Taxi Driver Online

Taxi and Private Hire Licensing and
Appointment of Taxi Ranks

Revised delegated authority


Subsequent upon the appointment of Peter Hendy CBE as Transport Commissioner for London, David Brown was appointed Managing Director Surface Transport on 21 August 2006 and became the Chief Officer with responsibility for the Public Carriage Office.

In anticipation of the forthcoming retirement of Roy Ellis, Head of the PCO, David Brown has now given written consent in accordance with Transport for London’s Standing Order No 2, Scheme of Delegation, for the following PCO officers to discharge the functions specified.

Mary Dowdye, Head of Standards and Regulation
Functions relating to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, ie those functions identified in Schedule 20 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. In particular, Mary Dowdye will have responsibility for granting, refusing, suspending and revoking licences in respect of taxi and private hire drivers, taxis and private hire vehicles, and private hire operators. Mary Dowdye will become the signatory on licences issued by the PCO on behalf of Transport for London, the Licensing Authority.

Pat Coombe, Senior Appeals and Prosecutions Manager
The grant, refusal, suspension and revocation of licences in respect of taxi and private hire drivers, taxis and private hire vehicles, and private hire operators in the absence of the Head of Standards and Regulation.

Len Simkins, Head of Strategy and Planning
Appointing standings for hackney carriages (taxi ranks) under Section 4 of the London Hackney Carriages Act 1850.

In addition to the above, Roy Ellis retains his existing delegated authority for functions relating to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles as defined in Schedule 20 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 up to his retirement.




Ed Thompson
4 December 2006 Taxi & Private Hire Director