On 3 July 2000, under the provisions of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, responsibility for licensing London's taxis and taxi drivers, appointing cab ranks and in future licensing private hire operator, drivers and vehicles, transferred to Transport for London (TfL).
   From that date, the Public Carriage Office and Lost Property Office became the responsibility of TfL and the staff and Penton Street premises transferred to TfL.
   The new Licensing Authority is Transport for London. At the meeting of the TfL Board on 3 July 2000, TfL exercised its power under Schedule 10, paragraph 7 (1) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to

JULY 3rd 2000

THE LICENSING OF TAXIS AND TAXI DRIVERS, PRIVATE HIRE OPERATORS AND DRIVERS AND VEHICLES AND THE APPOINTMENT OF TAXI RANKS

put into place arrangements for the following functions to be discharged on its behalf by the Head of the Public Carriage Office:
* The grant or refusal of individual taxi and taxi driver licences;
* The suspension or revocation of taxi and taxi driver licences;
* Reconsideration under Section 17 of the Transport Act 1985 of decisions made in respect of specific taxi and taxi driver licences or applications for licences;
* The issue of 'unfit' notices;
* The appointment of taxi ranks.

On the rare occasion that, in the public interest, an urgent decision 

is required in the absence of the Head of the PCO, a TfL Director has delegated authority to suspend a driver's licence.
   Responsibility for conducting personal hearings under Section 17 (4) of the Transport Act 1985 is delegated to the Head of the PCO or such other person appointed by him for that purpose.
   Under the delegated powers, the Head of the PCO will sign "on behalf of TfL, the Licensing Authority."
   All decisions made by the Head of the PCO regarding specific licences will remain subject to appeal under the relevant statutory provisions.
   (Note - Chairman's Action dated 3 July 2000 delegated authority to the TfL Director of Corporate Services until such time as the above delegation to the Head of the PCO was approved by the Board Consequently, licences issued on the 3 July only were by Michael Swiggs).

Roy Ellis
Head of the PCO