Councillors in Northumberland have raised concerns about Government proposals that could see taxi licensing powers taken away from the county council and handed to the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority. Under the plans, currently under consultation, the mayoral authority would become responsible for licensing hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.
Government Rationale and Proposed Changes
The Government argues that people today "do not live within the boundaries of their local authorities" and frequently cross these "invisible borders," leading to concerns about "inconsistent" licensing standards across local authorities. To address this, it proposes granting local transport authorities, such as the North East Mayoral Authority, licensing powers.
In his response to the consultation, cabinet member for public safety Coun Gordon Stewart said the council favoured a "hybrid approach" whereby the mayoral authority would set policy while councils would be commissioned to deliver the licensing scheme within their areas. Coun Stewart added: "The council understands NECA do not have in place the necessary infrastructure required to operate a licensing scheme of this nature."
Local Concerns and Unique Challenges
Speaking at the council's licensing and regulatory committee on Tuesday, members expressed concern at the plans. Coun Alan Smith said he was "struggling to see how it would work in practice," while chairman Coun Trevor Cessford feared the responsibility would fall to the mayor while the council would "do all the work."
Coun Stewart also raised concerns about the geographical challenges posed in Northumberland. He wrote: "Northumberland encompasses a distinctive mix of urban centres, sparsely populated communities, coastal landscapes and upland areas, with settlements ranging from well connected to genuinely remote; it is the second-largest unitary authority in England by land area – that brings with it a unique dynamic and challenges to the way in which our trade sector operates."
He added: "Given the geographical challenges for Northumberland, a key concern for our local businesses is they will have cause to travel to a centralised point outside the county to deal with the administration of their licence and matters arising in connection to it. This introduces a negative impact."
Next Steps and Hybrid Model Proposal
Head of public protection Colin MacDonald said: "The devil is in the detail. It would be an England-wide move. It's a consultation at this stage, nothing is set in tablets of stone. However, it was very clear in the consultation proposals that the Government have a strong view. The key suggestion from our point of view is that should the Government wish to press ahead with their proposals, they may want to consider a hybrid model."
