Safety first as Southend set to determine Uber licence application

This will take place at a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Monday 15 December at 10am.

Under national law, councils must grant a licence if satisfied that the applicant is "fit and proper" to operate. A detailed report has been prepared for the committee, setting out the legal framework, Uber's evidence, and public representations. The Licensing Sub-Committee operates separately from the council's political administration and must base its decision solely on the evidence and licensing law.

If approved, any Uber driver licensed in Southend would need to meet the same standards as all local private hire drivers. This includes passing the Southend knowledge test, completing safeguarding training, undergoing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and medical checks, and displaying Southend PHV door stickers.

Uber has also volunteered an additional licence condition requiring them to notify the council within 72 hours of any serious complaint, including allegations of sexual misconduct, violence, discrimination, breaches of equality duties, wrong-driver incidents or suspected substance misuse.

The report addresses concerns about "out-of-area drivers". National legislation allows private hire drivers licensed in one authority to carry out pre-booked journeys elsewhere, and case law confirms councils cannot prohibit this. Southend will continue to use the national NR3S register to ensure drivers who are refused, suspended or revoked anywhere in the country cannot bypass safety checks.

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, said: "Uber has applied for a licence to operate in Southend, and it is for the Council's independent, quasi-judicial Licensing Sub-Committee to assess whether the company is fit and proper to do so.

"This process involves detailed scrutiny of safety, safeguarding and operating arrangements. Public safety is always our priority, and any operator licensed in Southend must meet the same high standards as every other PHV operator. We will publish the committee's decision once the process is complete."

The independent Licensing Sub-Committee will consider all evidence on 15 December and publish the outcome after the meeting.

Notes to editors

• The Licensing Sub-Committee is an independent, quasi-judicial body operating separately from the council's political administration. Its decisions must be based solely on evidence and relevant licensing law.
• Full agenda and reports pack: (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Licensing Sub-Committee C, 15/12/2025 10:00
• The application will be determined under Section 55 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which requires councils to grant a licence where an operator is assessed as “fit and proper.
• Licensing decisions cannot take into account commercial competition or popularity. The Sub-Committee's role is solely to assess whether the applicant meets the legal "fit and proper" test.
• National legislation allows private hire drivers licensed in one authority to undertake pre-booked journeys in other areas. Councils cannot prohibit this.
• Following the Baroness Casey report The Government is looking to amend cross border hirings via an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill which would allow the Transport Secretary to set national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing across England, regardless of local authority boundaries.
• NR3S is the national register used by councils to record and check taxi / private hire vehicle driver refusals, suspensions and revocations, helping authorities prevent unsafe drivers from reapplying elsewhere.
• Any Uber driver licensed by Southend must meet local requirements, including the knowledge test, safeguarding training, DBS and medical checks, and displaying Southend private hire vehicle door stickers.
• Uber has volunteered a condition requiring them to report any serious complaints to the council within 72 hours, covering misconduct, violence, discrimination, suspected substance abuse and related issues.