London (Sky News) – The firm says the city council posted letters “to an incorrect address” and blames its suspension on an “administrative error”.
Uber’s licence to operate in Sheffield has been suspended after the company failed to answer questions about its management, the city council has said.
The ride-hailing app will be able to continue operating in the city until 18 December, however, if it chooses to appeal the suspension it can still run until that appeal is heard.
A Sheffield City spokesman said: “Uber’s licence was suspended last Friday (29 November) after the current licence holder failed to respond to requests, made by our licensing team, about the management of Uber.”
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Uber blamed its failure to respond to the council on an “administrative error”, saying it had submitted an application for a new licence on 16 October which is still being processed.
“While we are in regular contact with the council, we did not receive the correspondence the council refers to as they sent the letters to an incorrect address,” a spokesman said.
The firm will submit an appeal if the new application cannot be resolved by 18 December, he added.
In September, Uber lost its licence to operate in London after TfL found it was “not fit and proper” to hold one.
TfL also said the ride-hailing app had demonstrated “a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications”.
Uber is appealing the decision and claimed TfL “caved into a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice”.
The app is also fighting against a landmark employment rights ruling that its drivers are employees and entitled to the minimum wage, sick pay, paid holiday and breaks.
It failed to overturn the decision at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London last month but vowed to launch another appeal.
