Uber granted licence to operate in Southend after unanimous Licensing Sub-Committee approval

This means Uber is now able to operate in the city. The licence will be granted for a period of five years, after which Uber will need to reapply.

All Uber drivers licensed in Southend must meet the same standards as other local private hire drivers. This includes passing the Southend knowledge test, completing safeguarding training, undergoing enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, medical checks, and displaying Southend PHV door stickers.

Cllr Donna Richardson, Chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, said: "I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism and commitment throughout this process. The committee has worked through all the details carefully, and I am pleased we’ve reached a decision in a courteous and respectful manner.”

Cllr Martin Terry, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, added: "This licence approval demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest safety and safeguarding standards for private hire services in Southend. Residents and visitors can have confidence that any Uber driver operating in the city meets the same rigorous checks and requirements as all other licensed operators."

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, said: "I acknowledge the Licensing Sub-Committee’s decision, which allows Southend residents and visitors to benefit from a regulated Uber service. It is reassuring to see the process concluded thoroughly and professionally. I know this was especially important to business owners in the nightlife economy and I hope it supports the growth we all want to see."

Notes to editors

• Agenda and reports pack available here: Agenda for Licensing Sub-Committee C on Monday, 15th December, 2025, 10.00 am
   
• In addition, the Sub-Committee attached the following licence condition (Appendix 4), with an updated amendment: Uber must notify the council within 72 hours of any serious complaint, including: Allegations of sexual misconduct, violence, discrimination, breaches of equality duties, wrong-driver incidents, suspected substance misuse. The amendment makes clear this rule applies even when incidents involve non-Southend licensed vehicles operating within city limits.
   
• National law allows private hire drivers licensed in one authority to carry out pre-booked journeys elsewhere. Southend will continue to use the national NR3S register to ensure drivers refused, suspended, or revoked anywhere in the country cannot bypass safety checks. NR3S is the national register used by councils to record and check taxi/private hire driver refusals, suspensions, and revocations, helping authorities prevent unsafe drivers from reapplying elsewhere.
   
• 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.
   
• The application was 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 seeking to amend cross-border hiring rules via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which would allow the Transport Secretary to set national minimum standards for taxi and private hire licensing across England.
   
• Any Uber driver licensed by Southend must meet local requirements, including the knowledge test, safeguarding training, enhanced DBS checks and medical checks, and displaying Southend private hire vehicle door stickers.