New proposed amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill seek to propose changes relating to virtual meetings by local authorities and transferring control of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing to both combined authorities and upper-tier authorities.

Amendment relating to remote meetings 

New Clause 158 has been tabled by Baroness Mcintosh of Pickering (Conservative) would enable local authorities to meet virtually. It is based on regulation 5 of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020, made under section 78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Amendment relating to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing

Lord Moylan’s (Conservative) tabled an amendment inserting a new clause after clause 214 that would require the Secretary of State to consult within a reasonable timeframe on the proposal of the Government within its Levelling Up White Paper of February 2022 "...to explore transferring control of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing to both combined authorities and upper-tier authorities”.

In response to the above amendment, the LGA said:

"We have concerns about this approach, and do not believe that a potentially major reform to taxi/PHV licensing such as this should be considered or implemented in isolation: it must be part of a full and holistic look at all the current issues and challenges in taxi/PHV licensing.

"The LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board is opposed to the idea of transferring control of taxi/PHV licensing to a different tier of local government due to concerns about the safeguarding implications of less local oversight. It is also important to note that taxi/PHV licensing does not happen in isolation – it is part of a much wider set of licensing authority responsibilities and therefore any possible changes should also consider the implications for other regimes such as alcohol and entertainment and gambling licensing. 

"The LGA will continue to engage with officials at the Department for Transport as they develop their plans for bringing forward this consultation."