charged, i.e. no more than the meter
- Hackney carriages had functioning card payment devices available and ready to be used
- Private hire drivers were not taking customers without a booking via a licensed operator
In total, we tested 9 vehicles, comprising 7 hackney carriage and 2 private hire.

Of the 7 HCs tested:
- 6/7 charged the correct fare. One allowed the meter to continue adding up after reaching the destination and while the driver was looking for and preparing the card payment device. This resulted in an overcharge of 20p and the driver has received advice on this.
- 7/7 were happy to take card payment – no issues here.
- 0/7 had their card payment accounts set up in a way that allowed the customer to see unique identifying information (i.e. badge/plate number) on their bank statements. All have received advice on this.
- 1 driver received negative feedback on his driving style and has received advice as well as a phone call to discuss.
Of the 2 PHVs tested:
- 1 correctly refused the volunteers.
- 1 was parked on Queensway and agreed to take the volunteers after they approached and asked if he could take them. Enforcement action is ongoing, with the possibility of the driver’s licence being suspended or revoked.
Docks Permits – Vehicle Numbers Licensing for ABP

ABP wish to increase the numbers of Docks Permit holders that are available to service their ranks. They have several options open to them amongst which are contracting with Private Hire Operators to take on the work. An alternative would be to sell Docks Permits to Eastleigh Hackney Carriages. ABP have invited feedback via RH from the SCC trade on this.

(18/03/2025 update – Following feedback, ABP have decided at this point not to widen the supply of Docks Permits and continue to restrict them to Southampton licensed hackneys only).
We would like to discuss the fare increase for the hackney carriage trade. SHPHA

This was discussed, regards cost of living etc but agreed that the proposal was not supported by the majority of the trade at this time.
We are concerned about the lack of involvement of our trade in negotiations with Adams Morey regarding the price increase. We question why a standard MOT does not incur VAT, yet a compliance check does. SHPHA

RH advised that the increase was in line with inflation and was in line with our contract with Adams Morey. SCC officers are very aware of the impact of testing fees and are careful in their negotiations with third party providers regarding matters that have a direct impact. We will where we can take matters like this to this Forum for feedback from the trade prior to implementation.
Since the removal of the door sign names on private hire vehicles, licensing has indicated that the new signage gives the impression that SCC owns the vehicles. We would appreciate clarity on the number of complaints recorded regarding this matter. SHPHA

RH responded that we have received no complaints of this nature but we have had an increase in complaint level we believe as a result of this policy. This is due to the public contacting us directly instead of the operator on the door. If anything this has led to an increase in reports which we previously would not have received and so we are better placed for compliance.
I have learned that Uber has installed Geo-Fence in the Port, and I see a need for Geo-Fencing for both Uber and Radio Taxis near taxi ranks in our city. SHPHA
#
RH advised what Geo fencing is, in that inside a geo-fenced area set up by Uber, a driver will not receive an Uber booking. This works well inside the docks but not so useful in smaller areas such as our City Centre ranks. We do not have evidence that our vehicles are sat inside SCC ranks awaiting Uber bookings. LJ from Uber reinforced this advice and provided a little more detail in one implication of such geo-fencing schemes.
Why is there only one date given for a trade meeting? Surely trade representatives should be offered a date that suits everyone? SHPHA

This item was withdrawn.
Delegated powers – After Phil leaves will they pass to Russell SHO

There are no current plans to alter Russell’s job role to take on delegated powers at this point. It remains unknown who will have these powers going forward.
CCTV Concerns – Issues raised about the high cost of SD card replacements. GMB

The trade are concerned that drivers are being charged over £60 for replacement SD cards when they are available on Amazon at a fraction of this price. RH discovered that the SD cards the fitters are supplying are an industrial type that can withstand far more overwrites and therefore will last much longer. RH will try to get more detail and feedback with the written responses.

(20/03/2025 – Update from one fitter – They pay £38 plus VAT plus carriage per SD card. These cards are not the same as the ones that you see in

supermarkets and Amazon. They are industrial quality and able to stand far more re-writes than standard ones. The total customer cost for changing the card, checking the system and issuing a certificate from this fitter is £60 plus VAT).
We wish to verify that attendance at consultation meetings is limited to Southampton-licensed drivers, as there have been concerns about non-licensed drivers being members of different groups and represented at trade meetings. SHPHA

This item was withdrawn.
The government's white paper on devolution - how will this effect the operation of Southampton licensed vehicles, if we become part of other councils? The government's white paper is not going to do anything about CBH (Cross Border Hiring) however, they are looking at IUP (Intended Use Policies) Can we look at installing an IUP on private hire vehicles? SHPHA

This item was covered earlier in the meeting. In summary, devolution is happening but we do not know what form it will take. It is highly likely to affect the taxi trade but we do not know to what extent. We will continue to keep the trade informed as and when we know more.
Southampton City Council's transport department operate many vehicles. Some of the council's vans have 08 registration details, these vehicles unless they have been fitted with a retro fit engine adaption, are far too old to be on the Southampton roads. We cannot get an extension of the nine and twelve year ruling of Southampton licensed vehicles, and yet your transport department is operating vehicles that should have come off the road years ago. It seems rather hypocritical. SHPHA

It is likely that these are specialist vehicles that the Council is still using. The taxi policy and conditions allow for exemptions for age limits too, typically allowed for novelty vehicles like the American style stretched Limos and some classic Prom cars.

The following with be answered after the meeting by written response
South Side Central Station Taxi Rank – Updates on ongoing challenges and potential resolutions. SHO/GMB

Update from Transport:

Balfour Beatty have been given a design commission to raise the carriageway to the pavement level to allow for people with mobility issues to access a taxi. When the design is complete this will be shown to the trade representatives. The initial advice from Balfour Beatty is that they cannot create an overtaking space as part of the work - the current paving slabs are not suitable to be driven on.
SmartCities Card – Making these cards available to licensed drivers who reside outside the Southampton Council postcode. GMB

We do appreciate the concerns that you are raising regarding the impact of the increase in the Itchen Bridge toll for those taxi drivers who do not live in the city and therefore do not qualify for a smart cities card. At Full Council last Wednesday we presented our budget which we have been able to balance for the first time for many years without having to draw upon reserves or exceptional financial support (ESF) from the government. Regrettably, the Council is having to make very difficult choices and decisions and inevitably the impact will be significant. The risk of offering this to taxi drivers who live outside of the city is that other groups such as teachers and emergency workers who commute into and out of the city could argue they should also qualify on the basis of their work. Later this year we will be carrying out the essential maintenance upgrade that the Itchen Bridge requires, and this investment will run into the millions of pounds. We would also expect that many drivers have submitted comments to the consultation and they will be a consideration for future years should our financial position be improved.

Trade Invitees