EVIDENCE SUBMITTED: Bury Council latest to back licensing reform to curb out-of-area taxis
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
Bury Council has joined calls for urgent reform to taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing, warning that out-of-area operations are undermining local enforcement and public trust.
The authority, along with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the nine other licensing authorities across the region, submitted joint evidence to the UK Transport Committee as part of its inquiry into taxi and PHV standards.
The inquiry has been assessing licensing inconsistencies between councils, the role of app-based platforms such as Uber and Bolt, and the growing issue of cross-border hiring, where vehicles licensed in one area operate almost entirely in another.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, the economy and skills, said that the current system fails to protect the travelling public and disadvantages locally licensed drivers who meet higher local standards.
Bury’s response supports the region-wide ‘Backing Our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted.’ campaign. The initiative is pushing for new Government powers that would allow Mayoral Combined Authorities to control the licensing and operation of all taxis and PHVs within their areas.
Supporters argue that a consistent framework would ensure every vehicle working in Greater Manchester meets the same safety and quality checks, regardless of where it was originally licensed. It would also give local authorities the ability to take enforcement action when standards are breached.
The campaign reflects a growing concern across the sector that current legislation, which allows drivers to operate anywhere in England once licensed, is no longer fit for purpose given the rapid rise of ride-hailing platforms and cross-border working.
The Transport Committee is expected to consider all evidence submitted and make recommendations later this year.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, the economy and skills, said: “We welcome the inquiry and hope it leads to meaningful reform. One of the most pressing issues is out-of-area licensing, which undermines local enforcement and public confidence. We want to see this loophole closed so that all licensing authorities can apply fair and proportionate enforcement within their own boundaries.
“This is about protecting the travelling public and supporting responsible, local drivers.”
