David Skaith, the newly elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has publicly endorsed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s campaign to overhaul England’s taxi licensing system. Skaith joins a growing coalition of regional leaders demanding greater local control over taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) regulation to ensure consistent safety and service standards across the country.
Burnham’s campaign, titled “Backing Our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted.”, highlights concerns over the increasing number of PHVs operating in areas where they are not licensed. In Greater Manchester, nearly half of the PHV fleet is licensed outside the region, undermining local enforcement and accountability.
A significant contributor to this issue is Wolverhampton City Council, which has issued over 11% of England’s PHV licences, allowing drivers to operate nationwide with minimal local oversight.
Burnham is advocating for the Government’s English Devolution Bill to grant Mayoral Combined Authorities the power to regulate taxi licensing within their regions. This would enable local leaders to set and enforce safety standards, vehicle requirements, and driver accountability measures.
Skaith supports this initiative, stating, “Our residents, businesses, and visitors should be able to expect safe travel and consistent high standards when they take a taxi. That’s why I’m backing Andy Burnham’s campaign for fairer, clearer licensing rules—it’s time the system changed.”
The campaign also proposes support for drivers transitioning to greener, more accessible vehicles, including extending VAT exemptions, providing grants, and reviewing electric vehicle charging costs.
With Skaith’s endorsement, the movement for taxi licensing reform gains further momentum, emphasizing the need for a system that prioritizes local accountability and public safety.
Source: Taxi Point
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