Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston, wrote to the mayor, Tom Wootton, on 13 October about delays in taxi and private hire licence renewals. Bedford Today says he asked for a substantive response. The paper had asked the council and the mayor for comment. None was in the report.
He wrote that the delays are causing uncertainty and financial difficulty for drivers who rely on the licence to work, and that taxi companies have raised concerns about being able to operate. He asked why the delays are happening, how long applications are taking, and whether there is a backlog.
What he wants explained
He asked whether staff changes in the licensing team, or budget decisions, have affected the service. He said the checks that keep a licence safe still have to be done, but drivers need to know where they stand when a delay affects their living. He asked what caused the problem and how the council intends to put it right.
The letter, as reported, does not give a waiting time, a number of applications, or the name of a firm.
What the council already tells drivers
Bedford Borough Council says a driver must submit and pay for a renewal online at least six weeks before the licence runs out. The standard licence is now three years. A renewal is dealt with as a combined hackney carriage and private hire driver licence, and the driver has to meet the current wheelchair training requirement. The form asks for a copy of the DVLA licence and, where it applies, a medical certificate. Renewal page
That page does not say how long a renewal is taking now. Enquiries on it go to driver.licensing@bedford.gov.uk.