Taxi and private hire car licensing: guidance - third edition

Annex B Assessing quantity controls of taxi licenses

The following are some useful questions for licensing authorities when assessing quantity controls of taxi licences

Questions relating to the policy of controlling numbers

• Have you recently reviewed the need for your policy of quantity controls?
• What form did the review of your policy of quantity controls take?
• Who was involved in the review?
• What decision was reached about retaining or removing quantity controls?
• Are you satisfied that your policy justifies restricting entry to the trade?
• Are you satisfied that quantity controls do not:
  • reduce the availability of taxis;
  • increase waiting times for consumers;
  • reduce choice and safety for consumers?
• What special circumstances justify retention of quantity controls?
• How does your policy benefit consumers, particularly in remote rural areas?
• How does your policy benefit the trade?
• If you have a local accessibility policy, how does this fit with restricting taxi licences?

Questions relating to setting the number of taxi licences

• When last did you assess unmet demand?
• How is your taxi limit assessed?
• Have you considered latent demand, i.e. potential consumers who would use taxis if more were available, but currently do not?
• Are you satisfied that your limit is set at the correct level?
• How does the need for adequate taxi ranks affect your policy of quantity controls?

Questions relating to consultation and other public transport service provision

• When consulting, have you included etc.
  • all those working in the market;
  • consumer and passenger (including disabled) groups;
  • groups which represent those passengers with special needs;
  • local interest groups, e.g. hospitals or visitor attractions;
  • the police;
  • a wide range of transport stakeholders e.g. rail/bus/coach providers and traffic managers?
• Do you receive representations about taxi availability?
• What is the level of service currently available to consumers (including other public transport modes)?