The expected date for mandatory CCTV in Swindon taxis may slip.

Last September members of Swindon Borough Council’s licensing committee authorised the licensing manager to draft a policy on mandating CCTV in both Hackney and private hire vehicles – and to bring it back to the committee.

The aim was to start on January 1, 2024, for new licence applications and April next year for renewed licences.

But the council’s head of regulatory services, Kate Bishop told the committee that staff shortages had put the work towards the back burner: “Within the last 10 months a number of licensing officers and the licensing manager have left the borough council.

“This has meant that the progress expected has not been made as the resources and expertise have not been available. As a result, the timeline and work requirement are currently being reviewed.”

Chairman on the committee Coun John Ballman said: “We’ll let this go back on the agenda for the September meeting and we’ll see where we are then. Hopefully it will be sorted.”

The council has been discussing and consulting on bringing CCTV into all taxis in the borough since at least 2019. Drivers have expressed concern with making it mandatory owing to the cost and also privacy and security issues.