A CONTROVERSIAL taxi hire service is looking to expand into the city.

Uber, which allows customers to book a car via a mobile phone app, has applied for a private hire operator licence in Brighton and Hove.

The application is currently awaiting further information from Uber with a decision not yet made.

Members of the council’s licensing committee were briefed yesterday over national developments in app-based private hire services.

The report highlights the growth of app-based private hire services such as Uber, as opposed to traditional methods of booking by phone, in person, via text or a website.

Brighton and Hove City Council requires CCTV in all taxis and private hire vehicles as part of measures to protect passengers and drivers, with enhanced police checks for drivers, high training standards for drivers and the provision of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The report notes that due to revisions to the law nationally, smartphone apps could result in vehicles being despatched which are licensed outside the city, with different conditions. Committee members were advised that there may need to be conditions attached to licences to protect public safety.

Councillor Mo Marsh, chairwoman of the licensing committee, said: “There has been a big growth in the use of these app-based services and this is an opportunity for us to look more closely at them and the potential implications for passengers in Brighton and Hove.”

Bosses of the city’s leading taxi companies are understood to be against Uber being granted a licence, but declined to comment.

But one businessman who counts Uber drivers as clients urged the council to grant a licence.

Darren Fell, chief executive of Crunch Accounting, based in Hove, said: “The council would be out of its mind to consider banning it.

“It’s unsurprising to see the local taxi industry trying to defend their position, but I’ve yet to meet a single person who doesn’t want Uber to operate in Brighton.

“We’ve worked closely with them to provide accountancy services for their UK partner drivers and genuinely believe they are a force for good.

“Brighton is home to many creative, disruptive businesses and to prevent another from moving in would be incredibly regressive.”

An Uber spokesman said: “Our ambition is to be in every major city, and Brighton is certainly one of these.”

WHAT UBER IS

PASSENGERS use Uber to order a taxi using a mobile phone app which picks up their location.

They can choose from a menu of vehicle types and then the service automatically requests a taxi without you having to make a phone call.

Uber users can get a fare estimate when they order a taxi.

Despite opposition the new service has proved hugely popular with customers. It has rapidly expanded and is now available in 57 countries.