NEW COUNCILS: Hertfordshire local government shake-up to reshape how taxis are licensed across the county
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
The Government’s decision to replace Hertfordshire’s existing two-tier council structure with four new unitary authorities is set to significantly change how taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing is managed across the county from April 2028.
While the announcement focuses on wider local government reform, it also has important implications for the taxi trade. Responsibility for taxi and PHV licensing currently sits with Hertfordshire’s ten district and borough councils. Once the new authorities are established, those licensing powers will transfer to just four councils.
Under the plans, the new South West Hertfordshire unitary authority will take over licensing duties currently carried out separately by Hertsmere Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council. Likewise, the other three new authorities will each inherit the licensing responsibilities of multiple existing councils.
That means dozens of separate taxi licensing policies, vehicle standards, driver requirements and fee structures will eventually need to be reviewed and consolidated into four new licensing regimes. Although each new authority will be able to determine its own licensing policies, operators and drivers can expect greater consistency within each new unitary area than exists today.
For drivers currently licensed by Hertsmere, Watford or Three Rivers, the most immediate impact is that nothing changes before April 2028. Existing councils will continue issuing licences and enforcing taxi legislation until the new authorities formally assume responsibility.
However, once the new councils become operational, drivers and operators could see changes to vehicle age limits, emission standards, accessibility requirements, knowledge tests, CCTV policies, medical standards and licence fees as the new authorities work towards harmonised policies inherited from multiple predecessor councils.
Private hire operators working across several neighbouring districts may ultimately benefit from dealing with fewer licensing authorities. Companies currently operating vehicles licensed by Hertsmere, Watford and Three Rivers, for example, could eventually operate under a single licensing authority instead of three separate ones, reducing some administrative complexity.
Hackney carriage licensing could present a more complicated picture. Each existing council currently controls its own hackney carriage licensing policies and, where applicable, vehicle limits and fare structures. The new authorities will need to decide how those arrangements are brought together. This could include reviewing taxi fares, vehicle specifications, rank provision and licence conditions across the larger geographical areas.
Private hire licensing may also evolve as larger licensing authorities seek to standardise driver and vehicle conditions. Since PHV drivers can undertake pre-booked work across council boundaries under existing legislation, more consistent licensing requirements within each unitary area could simplify compliance for operators.
Hertsmere Council leader Councillor Jeremy Newmark welcomed the decision, saying: “I welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to create four new unitary councils across Hertfordshire. This is the model we at Hertsmere supported because it reflects the distinct economies in different parts of our county.
“For Hertsmere, joining with Watford and Three Rivers creates an exciting opportunity. Together we can build on our internationally recognised film and television industry, strengthening our local economy, attracting further investment and creating new opportunities. This decision also protects localism by keeping local government close to local communities.
“I look forward to working closely with our new partner councils to deliver a smooth transition by April 2028. Until then our focus remains on delivering high-quality services and supporting our residents and businesses.”
The transition will begin following elections to the new authorities in May 2027. Councillors elected then will operate in a shadow capacity before the new councils officially assume responsibility for all local government services, including taxi and private hire licensing, on 1 April 2028.
New unitary authorities to replace current district licensing authorities
If approved by Parliament, the current ten district and borough councils that license taxis and private hire vehicles in Hertfordshire will be replaced by four much larger unitary authorities from 1 April 2028.
The new North West Hertfordshire authority will combine the existing areas covered by Dacorum Borough Council and St Albans City & District Council, creating a single licensing authority for hackney carriage and private hire services across both areas.
The South West Hertfordshire authority will bring together Hertsmere Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council. Taxi and private hire drivers currently licensed by any of those three councils will eventually come under one authority, with a single set of licensing policies expected to replace the current individual arrangements.
The Central Hertfordshire authority will cover the existing North Herts Council area, excluding the Royston Heath, Royston Palace, Royston Meridian, Ermine, Weston and Sandon wards, alongside Stevenage Borough Council and most of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The Northaw & Cuffley ward will instead transfer to the Eastern authority.
The Eastern Hertfordshire authority will combine Broxbourne Borough Council and East Herts District Council, while also incorporating the Northaw & Cuffley ward from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the Royston Heath, Royston Palace, Royston Meridian, Ermine, Weston and Sandon wards from North Herts Council.
