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Posted on the 24th February 2026 in PHTM News

IPSWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL TO DEBATE SHIFT IN TAXI LICENSING POWERS

Ipswich Borough Council is preparing for a high-stakes discussion this week regarding a government proposal that could strip local councils of their power to license taxis and private hire vehicles.

Under the new Department for Transport (DfT) plans, these responsibilities would be transferred to a local transport authority instead of local councils.

The DfT argues that moving away from individual council control would improve "consistency and speed of licensing" across the board. By establishing a single governing body, officials believe it would ensure all drivers nationwide follow a unified set of regulations, removing the current patchwork of local rules.

While acknowledging these potential benefits, Ipswich Borough Council has expressed concerns that such a shift could lead to the new authority and local government becoming "misaligned." There are fears that a centralised body might lose touch with specific community needs and local safety standards.

The council weighed three possible paths: engaging with the proposal, ignoring the consultation entirely, or drafting an alternative plan. The option to stay silent was quickly dismissed over "fears it would look like the council didn’t care."

Ultimately, the council opted for the first route: active engagement. After ruling out the creation of an entirely new counter-proposal, members decided that responding directly to the DfT's consultation was the most effective way to protect local interests while acknowledging the need for modernisation.

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