ALL THINGS LICENSING


Moreover, public expectations may rise as the Government frames the reforms as part of a broader strategy to improve safety and accountability across communities. Residents may anticipate more proactive visible enforcement, placing additional pressure on teams whose capacity is already stretched thin by competing priorities such as anti- social behaviour, premises licensing, and safeguarding-related duties.


Taken together, these proposals create a genuine opportunity to strengthen protections in an area long hampered by inconsistent standards and cross- border loopholes. However,


investment in enforcement capacity,


without significant training,


administrative support, and digital infrastructure, local authorities may find themselves struggling to meet the expectations set by the reforms. As the Bill progresses through Parliament, the resourcing implications for councils will be a critical issue, one that will determine whether the new powers deliver meaningful improvements or simply add to the already heavy load carried by local regulatory services.


House of Lords reject mandatory taxi accessibility proposals


However, one change not within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill around taxi accessibility will not be moving forward.


The House of Lords has voted down a proposed amendment that would have required all taxis in England to meet minimum accessibility standards within three years, dealing a setback to campaigners seeking stronger protections for disabled passengers.


The amendment aimed to compel the government to implement long-standing but unused provisions of the Equality Act 2010. These provisions would allow ministers to introduce national minimum accessibility requirements for taxis, an area where standards currently vary significantly between local authorities.


Supporters of the amendment argued that the measure was necessary to


address persistent


inequalities in transport access. They highlighted that, despite existing legal powers, successive governments have failed to fully enact nationwide accessibility standards, leaving many disabled passengers unable to rely on taxis for safe and dignified travel.


The amendment would have required any national taxi standards introduced under the Bill to include


64


these accessibility requirements and set a three-year deadline for compliance.


However, peers rejected the proposal by 117 votes to 46. Opponents did not dispute the importance of accessibility but were understood to favour a more flexible approach, allowing the government discretion over how and when to introduce such standards. Concerns were also raised about the potential financial burden on taxi operators and local licensing authorities.


The defeat means the Bill will proceed without a binding requirement to


enforce nationwide


accessibility standards, leaving the issue to future policy decisions rather than embedding it directly in legislation.


Better connected strategy: implications for taxis and PHVs - recognition of taxis and PHVs in Integrated Transport


These past few weeks have also seen publication of the Government’s Better Connected: A Strategy For Integrated Transport which explicitly recognises taxis and PHVs as a core component of local transport systems, rather than a peripheral or purely commercial service. The strategy positions the sector as particularly important for: l First and last mile connectivity, supporting access to rail, bus and active travel


l Night time and off peak travel, especially where mainstream public transport is limited


l Rural and suburban mobility, where fixed-route services may be infrequent or unviable


Leading on from mentions including taxis and PHVs in local transport plans further to the most recent Best Practice Guidance, this represents a continued shift in national transport policy thinking, acknowledging the role of the licensed taxi and PHV sectors in delivering inclusive, flexible mobility solutions.


The emphasis on passenger safety is framed as a central enabler of integrated transport, with the strategy recognising that people must feel confident using taxis/PHVs, particularly at night. This aligns closely with existing licensing objectives of reinforcing the importance of robust driver and vehicle standards, effective compliance and enforcement activity and promoting public confidence in licensed services.


The document also reinforces expectations around accessibility, signalling that taxis and PHVs should


MAY 2026 PHTM


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