Licensing
Leaders call for more event licensing powers
Councils should have the power to determine event licensing fees to ensure they fully cover the associated administrative costs, the Local Government Association has said.
Councils ask for coronavirus licensing powers
A call has been made for public health issues to be incorporated into licensing laws.
Short-term thinking
Ahead of the impending introduction of new licensing powers for short-term lets in Scotland, Stephen McGowan says the Scottish Government needs to give full attention to the impact the regulations will pose to already-struggling local authorities.
Manchester to implement Martyn’s Law
Manchester City Council is to implement Martyn’s Law to improve security at all public venues.
Wakefield council ‘overcharging’ cabbies, court rules
A court has ruled that Wakefield council were overcharging local taxi drivers for a license to trade in what could prove to be a landmark case.
Outdated taxi laws putting public at risk, councils warn
Whitehall has been urged to reform 'outdated and flawed' taxi laws by the Local Government Association (LGA) after the number of licensed drivers and vehicles hit a record high.
A new lease of Life
For anyone looking to make a trip to the cinema this weekend, Diary can heartily recommend Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
Whitehall launches consultation on taxi licensing
Local authorities could soon be required to ensure that every prospective taxi driver undergoes enhanced criminal record and background checks.
News you can swear by
Back when Diary was a cub journo, local licensing committees were considered the most unspectacular of the council committees hacks would be sent along to.
District councils are at the forefront of public protection
Paul Shevlin discusses Craven DC's revised taxi licensing policy, which has prevention at its heart.
Taxi law change demanded
Calls have been made for the Government to update taxi laws, some of which date back 170 years.
Follow Wolves’ lead when it comes to protecting residents
Cllr Alan Bolshaw kicks back at criticisms of Wolverhampton City Council's controversial approach to taxi licensing.
Public health and gambling regulation
The latest figures produced by the Gambling Commission show that across Britain there are half a million problem gamblers and a further two million more at risk of harm. Rob Burkitt explains how public health can help protect the young and vulnerable from the suffering gambling creates.
Taxi licences granted to drivers with criminal convictions, campaigners warn
Taxi and private hire vehicle licences are being granted to drivers with criminal convictions because there are no national minimum standards to enforce sufficient safety checks, campaigners have said.
Why landlord licensing schemes do not work
Alan Ward unveils evidence that he believes shows licensing schemes for private landlords fail to root out malpractice.
Coventry: Councils should adopt stricter transport licensing laws
Councils need to reassert control over taxi and private hire operations across the country, a Coventry city councillor has said after Uber came under fire in London.
Rotherham was alerted to taxi-CSE link - report
Rotherham MBC officers did not have ‘sufficient resources, systems or policies’ to adequately investigate concerns about taxi licensing, a report has found.
Council wins battle with sex shop chain over licensing
Westminster City Council has won a key victory in its five-year battle over the level of fees that councils can charge licenced premises.
Call for licensing committees to be scrapped
Council licensing committees should be abolished and their powers handed to planning experts, a radical new report has suggested.
Government to hand licensing powers back to Rotherham
Powers over licensing including taxi services will be handed back to Rotherham MBC as part of a ‘phased approach,’ communities secretary Sajid Javid announced today.