Proposed change to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Shropshire Council’s Strategic Licensing Committee is due to debate whether the council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027 should be changed to permit the display of the Union Flag on taxis (hackney carriages) and private hire vehicles and for the purposes of promoting any private hire operator business or any business offering taxi or private hire vehicle services.

The committee meeting will be held on 11 January 2024 at 10am.

Full details of the proposed change can be found by following the above link.

Councillor Roy Aldcroft, Chair of the Strategic Licensing Committee, said:

“We want to ensure that the public and the trade are aware that the Strategic Licensing Committee is due to consider the conditions under which it may be acceptable to display and use the Union Flag.  If approved, a change will be made to the council’s current position, as was previously agreed by Cabinet in November 2022, and set out in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023 – 2027.

“The over-riding priority for the committee is that we ensure the safety and welfare of the public. However, we understand that there are some concerns about the council’s current position and for that reason we will be debating the issue at our meeting on 11 January.”

If anyone wishes to attend the committee meeting in person, they can do so at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, and there will also be the opportunity to watch/hear the proceedings online via the livestream.

Anyone wishing to submit a public question in relation to this matter must do so in no more than 250 words and must ensure the question is submitted to Shropshire Council no later than 5pm on 5 January 2024.