Council changes taxi policy after driver’s forum request

12 Mar 2025

Cabinet members at West Suffolk Council have backed a taxi driver’s request to amend part of it licensing policy around the age of vehicle allowed.

The unnamed taxi driver raised the issue at a taxi driver and operators forum held earlier in the year.  

The council’s policy adopted in 2022 included a requirement that was due to come into effect in April this year, for all taxis and private hire vehicles to be no older than 15 years old. This does not include electric/ zero emission vehicles. 

The policy was intended as a way of trying to remove older, higher polluting vehicles from the roads, helping to deliver a cleaner, more environmentally friendly fleet.

At the forum – set up by the council to try to increase engagement with the taxi trade, the driver called on the council to amend the policy. He cited that Government guidance that had since been introduced said “the setting of an arbitrary age limit may be inappropriate,” and that emissions should be managed through vehicle testing.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment wrote to the trade after the forum in January to say the council wouldn’t be enforcing the vehicle age limit while this policy amendment was formally considered by Cabinet.  

And last night’s Cabinet members agreed to the change.

Cllr Kelly said: “I’m delighted that the driver raised this at the forum, that we listened, and we are delivering change. That is what the forum was created for – for drivers and operators to voice any issues or concerns, to have a discussion and work together to a solution. 

“Ultimately, we, as the licensing authority, and the trade want the same things. 

“We need the taxi trade to thrive and to continue to support our communities and the local economy. 

“Customers need to not only feel, but to be safe getting into a taxi and to have confidence in both the driver and the vehicle.

“People of all ages and abilities need to be able to access taxis and to feel they are getting a high standard of service.” 

“And there are national changes including the eventual phasing out of new petrol and diesel cars, that we need to work together with the trade on.

“We want to have more of an open dialogue with the trade, and so I’m hoping this example of positive change will encourage more drivers and operators to come along to the forum and work positively toward these common goals.”
 

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