Plymouth’s taxi licensing committee have agreed to issue private hire vehicle operators’ licences to two app-based ride companies.
Uber and Smartzi will be able to operate services in the city after the committee decided both met the council’s taxi licensing policy criteria. Both have been given a private hire vehicle operator licence for five years.
The decision was unanimous by the committee after it heard that both applicants complied with the legislation and policies that govern how taxis operate in the city. A licence has to be granted where all policy and legal requirements are met.
Any driver or vehicle used by Uber or Smartzi would still require a private hire driver’s licence and a vehicle licence issued by Plymouth City Council to work through these operators.