Review of taxi licence restrictions
Consultation has concluded
Cornwall Council is responsible for licensing Hackney Carriages, Private Hire Vehicles, Operators and Drivers.
The Council recognise that licensed vehicles play an important part in local transport and are vital to our communities.
Hackney Carriages, referred to as ‘taxis’, are vehicles that are available on taxi ranks or can be hailed in the street.
The Council had a policy of limiting the number of taxi licences it issues in 3 zones within Cornwall. The limits were:-
- Restormel zone - 74 taxis
- Carrick zone – 84 taxis
- Penwith zone – 51 taxis
These zones reflected the former district/borough council boundaries.
The zones without taxi licence restrictions are Caradon, North Cornwall and Kerrier.
There is no limit or zones on the number of Private Hire vehicles. Private Hire vehicles must be pre-booked by passengers in advance of a journey, and they cannot operate from a rank or be hailed in the street.
The Council conducted a public engagement survey and, following that, also consulted with the trade to help inform a decision whether to keep the limits in the zones which have them and/or add limits to the zones which don’t currently have them.
Outcomes
The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee, at their meeting on 9 December 2022, recommended that the numerical limit policies for the Carrick, Restormel and Penwith taxi zones be removed. The minutes of this meeting, which include the full reasons for the decision, are available at this web-link:- Agenda for Miscellaneous Licensing Committee on Friday, 9th December, 2022, 10.00 am - Cornwall Council
The Committee’s recommendations were referred to Full Council on 17 January 2023, where the recommendations were considered further and the Council made the following decisions:
- The existing numerical limit policy in the Restormel taxi zone be removed.
- The existing numerical limit policy in the Carrick taxi zone be removed.
- The existing numerical limit policy in the Penwith taxi zone be removed.
- That no numerical limit policy be introduced in the North Cornwall taxi zone.
- That no numerical limit policy be introduced in the Caradon taxi zone.
- That no numerical limit policy be introduced in the Kerrier taxi zone.
The minutes of the Full Council meeting will be available at this web-link in due course:- Agenda for Cornwall Council on Tuesday, 17th January, 2023, 10.30 am - Cornwall Council