Posted on the 9th November 2026 in PHTM News
CALL FOR TOUGHER SAFETY STANDARDS AS 45% OF MILTON KEYNES DRIVERS LICENSED ELSEWHERE
Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats are calling for tighter safety standards and stronger local powers over private hire vehicles, as figures show an estimated 45 per cent of drivers operating in the city are licensed by outside councils.
The proposals aim to improve passenger safety, create uniform standards, and grant Milton Keynes City Council greater authority to hold out-of-town drivers accountable.
The push for reform follows data revealing that the council received 89 complaints last year regarding drivers and vehicles licensed by other local authorities. Furthermore, enforcement officers conducted 2,132 checks over the same period, spending almost half of their enforcement time dealing with out-of-area vehicles.
Drivers licensed in Milton Keynes must complete mandatory training on safeguarding, equality, domestic abuse awareness, and White Ribbon standards, whereas drivers licensed elsewhere may face less stringent requirements.
Under current cross-border rules, Milton Keynes City Council can inspect out-of-town vehicles and prosecute certain offences, but it lacks the legal power to suspend or revoke licences granted by other authorities.
The limitations of this system were highlighted recently at Milton Keynes Central Station when a Luton Borough Council-licensed driver refused to show his badge details to inspectors and drove off. Although Milton Keynes successfully prosecuted him for obstruction - resulting in a court order to pay £1,596 - any decision to suspend or revoke his licence remained solely with Luton.
In response, the council unanimously backed a cross-party motion earlier this autumn introduced by Councillor Sam Crooks, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, and seconded by Council Leader Councillor Jane Carr. The motion urges the national government to introduce consistent national safety standards, link licences more closely to where drivers primarily live or work, and grant local councils stronger enforcement powers.
The proposals would not restrict legitimate cross-boundary passenger journeys or prevent people from travelling between different areas.
Stressing the need for urgent reform, Councillor Crooks said: "Whether you’re getting home after a night out or travelling to work, you should be able to trust that every driver working in Milton Keynes meets the same high safety standards. Our officers work hard to protect passengers, but the current system limits the action they can take against drivers licensed elsewhere."
Pointing to the train station incident, he added: "These changes would create a fairer system that protects passengers, supports responsible drivers and gives taxpayers better value for money."
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