Have your say on taxi and private hire vehicle proposalsSandwell Council is seeking people's views on proposed changes to Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicle licensing policies in the borough.
It is running a six-week consultation on rules which could come into force in December, if approved.
In a report officers recommend private hire vehicles can be any age, as long as they meet quality and safety standards, that saloon cars can be any colour, and that minibuses and multi-purpose vehicles can be any colour apart from black.
It also recommends new applications for a Hackney Carriage licence must be for black-only vehicles while private hire vehicle door stickers and magnets must be removed and window stickers should be displayed in the rear passenger windows of both Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles.
Hackney Carriages are also known as taxis, cabs and black cabs - they can ply for hire or be hailed or flagged down in the street. They are the only type of vehicle allowed to use taxi ranks.
Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator and cannot be hailed in the street.
Councillor Maria Crompton, cabinet member for highways and environment, has already given the green light to the proposals which are now out for public consultation.
She said: "We are seeking people's views about these changes. If there are no significant objections received during the consultation period, the new policies will start on 1 December."
The consultation runs until 17 October and comments can be emailed to
taxi_licensing@sandwell.gov.uk or posted to Taxi Licensing Office, SMBC, Transport Depot, Waterfall Lane, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 6RL.
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