Cab My Ride can keep operating despite Southampton ‘fit and proper’license loss

South coast private hire operator Cab My Ride has been stripped of its license by Southampton Council after the council’s licensing sub committee found the business was not “fit and proper”.

Cab My Ride will be able to keep its licence with the two neighbouring authorities of Eastleigh Borough Council and New Forest District Council as no complaints were lodged with either authority and the councils have confirmed no action is being taken against the firm.

Southampton City Council revoked Cab My Ride’s license after a number of issues were raised. These included wheelchair users being overcharged, children being driven to and from school in an unlicensed and damaged vehicle and questions about the conduct of a former director, who resigned in 2020.

Cab My Ride said it would appeal the Southampton decision. A spokesperson for the company told local media said: “Cab My Ride are pleased with Eastleigh Borough Council’s and New Forest District Council’s decision not to revoke our license. The recommendation put forward by the Southampton City Council, to revoke our Southampton Private Hire Operators License, will be appealed at the West Hampshire Magistrate court at a later date.

“As a legal and fully licensed Southampton, Eastleigh and New Forest Private Hire Operator, we are still able to provide services to take passengers in the city & provide transport services.”
Director Arjan Sahota (pictured) said: “We commend Eastleigh Borough Council and New Forest District Council for their commitment to assessing the facts, rather than following the unfair action taken by Southampton City Council who seek to revoke Cab My Ride’s Southampton Private Hire Operators License.

“It is also worth noting that when the Southampton Licensing Team performed spot checks on vehicles on 27th February 2024, Cab My Ride’s vehicles were not associated with the 87% failure rate from other taxis and their operators.”

Cab My Ride has been acquisitive in recent times, buying two other local operators in 2022 and building a fleet of around 300 cars. In January 2022 it bought Hampshire operator Bitterne Cars, and in October 2022 it bought 70-car operator Millers Taxi, which operates in the Eastleigh, Fareham and Winchester area.

Sahota said the company’s expansion was partly to blame for the problems. Addressing Southampton councillors, he said: “I understand there have been mistakes over just a few years. I can only apologise on behalf of the company,” adding that he was “working hard to make things right and to gain the trust that the council has given us to serve our local community in Southampton”.