Taxi and PHV licensing legislation “inadequate and outdated”, LGA to tell MPs

Current legislation for the licensing of taxi and private hire vehicles (PHVs) is “inadequate and outdated”, the Local Government Association has said in a briefing prepared ahead of a debate in Parliament this week.

The Westminster Hall debate on the future of taxi and private hire vehicles will be held on Tuesday (18 July).

The LGA said in the briefing that the licensing framework had not kept pace with developments in technology and the need to ensure passengers were protected.

The Association also noted that:

• ‘Out of area’ drivers operating within other licensing authority areas (cross-border activity) had significantly increased in recent years, a result of both of the Deregulation Act 2015 and the proliferation of app based systems.
• There needed to be national minimum standards introduced for taxis and PHVs to align licensing and safety standards across the country, while retaining local flexibility for councils.
• As recommended by the Law Commission, there should be a Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Reform Bill to replace outdated legislation and modernise the licensing system for taxis and PHVs, to the benefit of both passengers and the trade itself.
• Councils must be able to take enforcement action against any driver operating in their area. A Taxi and PHV Licensing Reform Bill must also look at measures to ensure drivers are working in the area where they are licensed.

The LGA’s briefing can be viewed here.