Councillor worries taxis from outside city could work in Leeds for free

The city’s clean air charging zone (CAZ), which is due to come into force in January 2020, would see high-emission taxis and private hire vehicles registered in the city paying £50 a week. Cars used by members of the public would be exempt from the charges.

It is hoped that this will encourage taxi drivers to invest in lower-emission hybrid or electric vehicles and help improve air quality in the city.

But members of the Leeds licensing committee are worried that taxis registered elsewhere could work in the city for free.

Coun Neil Buckley (Con) asked: “If the CAZ came in tomorrow, any private hire vehicle could arrive in the city, drive through the zone and appear as a private car.

“What has happened to ensure this can’t happen?”

Leeds City Council deputy leader James Lewis (LAB) responded: “We are one of the five cities the government has instructed to introduce a CAZ.

“For the government’s policy to work, the onus is on them to produce a (national) database of taxi and private hire vehicles so each city has access to that information. We are putting all the pressure we can on the government to make sure that is in place by January 2020.

“My understanding is that there are no concerns that it will not be delivered by 2020, so we have to have faith that it will be delivered on time.”

Coun Buckley asked: “Given we operate in West Yorkshire, would it not be helpful if the authorities near us worked together and we had our own list?”

A council officer said a working group would be set up with other West Yorkshire authorities and York. He said assurances had been given by the government that a national taxi licensing database would be available by 2020.

He added: “If it becomes apparent the national database will not be available, the councils can share data quickly with each other.”