ALL THINGS LICENSING
high standard should benefit from a more level playing field, while poor practice will face increased challenge.
For everyone, be it local authorities, licence holders, suppliers or passengers, this represents the most significant opportunity in decades to address long- standing issues such as cross-border working, uneven standards, and inconsistent enforcement.
years, conversations around reform have often felt speculative or distant. This year, they felt immediate and tangible.
The announcement in the King’s Speech that the Government will bring forward a Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Reform Bill marks a pivotal moment for the sector. This is no longer a question of whether compre- hensive reform will take place, but when and how.
The proposed Bill is expected to: • Replace the current patchwork of legislation with a single, consistent national framework, modernising a system widely regarded as outdated and fragmented
• Strengthen public safety and safeguarding, including in response to Baroness Casey’s findings on vulner- abilities linked to inconsistent licensing regimes
• Introduce stronger and more consistent enforcement powers, building on those already established in the 2026 Act (discussed further in this article)
• Mandate improved data sharing, including a national database of licensed drivers, vehicles and operators
• Enhance accessibility and remove barriers for disabled • Reflect modern travel patterns, including app based booking models and cross border working
Importantly, the Minister described the Bill as the “final step” in delivering the Government’s reform agenda, suggesting that the measures already introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act represent only part of a broader programme of change.
For those of us involved as licensing practitioners, this raises both opportunities and challenges. The move toward a unified national framework could finally address longstanding inconsistencies between licensing authorities, but it also raises important questions about local flexibility,
resourcing,
implementation, and the practical realities of enforcement within a national system. For drivers and operators, this is likely to mean clearer expectations, but also tighter scrutiny. Those already operating to a
PHTM JUNE 2026
As we await further detail and formal consultation on the proposed legislation, it is clear that engagement across the sector will be essential. Events like the PHTM EXPO play a crucial role in bringing together those perspectives and ensuring that both trade and regulators have a voice in shaping what comes next.
This year’s event captured that perfectly: a sector reflecting on its challenges, but also energised by the prospect of meaningful change.
I am already looking forward to next year’s Expo, by which time we may well be discussing not just proposals, but the practical realities of a newly reformed taxi and private hire framework.
Drivers, operators and licensing officers alike are now beginning to consider what reform will mean in practice: • Will national standards reduce unfair competition? • How will stronger enforcement powers be applied? • What will change for day-to-day operations?
licensing
These are no longer abstract questions. They are part of the sector’s near future.
The World Cup effect: demand, extended hours and public expectation
Moving on from the anticipation of the Expo, as the summer temperature begins to rise, so too does the thermometer of excitement as the FIFA World Cup approaches.
Major sporting events have always tested the resilience of the taxi and PHV trade, and the upcoming World Cup will be no exception.
With matches broadcast in the USA across varying time zones, there is a strong likelihood of: • Extended licensed hours in many areas to cover Home Nation fixutres
• Late-night peaks in demand after matches • Increased reliance on taxis and PHVs as public transport reduces overnight
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