Thousands of taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are licenced by a council nearly 100 miles away

More than a third of private hire taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are licenced by a council that operates around 80 miles away in Wolverhampton.

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 8,952 private hire drivers, licenced by The City of Wolverhampton Council reside in Greater Manchester. This makes up 35 per cent of the private hire cabs operating across the city-region. By comparison, 16,343 private hires have a GM licence plate.

It comes after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham condemned ‘out of town’ taxi drivers amid claims they were registering elsehwere to avoid meeting local standards.

Private hires are different to public hire taxis in that they are available to pre-book only via a taxi firm or companies like Uber. They cannot wait at taxi ranks for passengers or be flagged down on the street like black cabs (known as hackney carriages).

In total, there are 36,033 private hire drivers with a Wolverhampton plate, FOI data has revealed, which is equivalent to 13% of Wolverhampton’s total population (around 262,000).

In March it emerged that almost a third of England’s private hire taxi drivers are registered in Wolverhampton. The city has even had to take on 20 new staff to cope with demand.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester ‘In The Hotseat’ segment in August, Mr Burnham said: “How are they allowing it, the other authorities, who are 100 or so miles away. How are they not checking up on those taxis and those drivers, but they’re taking in the money for it.

“How are they allowing that situation? They shouldn’t be doing it because they’re giving plates without being able to then monitor the performance.”

The main difference in standards relates to the age of vehicles allowed, with Greater Manchester councils requiring newer vehicles to be used on the roads as well as more advanced background checks, according to Mr Burnham. There is also a concern amongst cabbies that drivers are getting in a taxi without knowing all the rules, prompting questions of safety for passengers.

Current legislation means that private hire drivers can operate anywhere in the UK outside of London, even if they are not licensed in that particular area. GM sought powers to restrict out of area operation in its Trailblazer negotiations, but did not get agreement from the Government as part of the devolution deal.

Wolverhampton Council has previously denied that it is ‘quicker and easier’ to get a private hire licence with them, claiming applicants undergo a ‘strict and rigorous’ process that includes a one day training course, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks, a medical certification and a face to face English assessment. A previous report stated that in 2021 and 2022, 55% of applicants failed the checks, according to the council.

Under Rochdale Borough Council, the initial application fee for private hire drivers is £110 for a one-year licence or £258 for a three-year licence and £339 to register a vehicle. Under Wolverhampton Council, the application fee for a new private hire driver is £49 for a one-year licence or £98 for a three-year licence and £95 to register a vehicle under 10 years old.

A Transport for Greater Manchester spokesperson said: “Taxis and private hire services are a crucial part of our transport network, providing approximately 45 million trips a year. The sector provides an important service, particularly for those without access to a car, and people who don’t live or work near other parts of the public transport network.

“Current legislation means that outside of London, private hire drivers can operate anywhere in England and Wales, regardless of where they are licensed.

“The existing system means that local councils can’t guarantee a high standard from ‘out of area’ drivers and their vehicles. A change in the law is required to make sure that anyone who drives or operates a taxi or private hire vehicle in Greater Manchester meets high safety standards and is licensed in our area.

“Greater Manchester leaders have sought powers from the government to tackle the challenges posed by ‘out-of-area’ operation of private hire services and to date these have not been devolved.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter