Andy Burnham calls for amendment to devolution bill to end ‘out of area’ taxi licensing

The Mayoral Council was set up by the Government so that England’s regional mayors can raise issues with senior government ministers.

Burnham believes that an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill – currently going through Parliament – is needed to tackle what he described as “a broken taxi system”.

He claimed that one local authority – City of Wolverhampton Council – “dominates licensing nationally, undermining local enforcement and accountability”. 

More than 11% of England’s private hire vehicles are licensed by Wolverhampton.

In June this year the Government said it would accept all 12 of the recommendations in Baroness Louise Casey's national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation, including her calls for an immediate end to 'out of area taxis'.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “For too long, communities in Greater Manchester and across the country have been at the mercy of a broken taxi system that allows private hire vehicles and drivers to be licensed hundreds of miles away from where they live and operate. This is not just a matter of fairness for locally licensed drivers to protect their livelihoods - it’s a matter of public safety. 

“Greater Manchester has led the call for reform, and it’s great to see that being backed by our local MPs. With the government having already accepted Baroness Casey’s recommendation regarding out of area licensing – further reinforcing the urgent need for change – this Bill provides an opportunity for decisive action to be taken by the Government. 

“Avoiding unnecessary delay and acting quickly to address out-of-area licensing will allow us to restore trust and raise standards through a system that is safe, fair, and locally controlled.”