The major changes taxi drivers could face under new licensing reforms

Taxi drivers across England will face “tight scrutiny” under new licensing reforms, a minister has confirmed, as the government moves to address concerns over passenger safety and exploitation.

The proposed changes, which are part of the British Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, would introduce a national minimum standard for drivers, specifically targeting issues related to working outside the area.

Local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh stated that these standards would prioritize “protecting passengers and improving accessibility”.

The move follows Baroness Casey’s inspection, which highlighted “many cases of group-based child sexual abuse” linked to taxi services.

Speaking at the report stage of the bill, Ms Fahnbulleh told MPs: “The powers sought are necessarily broad so we can be sure that the new powers capture all the complexities in the existing legal framework.

“National minimum standards will set a high but proportionate standard for licensing that focuses on protecting passengers and increasing accessibility of these services for all.

“This means that those who rely most on these services, especially women, girls and people with disabilities, can be assured that drivers for these services are subject to rigorous scrutiny wherever they are in the country.

“This is an important first step in tackling some of the problems arising from the practice of off-site work.

“We will also consult shortly on making local transport authorities responsible for taxis and private hire vehicles, further strengthening regulation of the sector, and will continue to build on these reforms in the coming weeks and months.”

Ruth Cadbury, chair of the transport committee, told MPs that common standards were needed across England, which were “high and absolute standards, not basic minimum standards”.

The Labor MP said his committee’s investigation into taxis and private hire vehicles found that the lack of common standards had encouraged “license shopping”, whereby drivers chose to get licensed from local authorities with the least burdensome standards, even if most of their work was done elsewhere.

Ms Cadbury said: “People want to know that when they get into a taxi or cab they will be safe, that the vehicle is secure, that the driver has been trained in a range of situations and that their particular access needs or disabilities will be recognized and supported and that they will be treated with respect.”

He welcomed the Government’s changes to the bill, which will allow the Minister for Transport to “set standards for the grant, renewal, suspension and cancellation of driver and operator licences”.

The far-reaching bill would expand the powers of regional mayors and create a tiered system of strategic authority.

It will be transferred to new unitary local authorities as part of transport, planning and housing proposals.

The legislation also proposes that sports venues that host more than 10,000 spectators be automatically designated as Sports Assets of Social Value (SACV).

When a facility is put up for sale, communities will have the right of first refusal; This is unlike the current system where lands are sold to the highest bidder.

Ms Fahnbulleh said: “The government recognizes how much communities value local sporting venues as spaces that support local pride, belonging and identity.

“The legislation will automatically designate areas across England as sporting assets of community value, ensuring the protection of these important local areas.

“We have introduced a new 16-week review period for communities looking to purchase a sports asset of community value that will seat more than 10,000 spectators.”

Labor MP Chris Hinchliff noted a “slight oversight” in the bill, arguing that “despite its title, it does not actually give communities significant new powers”.

The North East Hertfordshire MP said: “Strengthening the tools available to local people to purchase assets of community value is certainly a welcome progress, yes, but it is not fundamentally new.”

He advocated for a “community rights charter” that included seven key elements, including the right to a clean and healthy environment.

Shadow leveling minister David Simmonds claimed the Bill was an “incompetent and inconsistent restructuring of this Government”.

The Conservative Party leader said: “When we look at this bill, we see a law that completely ruins local democracy: elections are canceled then postponed, announcements of new mayors do not progress to final announcements on new structures.

“This is a bill that takes away powers from communities and gives them to mayors, which, as we heard before in the debate in the Surrey case, will never be implemented.

“This does not bring any significance to our constituents and aims to make our fellow local elected councilors mere talking points rather than decision makers for their local communities.

“And worst of all, despite the Government’s sometimes arrogant rhetoric, the Shire is removing 90% of England’s representation at the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen.

“Where is the voice of our constituents in local government under this centralizing Labor government?”

The bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by 322 votes to 179, a majority of 143. It is now set to be examined by the House of Lords.