TACKLING CROSS BORDER: Government reveals it will consult on shifting taxi licensing to all local transport authorities
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 1 min read
The Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed plans to launch a consultation on a proposal that could see all Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) take over responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing.
The move would represent a significant change from the current system, where licensing is typically managed by district and borough councils across England. Speaking in response to a parliamentary question from Rachael Maskell MP, Simon Lightwood, a DfT minister, confirmed that the consultation will take place soon.
According to Lightwood, the shift in responsibility is aimed at improving the consistency of standards across the industry. He said that managing licensing at a higher level could lead to better enforcement and more efficient operations.
The DfT believes the change could help tackle long-standing concerns in the sector, such as drivers being licensed by authorities far from where they work. Centralising oversight through LTAs may reduce the appeal of this practice by creating more uniform rules and enforcement.
Economies of scale are also cited as a potential benefit, with larger authorities better placed to manage resources and technology needed for modern licensing systems.
Lightwood said: “The Department for Transport will consult shortly on whether to make all Local Transport Authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.
“We believe administering the regime at this higher level would increase the consistency of standards and enable more effective use of enforcement powers. Greater economies of scale could also enable authorities to improve the efficiency of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Addressing these issues should reduce the factors that induce people to licence out of their usual working area.”
