Uber is in discussions with North Lincolnshire Council about launching its ride-sharing service in the area, a move that could see the local authority update its taxi licensing rules.
Council officers confirmed the talks at a recent place scrutiny panel meeting, where they revealed that Uber is looking to get licensed to operate in the region. A key obstacle to Uber's entry is the council's current requirement for licensed operators to have a landline.
An Uber spokesperson stated: "There are specific local restrictions around the need for a landline phone and we're keen to continue our discussions with the council, as we believe there is an opportunity to launch our app-based service in the area."
Richard Cropley, the council's head of trading standards, noted that Uber is "looking to do it properly" by licensing its vehicles under the local authority's scheme.
He added that the council would look to update the landline requirement in the future, stating: "I think it's better to have them onside to reassure they're licensed with us under our regime."
New accounts filed with Companies House show a pre-tax profit of just £133,355 for the year, a drastic drop from the £8.2 million recorded in 2023.
Under the draft plans, the fee for luggage would rise from £5 to £10.
Mohammad Razak had his hackney cab licence stripped in October 2024 after he locked a lone female passenger inside his vehicle, refusing to let her out until she paid a higher fare.
Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu, President of ADCU, comments: “The submission is a one-way street, controlled by Uber, with no space on the road for the PHV drivers that are the industry’s lifeblood.
The proposed changes, which were brought to the council's taxi and regulatory committee, aim to align with updated national standards from the Department of Transport.
Cllr Simon Bennett, leader of Wolverhampton's Conservative opposition group, claims that the city is paying the price for a 'national free for all' when it came to issuing taxi licences.
A man was found "covered in blood" and unconscious on the floor in Warrington after a serious assault on Friday, September 12.
The terrifying incident took place on September 9 of last year, when Mark Doyle, 36, and Jamie Lee Black, 29, booked a taxi shortly after 1am.
The council has voted to write to the Government to express its concerns and demand regulatory reform in a move it said would protect passengers.
The proposal, which calls for eight or nine taxi bays at The Approach Car Park, was part of a discussion during a Rochford Council meeting regarding a £96,000 car park revamp.
The discussion was prompted by The Casey Report, which audited practices for preventing child sexual exploitation and suggested making CCTV compulsory in all taxis.
The criminal damage and public order offence took place on Monday, September 8, at approximately 1:30pm, at the taxi rank in Duncombe Place.
Local drivers report months of loitering and illegal parking by Uber vehicles—waiting for work, occupying the rank and with TfL?licensed Uber vehicles parked inside the car parks.
The successful provider has been promised a 'premium taxi office location' close to the terminal. The airport has also offered advertising support for the winning bid.
The decision, which will allow Uber to operate directly in the south Cumbria area, has been met with anger from independent operators.
The Bournemouth Taxi Rank Association, representing around 100 hackney drivers, has launched a petition against South Western Railway in response to the reported plan.
The 12-week consultation was approved by the city council's licensing committee following pushback from private hire drivers over a "too strict" new policy.
The committee was presented with a history of misconduct, including a recent assault charge involving the driver’s daughter.
The girl, Lottie Turner, was a passenger in an A1 Cars taxi on Wednesday, September 10, when the driver made an unauthorised stop to pick up a second, "vulnerable" man.
The issue was brought to a head during a September 15 meeting of Kirklees Council’s Licensing and Safety Committee, which was set to vote on a fee increase for hackney and private hire licences.