Taxi Driver Online

Well this is interesting, and although there's a recent thread on it, this development maybe warrants a new one

No official rationale provided in terms of specifics, either by the council or Uber. But the council's version here makes it sound like they think it 'job well done', sort of thing, and that the conditions they imposed have seen Uber off...


Uber pulls out of Southend as firm surrenders its licence

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/258109 ... s-licence/

UBER has pulled out of Southend as the firm has surrendered its licence to operate in the city.

Southend Council bosses have issued statements after the major ride-hailing service informed the council it has chosen to surrender its Private Hire Operator Licence.

Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, said: “The council always encourages businesses to operate in Southend, and following a formal application from Uber, the Licensing Sub-Committee reached a lawful decision to grant a licence on December 15.

“Uber has since informed us that it has chosen to surrender its licence.

"Whilst we remain open to applications from potential private hire operators wishing to work in the city, we are clear that all operators are held to the same fair standards and safeguards – those who choose not to adhere to our conditions will not be operating in Southend."

Just over a month ago, Uber launched its search for drivers after being given the green light to operate in a coastal city for the first time since 2018.

The firm's reasoning behind its U-turn on the city is unclear at this stage.

Martin Terry, councillor for community safety and regulatory services, said: “Credit is due to the Licensing Sub-Committee and council officers for their thorough and professional handling of this application.

"The committee followed the standard licensing process part of which involves adding conditions which take into consideration any evidence presented to them. There will be further opportunities for engagement as part of our upcoming review of taxi and private hire policy.”

So they will use TfL cars instead, I would imagine.

Or they are waiting for the Essex area Transport Authority.

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IDFIMH

Another unusual press release from a council - saying an operator's licence has been surrendered

Think this is just what's in the press article above, though...


Uber surrenders licence to operate in Southend

https://www.southend.gov.uk/news/articl ... n-southend

Southend-on-Sea City Council has issued the following statement after Uber informed the council it has chosen to surrender its Private Hire Operator Licence to operate in the city.

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "The council always encourages businesses to operate in Southend, and following a formal application from Uber, the Licensing Sub-Committee reached a lawful decision to grant a licence on 15 December 2025.

"Uber has since informed us that it has chosen to surrender its licence. Whilst we remain open to applications from potential private hire operators wishing to work in the city, we are clear that all operators are held to the same fair standards and safeguards – those who choose not to adhere to our conditions will not be operating in Southend."

Cllr Martin Terry, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: "Credit is due to the Licensing Sub-Committee and council officers for their thorough and professional handling of this application.

"The committee followed the standard licensing process part of which involves adding conditions which take into consideration any evidence presented to them. There will be further opportunities for engagement as part of our upcoming review of taxi and private hire policy."

...more interesting is the Uber reaction, maybe

But not much here either, and still very mysterious.

Maybe a touch of the Aberdeen and Dundee, though - they couldn't recruit many locally-badged drivers, so no point having a local operator's licence, and instead continue via TfL.

Still don't see how that would make them so quick to actually surrender the licence, though

And it reads like they're still interested, pending negotiations with the council

Anyway, much of this is just the council press release copied and pasted.


Uber to 'revisit launch' after pulling out of Southend

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/258129 ... -southend/

UBER has spoken out after surrendering its licence to operate in Southend earlier today.

The ride-hailing giant has confirmed it will pause its planned launch in Southend while Southend Council undertakes a review of its taxi and private hire policy.

An Uber spokesperson said: "We have taken the decision to revisit our launch in Southend while the Council reviews their taxi and private hire policy.

"We’re keen to work with local drivers in the future and we hope to continue constructive discussions with the Council."

The decision follows Southend Council's ruling that all Uber drivers licensed in Southend must meet the same requirements as other local private hire drivers, including passing the Southend knowledge test, completing safeguarding training, undergoing enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, medical checks, and displaying Southend PHV door stickers.

It marks a swift change of direction, as just over a month ago Uber began recruiting drivers in Southend after being granted a licence to operate in the city for the first time since 2018.

Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend Council, said: "The council always encourages businesses to operate in Southend, and following a formal application from Uber, the Licensing Sub-Committee reached a lawful decision to grant a licence on December 15.

"Uber has since informed us that it has chosen to surrender its licence.

"Whilst we remain open to applications from potential private hire operators wishing to work in the city, we are clear that all operators are held to the same fair standards and safeguards – those who choose not to adhere to our conditions will not be operating in Southend."

Councillor Martin Terry, councillor for community safety and regulatory services, praised the council’s approach to the application.

Mr Terry said: "Credit is due to the Licensing Sub-Committee and council officers for their thorough and professional handling of this application.

"The committee followed the standard licensing process part of which involves adding conditions which take into consideration any evidence presented to them.

"There will be further opportunities for engagement as part of our upcoming review of taxi and private hire policy."

All drivers on the Uber platform are fully licensed and operate under the same stringent safety regulations as all other private hire operators.

Doubt it's that somehow - and all that would have been obvious to Uber when they applied.

Suspect it's more to do with the operator's licence conditions.

But maybe the reasonably onerous local spec for new badges meant they weren't going to have new drivers queuing up to licence locally, while incumbent badge-holders maybe thought it better to stay put where they are, like Aberdeen and Dundee

Usual nonsense in the comments about Uber withdrawing because they didn't like their drivers being vetted to the Southend standard

Maybe the local knowledge test is a factor, but I doubt it's vetting per se.

Very interesting.

I can only imagine there is something in Uber's operator conditions they don't like, and it appears they are waiting for the council to change it through a review.

Quite what I don't know, but by surrendering it they no longer have to worry about it. Maybe they are waiting for national minimum standards and/or Transport Authorities, where the powers of licensing councillors will be eroded or ended.

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IDFIMH

Yes, Sussex, must be the operator conditions - even if it didn't work out the way they wanted it, you'd think they'd just let the licence lapse, as in Aberdeen previously, as opposed to actually surrendering it

Not much here other than to add to the air of mystery about it all

Except maybe the two highlighted paragraphs, which is along the lines of what we've been saying above.

But, again, I think the existing local driver and vehicle conditions are a bit of a red herring, and I'd guess it's more specifically the local operator stuff.


Uber is 'not banned' in seaside city, says council

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c801zdyvjezo

Uber have "never been banned in Southend", the leader of the city council said, after the company decided to hand back its licence to operate there.

Daniel Cowan said the driver hailing app service gave "no specific reason" for returning its licence last month having only been awarded it in December.

An Uber spokesperson told the BBC: "We have taken the decision to revisit our launch in Southend while the council reviews their taxi and private hire policy."

However, senior councillors said there was no major review taking place.

Cowan, Labour, said the council was in the process of reviewing its policy but it had nothing to do with Uber. The leader told the BBC "I would be surprised if there is any dramatic shift" in conditions for local private hire drivers.

Martin Terry, Independent cabinet member for community safety, added: "The idea of us reviewing our licensing is rather spurious. If they wanted to work with us, the door is open."

It is understood that Uber were not happy with some of the rules it needed to follow in order to operate in Southend. The company has been approached for further comment.

Some details were said to be commercially sensitive.

Terry said: "We do hold high standards and set a number of conditions on them. They are the same conditions local taxi firms have."

'Constructive discussions'

As part of the licence being granted, Uber drivers were required to display official Southend PHV door stickers, pass the city's stringent knowledge test, complete safeguarding training, and undergo enhanced DBS and medical checks.

Uber was also required to notify the council within 72 hours of any serious complaint, including allegations of misconduct or substance misuse.

The company could have appealed the conditions in the licence, but did not.

Uber drivers can still drop off passengers in Southend having picked them up from outside of the city.

Both Cowan and Terry said they would welcome a new service and competition, adding that local people had complained about long taxi waiting times.

Uber has carried out its own consultation on operating in Southend which it is now analysing, and it expects to present its findings to the council's licensing committee in the future.

In 2018, there was local political opposition to Uber and the company did not apply for a licence, before eventually deciding to last year.

An Uber spokesperson added: "We're keen to work with local drivers in the future and we hope to continue constructive discussions with the council."