Bolsover and North East Derbyshire Councils urge taxi trade to engage with national licensing consultation
- Perry Richardson
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Bolsover and North East Derbyshire District Councils has called on residents, taxi drivers and private hire operators to take part in a new UK Government consultation that could significantly change how taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in England.
The consultation, launched by the UK Government, examines proposals to move responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing away from individual district and borough councils and into the hands of local transport authorities.
In the East Midlands, that would likely mean licensing powers transferring to the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which already holds strategic responsibility for transport planning across the region.
Both councils said the review could have long-term implications for how the taxi and private hire trade is regulated locally, including potential changes to licensing costs, standards, enforcement and cross-border working. The authority is encouraging local licensees to ensure their views are represented while the proposals remain at a formative stage.
Government review considers shifting taxi and private hire licensing away from district councils
According to the consultation document, the Government is seeking feedback from passengers, drivers, operators and councils on whether licensing at a transport authority level could deliver economic or financial benefits, improve consistency across wider areas, and better align taxi and PHV regulation with transport policy.
The review also invites more general views on whether the current system of district-level licensing remains fit for purpose, particularly as travel patterns increasingly cross local authority boundaries and app-based operators continue to operate across large regions.
Bolsover and North East Derbyshire District Councils has highlighted that no final decisions have been taken and that the consultation is intended to test support for the concept before any legislative changes are brought forward.
The consultation will remain open until 1 April 2026. Responses must be submitted directly through the Government’s consultation portal.
