Uber could be coming to Plymouth – but it will be up to Plymouth City Council’s taxi licensing committee to decide if they will or not.
The company has applied to the council to operate services in the city together with Smartzi – another app based ride service.
Uber Britannia Limited has applied for a private hire vehicle operator licence for five years, with the intention of having 160 vehicles licenced per year.
A taxi licensing committee was due to meet as the Chronicle went to press to decide whether to issue a private hire vehicle operator licences to both operators. The decision will have to made based on the council’s taxi licensing policy and if they meet it.
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Papers have been published which set out what the committee is being asked to consider and that is whether the directors of both companies are considered fit and proper persons to be granted a private hire vehicle operator licence and
• if the licence is granted, the appropriate length of time the licence should be granted for, up to five years and
• whether any conditions should be imposed on the licence.
With Uber, passengers use an app to connect to a driver who uses their own vehicle. They can pick up passengers for a journey which is pre-paid through the app. Uber has operated across most major towns and cities in the UK for several years. The app tracks trips, has driver ratings and emergency support.
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The report says:
“Officers recognise that if this application is granted it will potentially affect other private hire operators in the city – the committee is reminded that this is not a factor to be considered when deciding the application.”
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said:
“We all know that people who enjoy our great night life here in Plymouth repeatedly struggle to get home and this has been going on for the last few years. Something has to change if our clubs, bars and venues are to survive in the long term.
“We are also acutely aware that a decision to grant a private hire licence to these companies could have consequences for our existing trade, but the committee has to take a decision based on very clear legal guidelines. This will be a very interesting debate.”
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The private hire vehicle operator licence holder is a contracting party with customers to supply a private hire vehicle and driver for a trip that must be pre-booked with that operator. The operator is responsible for keeping accurate records of bookings, drivers and vehicles used and ensuring that all conditions attached to the licence are complied with.
Various legislation and policies govern how taxis operate in the city and the report notes that both applicants comply with conditions.
