NPHTA: THE YEAR AHEAD
As long as costs, efficiency and enforcement vary, operators and drivers will continue to gravitate towards the cheapest and least efficient authorities. Standardisation without addressing cost and processing structures will not solve the problem.
Will unitary authorities end cross-border working? Again, no.
In fact, creating larger unitary authorities may simply result in even bigger operating areas - including for hackney carriage drivers, who would then be able to ply for hire across vast regions. Unless existing licensing zones are retained (which has not yet been confirmed), this risks making the problem worse rather than better with concentration of vehicles in high-demand areas and little availability in quieter areas
What about enforcing Section 75(1)(a) of the LGMPA 1976?
On its own, this will not work either.
Reliance on Section 75(1)(a) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 is equally unrealistic. This provision has existed for over 50 years and has never been properly enforced. If authorities already struggle to enforce unlawful parking on taxi ranks, expecting this section alone to resolve cross- border working without additional support and mechanisms is optimistic at best.
A cap on private hire numbers? Once again, the answer is no.
Even for hackney carriages, caps can only be imposed following an independent unmet demand survey, as set out in the Deregulation Act 2010. Extending this to private hire is neither practical nor lawful under the current framework and if it is considered, the same costly and complex survey requirements apply.
Intended use policies – a proven solution
Intended use policies currently apply only to hackney carriage licensing, but where they are in place, enforcement is relatively straightforward because it is evidence-based.
There is no fixed percentage or time period. Enforcement is not routine or habitual and does not require officers to trawl through booking records at every renewal. Investigations only occur when reports are received. No reports means no investigation.
When evidence shows that the majority of work is being carried out outside the licensing area, action can
PHTM JANUARY 2026
be taken not only against the licence itself, but also through prosecution for making a false declaration to obtain a licence - a matter of fraud
This approach supports and reinforces Section 75 1(a) and provides a realistic, enforceable framework. Expanding intended use policies to all licence types would significantly reduce area flooding and out-of- town predominant use.
The NPHTA dream list
As our industry looks ahead, I believe the priorities are clear: l Extend intended use policies to all licence types
l Reduce flooding of areas and out-of-town predominant use
l Introduce a minimum per-mile rate for private hire drivers, tackling unsustainably low fares which will reduce the number of trip rejections and flooding of vehicles in busy areas
l Implement national standards to remove
excessive variation between local authority conditions
l Retain existing licensing zones within any new unitary structures to protect local service provision
l Deliver real enforcement, not just legislative headlines
Above all, the trade needs a licensing system that is fair, affordable, enforceable and proportionate - one that protects operators, drivers, passengers and the integrity of the licensing regime itself.
Without meaningful reform, regulation will continue to erode, oversight will weaken, and the industry will be left fragmented and vulnerable.
Change is not optional, change is urgently needed And we need it now!
Watch out for consultations, engage with them, and make your voice heard. Otherwise, the industry risks waking up too late, wondering what went wrong and how it could have been prevented.
A united trade is a powerful voice.
It’s time to UNITE - because a united trade remains the strongest voice we have. Join the NPHTA today:
www.nphta.co.uk
7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70
