Tell us your views on changes to the Private Hire Vehicle and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy

Overview

The policy sets out the driver, vehicle and operator standards for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles for current licence holders and all new licence applicants and focuses on continuing to increase standards and robust measures to ensure public safety at all times, and is carried out under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. 

A review of the policy has been undertaken as part of continued engagement with the local licensed drivers, vehicle proprietors and operators and a request to simplify the current policy. 

Related documents

You can view the amended policy below. We have also included a summary of the main changes we are proposing.

How to take part

We will welcome views from all stakeholders and in particular we would like to hear from licensed vehicle proprietors, drivers, operator and all other interested parties.

Please complete our online form at the top right of this page called "Give us your views".

You can email or write to us. Please detail and state page number or section area of the policy that you are commenting on. Our contact details provided below. 

Email: licensing@westnorthants.gov.uk

Postal address:  Licensing Team West Northamptonshire Council, One Angel Square (Service Yard), Angel Street Northampton. NN1 1ED

If you have any questions or need this survey in another format, get in touch using the same contact details.. 

Responses received after the closing date will not be accepted.

This consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 6 December 2026. 

What happens next?

Once the consultation closes, all responses will be evaluated and considered. The evaluation will then be presented along with the policy to WNC’s Licensing Committee for consideration before the policy is adopted. 

This consultation ends 06/12/2026