Wolverhampton Councillor calls for reform of National Taxi Licensing Framework

Councillor Simon Bennett on Wolverhampton Council, has called for urgent reform of the national taxi and private hire licensing system. He argues that Wolverhampton’s licensing department is disproportionately burdened due to regulatory inconsistencies across the UK.

According to Councillor Bennett, 96% of taxi licences issued by Wolverhampton are granted to drivers residing outside the city. He attributes this to Wolverhampton’s streamlined, digital-first licensing process, which includes daily DBS checks and reduced administrative barriers. While these innovations have improved efficiency and transparency locally, they have also highlighted systemic weaknesses in cross-border enforcement.

Bennett emphasized that current legislation limits councils’ ability to regulate or enforce standards on drivers operating outside their licensing authority. He cited Baroness Casey’s review into group-based child sexual exploitation, which identified safeguarding gaps and inconsistent oversight of licensed drivers, as further evidence of the need for reform.

He urged the parliamentary transport committee to establish:

• Uniform safety and licensing standards across all local authorities
• Enhanced enforcement powers for councils
• A regulatory framework that ensures accountability and protects both passengers and compliant drivers

Councillor Bennett stressed that Wolverhampton’s licensing success should serve as a model, but that no single authority can sustain a system lacking national coherence.