A CAP on the number of taxi drivers allowed in the Wee County has been lifted – despite no evidence that a cap ever existed.

The local authority’s Regulatory Committee approved moves to scrap the limit at a meeting held last Tuesday.

The committee heard that it was assumed the council had limited the number of licences allowed in the county to 40 following the implementation of legislation in 1982. However, checks by licensing officials found no formal resolutions confirming any cap.

In spite of this, officers still recommended that the limit be removed, subject to any new applications for a taxi operator licence being individually approved by the committee.

They said if the council wanted to enact a limit it would need to undertake annual studies to justify such a cap – which could cost in excess of £15,000 – and claimed that, in contrast, there was significant public demand for more taxis, especially to cover late evenings and early mornings at weekends.

In a report to the committee, licensing team leader Alastair Mackenzie wrote, “It is therefore proposed that the limit on taxi operator licences, whether enacted or not, is removed. In any event, it is likely that reforms proposed by the Scottish Government to the 1982 Act will abolish the distinction between private hire cars and taxis, resulting in a unified licence type.” The committee agreed to put further recommendations – application fees for taxi and private hire operators to vary their licence; the formation of a new working group; approval of temporary and shortened licence fees – out to public consultation.

A Clackmannanshire Council spokeswoman said the authority was currently drafting the consultation documentation and considering the time frame.