We understand that some members of the taxi trade have concerns about the recent changes to the garage used by the Council to carry out taxi vehicle testing. We appreciate that this change has caused disruption for some drivers, and the information below explains why it was necessary.
The taxi testing contract with MAN Truck and Bus began on 29 November 2022 for an initial term of three years running to 28 November 2025. There was an option to extend the contract until 28 November 2026. This was agreed and signed on the 23 June 2025, five months before the initial expiry date.
The now extended contract was due to end as of 28 November 2026, and preparations for the procurement and tendering process to begin were originally planned for March 2026, which gave the Council over eight months to carry out the due legal process.
Unfortunately, MAN Truck and Bus contacted the Council in February 2026 to discuss being released from the contract for their operational reasons. In response to this news Officers made an internal request to commence a procurement and tendering process that same day.
On 1 April 2026, the Licensing Department was informed that service provision could not be maintained and that MAN Truck and Bus wished to be released from the contract over the following couple of months. This news accelerated the process and options were assessed.
As the given timescale was very short (2 months), it was quickly determined that a full tendering process could not take place as this takes several months. The options identified were either to proceed with a full tendering process or utilise a testing centre that could provide services to the required level at very short notice. The first option was not selected as it would have left the Council without an approved testing station for an extended period, impacting upon the Council’s ability to issue licences.
Therefore, working at pace, it was identified that North-East Derbyshire District Council ran a suitable testing station which could be available to test vehicles on short notice, subject to negotiation and agreement of terms and fees. This was considered the most feasible option, and an agreement was put in place under a Memorandum of Understanding.
We recognise that this change happened quickly in response to an unexpected business continuity issue. The circumstances that led to the change were outside the Council's control, and it was necessary to ensure that taxi vehicle testing and licensing could continue without interruption. Failure to have acted in the way we did was highly likely to have resulted in service failure which is not desirable for any party.
It should be noted that Local Government is currently undergoing a restructure which is due to go live on the 1 April 2028 and the contract agreed does not run beyond that date. The merging of existing councils to create larger unitary councils may present an opportunity to increase the number of testing stations available to applicants.
We recognise that this change has caused inconvenience for some members of the trade and appreciate the feedback that has been received. We hope this explanation helps to provide some context as to why the change was necessary and how the decision was reached.
If you remain unsatisfied, you can register a formal complaint using the Council's comments and complaints procedure.
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
