A COUNCIL has been forced to apologise to one of the North-East’s biggest taxi companies after failing to properly administer taxi licences.

Middlesbrough Council has been reprimanded by the Local Government Ombudsman for not keeping adequate records about licence fees and for not providing crucial information on drivers to Boro Taxis.

It was investigated after a member of staff made a complaint.

Ombudsman Jane Martin said that Christine Bell, Boro Taxis' company secretary, was “understandably concerned” that she might be paying too much for her taxi licences.

She said: “The council will conduct a review of its fees and apologise to ‘Ms C’.

“The key point is the council cannot show the fees are appropriate to cover the cost of performing the service as it cannot show how it calculated the fees.

“The council is at fault for not keeping adequate records.”

The Ombudsman also ruled that the council’s practices with regard to licence renewal and updating a register of private hire driver details were “ineffective”.

But she added: “Although ‘Ms C’ is trying to ensure the efficient running of her company the council has no duty to provide ‘Ms C’ the information she wants in the form she used to request it.

“The council will apologise to ‘Ms C’ for her anxiety and frustration.”

Ms Bell lodged a complaint after she discovered through a Freedom of Information request that the council could not demonstrate how it calculated its licence fees.

She said: “Local authorities have a duty to residents and businesses to conduct their operations in a fair, accountable and transparent way and Middlesbrough Council has failed to do this.

“Its poor handling of my legitimate concerns is appalling.”

Mohammed Bashir, owner of Boro Taxis, was also involved in a long-running battle with the council three years ago after a disagreement over access to the Morrisons supermarket at Berwick Hills.

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: “We accept the Ombudsman's findings and can confirm that an independent review of taxi licensing fee structures is under way.

“This will be carried out in consultation with local operators and the final recommendations implemented in 2015/16.

“We are always keen to rectify any errors we find in our systems so are grateful to the complainant with regards to these issues and will be writing to apologise.”

The council has changed it procedures to ensure the register is updated regularly and has given assurances that information about driver suspensions will be passed on to operators where relevant.

The Ombudsman was satisfied with these actions and said the Council has improved its practices.