Existing outdated taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing laws need to be updated and strengthened. The LGA is calling on the Government to take forward commitments it made in response to its task and finish group’s report and introduce reform legislation in the next Queen’s Speech.
Key messages
- Existing outdated taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing laws need to be updated and strengthened. The LGA is calling on the Government to take forward commitments it made in response to its task and finish group’s report and introduce reform legislation in the next Queen’s Speech.
- Proposals to tackle out of area working, improve safeguarding and establish national minimum standards are essential to provide safer journeys and fairer business for taxi drivers.
- Local enforcement is essential to a safe, fair taxi and PHV system and councils must continue to be central to the licensing process. We are pleased that Government recognises the importance of retaining local flexibility in taxi and PHV licensing, and of drivers being required to work primarily in the area where they are licensed.
- The need for reform is now urgent. Councils are doing what they can to strengthen licensing processes, such as signing up to the new National Register of Revocations and Refusals commissioned by the LGA and we pleased that Government recognises the value in mandating this initiative.
- The government should ensure that licensing authorities can recover the costs of proportionate compliance and enforcement activity linked to these recommendations and other work, from driver and operator fees. This is the subject of an ongoing legal case, however, regardless of the outcome, the Government should ensure that new legislation reflects this.
Download the full briefing
Taxi and private hire licensing reform, House of Commons, 3 October 2019