Councils could face new duty to publish data on out-of-area licence suspensions

A proposed amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill would require licensing authorities in England to collect and publish annual data on the suspension of out‑of‑area taxi and private hire licences. The measure, tabled by Lord Moylan, is intended to improve transparency and strengthen oversight of how cross‑border enforcement powers are used.

Under the proposal, councils would be obliged to record and publish, once a year, the number of suspensions issued to drivers, vehicles and operators licensed by other authorities. They would also need to report how many suspensions were extended, terminated or allowed to lapse, and how many licence holders were subsequently reinstated. If adopted, this would create the first national dataset on the use of out‑of‑area suspension powers.

The amendment sits alongside wider reforms already under parliamentary scrutiny. As previously reported by the Institute of Licensing, the Bill includes proposals to give councils the ability to impose immediate 48‑hour suspensions on out‑of‑area drivers, vehicles and operators where there are concerns about public safety. Those powers, proposed by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, would require officers to notify the issuing authority within 24 hours, after which the home authority could lift, extend or escalate the suspension. Appeal rights and potential compensation for unjustified suspensions are also included.

The amendment will be considered at Report Stage in the House of Lords. If approved, it would complement the proposed instant‑suspension powers by adding a layer of transparency intended to ensure that enforcement is applied fairly and consistently across England.