Election results

Local government in Surrey is changing, from 1 April 2027, Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council will be replaced by a new unitary authority called West Surrey Council.

Visit our election pages for the results of the council elections held on 7 May.

Changes to taxi licensing policy

On the 13th of April 2021 the council approved a new taxi and private hire licensing policy. Some of the changes to the policy are:

Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers

drivers must sign up to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service (opens new window) and a check every 6 months
drivers must report any arrest, charges or conviction within 48 hours
a code of conduct for drivers has now been introduced

Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles

CCTV in licensed vehicles (from April 2023) (Word doc, 23 KB)
emissions standards for licensed vehicles
a suitability test for vehicle proprietors
a transparent policy on executive hires

Private hire operators

a defined 'fit and proper' test for licensed operators
improved staff training and vetting
improved procedures for
- vetting drivers/vehicles allocated bookings
- advertising
- sub-contracting
- tariff display
- pickup/drop off procedures

Please read the full updated taxi policy 2021 (PDF, 1 MB) here.