Neath Port Talbot Proposes CCTV and Six-Month DBS Checks in Taxi Licensing Overhaul

Neath Port Talbot Council is considering a major overhaul of its taxi and private hire licensing rules, including six-monthly DBS monitoring and a new requirement for CCTV and dash cameras in licensed vehicles.

The revised Taxi Licensing Policy was put before the council’s General Licensing Committee on Monday, 24 August 2026.

Council officers are asking members to approve a consultation with taxi and private hire drivers, operators and other interested parties before any final decision is made on adopting the revised policy.

One of the most significant proposed changes concerns criminal-record monitoring. Under the current policy, the council says DBS checks are undertaken every three years. The revised approach would require the authority to check the DBS status of licensed drivers every six months.

Drivers would be strongly encouraged to subscribe to the DBS Update Service, allowing the council to carry out the regular status checks without requiring a completely new disclosure each time.

The draft policy states that drivers who choose not to subscribe, or whose subscription becomes unavailable, would instead need to obtain a new Enhanced DBS certificate at their own expense every six months. Failure to provide a satisfactory disclosure when required could result in suspension of a driver’s licence.

Another potentially significant change is a new requirement covering CCTV and dash cameras in licensed vehicles. The council’s committee report lists this alongside strengthened testing for new drivers, clearer requirements for vehicle door signs and tougher procedures for reporting accidents and damage.

The revised driver Knowledge and Suitability Test would include video-based assessments and questions covering taxi licensing legislation, the council’s policy and local-area knowledge. The draft states that applicants would need to achieve at least 80% in each section.

The council says its existing Taxi Licensing Policy was introduced in August 2015 and most recently updated in February 2024. Officers say the latest revision is intended to bring the framework into line with current Welsh Government and Department for Transport guidance, operational practice and emerging risks.

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Importantly, the proposed changes should not yet be treated as new licensing rules. The officer recommendation is for the committee to approve a consultation exercise. The council’s report says responses would then be considered and brought back to members before a final decision is made on whether to adopt the revised policy.

For Neath Port Talbot drivers and operators, that means there should be an opportunity to comment on the proposals before any final policy takes effect.

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