Residents and drivers in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, are being asked to share their thoughts on a plan that could change who checks the safety of local taxis. The Department for Transport has opened a consultation on a proposal to move licensing powers away from small local councils to larger regional authorities.
Currently, Broxbourne Borough Council is responsible for licensing taxis and private hire cars in the area. Under the new plans, this responsibility would move to a larger body to help make sure safety standards are the same everywhere in the country.
The government wants to reduce the number of licensing offices in England from 263 down to 70. This change aims to stop drivers from getting a license in a different town with easier rules and then working in local streets where standards might be higher.
If the plan is approved, the Transport Secretary would have new powers to set national minimum standards for driver background checks and the condition of vehicles. The public consultation began on January 8, 2026, and will close at 11:59pm on April 1, 2026.
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