TACKLING CROSS-BORDER: Regional taxi licensing shift could mirror combined authority models
- Perry Richardson
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Department for Transport is weighing up a move that could hand taxi and private hire licensing powers to larger regional authorities. The change is aimed at tackling long-standing issues around enforcement and driver operations across council boundaries.
England currently has 263 local licensing authorities, mostly controlled by district and city councils. This has created a patchwork system where private hire drivers can be licensed in one area but work extensively in another. The result is enforcement confusion and inconsistent safety standards.
Combined authorities such as those in the Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire present a possible solution. These regional bodies already oversee key areas like transport and economic development, bringing together multiple councils under one structure.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority covers six councils and manages a high volume of taxi and private hire vehicles. This shared approach has made it easier to apply consistent licensing rules and enforce them region-wide.
In West Yorkshire, the combined authority directs transport strategy, although licensing powers remain with individual councils. Even so, the model shows how regional coordination can support more joined-up decision-making.
Moving to regional taxi licensing could help deliver consistent standards, stronger enforcement across borders, and better use of resources. It would also allow taxis and private hire vehicles to be considered more directly within regional transport planning.
However, the shift would not be simple. It would require legal changes, collaboration between councils, and input from the trade and the public.
The Government is expected to set out more details through an upcoming consultation. How the lessons from Liverpool and West Yorkshire are applied could shape the future of licensing across England.
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