ALL THINGS LICENSING
Article by Mike Smith, Senior Specialist for Licensing and Community Safety at Guildford Borough Council and Vice-Chair of the Institute of Licensing South East Region:
www.instituteoflicensing.org
Please note that this article represents my own views which are not presented as the views of the Institute of Licensing or Guildford BC.
May is here… and change is in the air! Don’t get left behind!
May has always been a busy month professionally, synonymous for anyone in local government with local elections and, naturally for me the PHTM EXPO.
But 2026 is no ordinary year here in Surrey, and one which is likely to be a precursor to change in other areas. Across Surrey, local elections are not following the usual district, borough, or county format. Instead, voters are heading to the polls on 7 May 2026 to elect councillors to the new East Surrey and West Surrey unitary councils, which will initially operate as shadow authorities during the transition to full reorganisation.
These shadow authorities will prepare budgets, governance, staffing, service plans and ultimately oversee the complete transfer of responsibilities before the new councils formally assume full powers on 1 April 2027, when all 12 existing Surrey councils will be dissolved.
Local government reorganisation brings both excitement and uncertainty.
Excitement, because staff across local government genuinely care about improving services for their communities, and structural reform offers a rare opportunity to modernise, streamline and design better outcomes for residents and businesses. Apprehension, because efficiency inevitably overlaps with financial pressures, and reorganisation often leads to structural reshaping and workforce changes.
What this means for the taxi/PH trade
The taxi and private hire sector in Surrey is heading for one of the most significant transitions in its history.
With the move to two new unitary authorities confirmed by Government through the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, the licensing landscape will fundamentally change.
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Current Surrey licensing authorities will cease to exist on 1 April 2027, and responsibility will instead sit with the two large unitary councils. This will have major implications for: l Taxi licensing policies l Fee structures l Fares and tariff reviews l Enforcement approaches l Cross-boundary working and enforcement l Where hackney carriages may ply for hire
Shadow authorities elected in May 2026 will begin shaping this new framework almost immediately. That means the next 12 months are pivotal for the trade, with changes potentially creating both challenges and opportunities for growth, innovation and consistency across wider areas.
Surrey is also operating as the national fast track prototype for LGR, which means decisions taken here may influence future reorganisations across England, which will undoubtedly have a future impact for the trade in other areas with the licence holders in Surrey therefore being at the forefront of reforms that could become a template elsewhere.
In short… big changes are coming, and they offer a genuinely exciting moment for the trade to help shape what comes next.
New powers proposed to let councils suspend out-of-area taxi licences instantly
Following on from changes happening in Surrey, amendments to
the English Devolution and
Community Empowerment Bill would give councils the ability to immediately suspend taxi and private hire licences issued by other authorities, marking a significant shift in enforcement capability and responsibility for local authorities across England. Announced as part of wider reforms aimed at strengthening public safety, these new powers would allow officers to act instantly when they identify a driver, vehicle or operator licensed elsewhere but operating in their area in a manner that raises safety concerns. While the measures have been welcomed by many as a necessary tool to address longstanding gaps in cross-border regulation, they also present substantial resourcing challenges for the councils expected to implement them.
One of the most immediate pressures is the likely increase in enforcement workload. Under the amend- ments, enforcement officers would be empowered to issue an immediate suspension lasting up to 48 hours
MAY 2026 PHTM
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