Uber has been granted a new private hire operator’s licence for York.
City of York Council has awarded the company the licence for five years, by convention the maximum allowed.
It brings to an end years of controversy about whether the ride-hailing app should be licensed by the city.
Uber operated in the city for 16 months until councillors voted not to renew its licence in 2017, saying it was “not a fit and proper” operator.
Last June, after a mammoth York council meeting, Uber was granted a one-year licence – despite vociferous opposition by the city’s taxi operators.
This time, the decision didn’t go through to committee. Instead the licence was granted by an officer with delegated powers.
Uber has now moved its registered office in York from Clifton Moor to the Bonding Warehouse.
Matthew Freckelton, head of cities for Uber, told YorkMix said the company had “transformed the business internally” since the 2017 licence rejection.
“We have a number of internal company commitments – stand for safety and always do the right thing are my two personal favourites.”
Uber was delighted by York’s decision, he said, adding that the company has expanded into many cities across the country in the last 18 months. “And it’s been very clear in all those meetings that councillors and council licencing officers up and down the country see Uber very much as the gold standard in the private hire industry.”
Two conditions imposed on Uber’s York licence last year are again in force.
The first is to inform drivers on how to access the city centre through the bollards when they are carrying passengers with a Blue Badge.
The second is geo-fencing technology that guides drivers away from official taxi ranks “so we don’t disrupt that very important Hackney trade,” Matt said.
Uber had also worked with York Racecourse to locate pick-up and drop-off points which worked for all parties.
And he said the company had scored 100% on a City of York Council audit which checks its booking recordings, complaints procedure, and adherence to the Equality Act.
The company has grown its presence in York in the last year.
“Since securing the licence with the council last year, we have secured a number of local drivers.
“For commercial reasons, I can’t tell you how many trips we are doing, but the business is growing sufficiently.
“We are growing in line with the very popular and successful tourism economy here in York.
“Lots of people who come from abroad and are familiar and comfortable using Uber in their own countries, rely on Uber as their first point of calling when getting around York and into the countryside, to places like Castle Howard for example.”
In the light of past controversies, Mr Freckelton said Uber wanted to work alongside the wider private hire sector in York.
“We believe in an efficient transport network. Working alongside other local operators, working alongside buses, Hackneys, cyclists, I think there’s more than enough business for everybody.
“We’re very much in the business of increasing the overall size of the market, ensuring that there’s more work for everybody.
“There’ll be plenty of situations, depending on your personal circumstances, where you will need to rely on a private hire vehicle.
“So ensuring that we have equal access and a level playing field to the city streets of York, we think is important for the equality of the residents of York.”
Matt Boxall, head of public protection at City of York Council, said: “City of York Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee met in June 2024 and granted a private hire operator’s licence to the applicant for a 12 month period, to provide time to assess its suitability for a longer licence.
“Over that 12 month period, Uber met the conditions of licensing to operate in York.
“Consistent with the committee’s June 2024 decision, a renewal of their licence has now been granted under officer delegation for a five-year period, inclusive of additional conditions approved by the committee at that time, including conditions relating to the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles, the use of drivers and vehicles that are licensed in other areas, and the importance of providing city centre access for Blue Badge holders.”
