Legal challenge over revised taxi-licensing policy for Buckinghamshire
A revised taxi-licensing policy due to take effect across Buckinghamshire is facing a legal challenge.
Buckinghamshire Council has received a claim for judicial review concerning “certain aspects” of its revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
The policy was approved by the council on March 19 and is scheduled to be implemented on September 1.
The authority is defending the claim, although the published report does not identify the claimant or specify which aspects of the policy are being challenged.
A report to the council’s Licensing Committee states: “As the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, it is not appropriate to comment further at this stage.
“No determination has been made by the Court as at the date of this report and the Policy remains scheduled for implementation on September 1, 2026, unless directed otherwise by the Court.”
Council officers are continuing preparations for the policy’s introduction while the legal proceedings remain unresolved.
The work includes communicating with the licensed trade and other stakeholders, training and briefing staff, updating administrative processes and systems and undertaking any necessary procurement activity.
Guidance, application documents and online information are also being reviewed to help ensure the policy is applied fairly and consistently.
Future enforcement reports will monitor the practical effects of the amended policy areas on service delivery, compliance activity and available performance data.
Asked for further details about the legal challenge, the council said: “As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further at this stage beyond the information already contained in the published Licensing Committee report (2.46).”