Perry Richardson

Cross-border working in the taxi and private hire sector is facing renewed scrutiny in London, as transport officials step up calls for legislative reform to close what they describe as a significant regulatory loophole. Speaking at a recent session of the London Assembly Transport Committee, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord said Transport for London (TfL) has made a “very strong case” to the Department for Transport for changes that would restrict where licensed vehicles can operate. Cross-border...

The Institute of Licensing (IoL) has highlighted concerns around Government proposals to transfer taxi and private hire vehicle licensing powers from local councils to Local Transport Authorities, warning the move could undermine public safety and destabilise existing regulatory systems. In its formal response to a consultation issued by the Department for Transport , the IoL said the plans form part of the wider English devolution agenda but are not supported by sufficient evidence to...

Tewkesbury Borough Council has launched a consultation on plans to introduce a penalty points scheme for taxi and private hire licence holders, in a move designed to strengthen enforcement against repeated low-level non-compliance. The proposed scheme would apply to drivers, vehicle proprietors and operators licensed by the authority, adding a formalised mechanism for tracking minor breaches of licence conditions and regulatory requirements. Council officials say the measure is intended to...