Taxi Driver Online

Wolverhampton licence protest off after council bosses threaten legal action

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... al-action/

A taxi protest has been called off after council bosses threatened legal action against any drivers taking part.

The West Midlands Private Hire Drivers’ Association (WMPHDA) had organised the ‘go-slow’ protest for Thursday over Wolverhampton Council’s private hire licensing system, which they say makes to too easy for people to get a licence.

It was due to take place on Thursday and could have seen the city centre grind to a standstill, with hundreds of drivers travelling from all over the country to take part.

But the protest has now been called off after the authority threatened to invoke legislation designed to stop car cruisers, which forbids large numbers of vehicles driving in a convoy or causing an obstruction on a public highway, whether moving or stationary.

Bosses at the WMPHDA say they plan to apply for a temporary suspension lifting the injunction, allowing them to run the protest at a later date.

Spokesman Shaz Saleem said: “Due to the bullying tactics of Wolverhampton Council, Thursday’s protest has now been postponed.

“This is not the end of the matter. We will be applying for the injunction to be lifted temporarily, and we are also looking at other protests such as a walking march through the city.

"If the council wants to play games we will fight back.”

The protest was to see private hire vehicles drive through the city at 20mph.

It was widely publicised on social media and had attracted interest from drivers from all over the country.

Council licensing manager Chris Howell, said the authority had not received official confirmation that the protest was off.

He added: “The council are in discussions with the organisers, to ensure that the safety of the public is not unduly compromised, and will continue to seek an agreement through dialogue which will prevent drivers from carrying out a reckless and potentially illegal protest within our city.”



Please visit the website to view a video about the testing - it's mainly about how they test the applicant's English skills.

WATCH: ‘It’s not easy' - Inside Wolverhampton's taxi licence test room

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... test-room/

‘Our licensing process is the best and the strongest there is. I’d put it up against any other in the country.’



Nigel Todd has had enough of people criticising Wolverhampton Council’s private hire licensing system.

The 60-year-old former paratrooper and police officer has been delivering licensing courses for 16 years, and he is adamant that the city’s current process offers the best service out there.

In recent months he has felt like he is in the minority, as critics line up to accuse the council of doling out licences fast and cheap in an effort to make a quick buck.

“A lot of the criticism is completely unfair,” says Nigel, who heads a team of three that run training programmes as part of a joint initiative between Wolverhampton and Worcestershire County Council.

“It is rubbish to say it is easy to get a licence here. We have a 44 per cent failure rate. Just because the process is easy does not mean it is easy to pass.”

The council charges £69 for a licence – far lower than most other authorities – and drivers can be licensed in just 20 days.

Anyone applying in Wolverhampton must attend a four-hour training session, including guidance on conditions of licence, disability awareness, child sexual exploitation and safeguarding. It is followed by a multiple-choice test.

A recent class at the Bert Williams Leisure Centre was attended by 14 candidates, including people from Rochdale, Nottingham, Derby, Coventry, Birmingham and Sandwell.

One driver was from Wolverhampton.

It highlights one of the major criticisms the city has faced.

If a driver from say, Weymouth, is licensed in Wolverhampton, there is surely no way they can be checked on by the city once they are operating four hours away down on the south coast?

“Not true,” says Nigel, pointing out that compliance officers from Wolverhampton regularly carry out checks in other local authority areas.

He says they recently visited Southampton and went out with police, stopping Wolverhampton licensed vehicles to make sure they were not breaking the law.

“We’re not letting people run wild when they are out of the area. We will check on them to make sure they obey our rules. We go to other areas and ask them if they would like to run joint compliance exercises with us, and some of them say ‘no, you’ve caused the problem you fix it’.

“It would be better if they worked with us instead of against us.”

Wolverhampton’s training course contains no formal English test – another criticism often levelled at the authority.

Instead drivers’ grasp of the lingo is tested through an informal chat, followed by a series of job related questions posed by a training officer in private.

One man produces a French licence as ID and is clearly struggling to understand English. He is asked to leave the course, as is another gentleman who greets the question ‘Where are you from?’ with a blank look.

Concerns have also been raised over a wider public safety issue, with the authority accused of failing to carry out stringent criminal records checks or checks to see if drivers have been banned elsewhere.

“You have to be a fit and proper person to be a driver and there is an enhanced DBS check and checks to see if they have been licensed with other authorities,” said Nigel.

“There is no central database to check whether drivers have been refused by other authorities – although there is talk of that happening and I think everyone would agree it is a good idea.”

So why are so many people coming to Wolverhampton for a licence?

Athikur Rahman, from Birmingham, said: “The process takes a lot longer in Birmingham. In Wolverhampton it is very quick. If I get a licence I get the choice to drive in Wolverhampton or Birmingham.”

At the end of the session, six out of the original group of 14 – 43 per cent – have passed and will be licensed by the city as private hire drivers. Later that day in another session the pass rate was again 6/14.

While Nigel argues that the pass rate is low, for other local authorities it is potentially 12 drivers that could have been licensed in their areas.

And for Wolverhampton drivers, it is 12 newbies who may be competing with them for custom.

As far as Nigel is concerned, it is a simple case of supply and demand, with Wolverhampton better than others at responding to the 2015 law change.

“Wolverhampton Council did not change the law, it changed with the law,” he said.

“We are providing a fantastic service at a cheaper price. How is that wrong?”

Not clear precisely what's going on here - initially piece says legal action threatened by council, then the WMPHDA spokesman seems to be saying there's some sort of injunction in place already.

Anyway, great coverage of the dispute from the Express & Star again

Express & Star comment: There’s no end in sight for Wolverhampton taxi row

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/voi ... -taxi-row/

Wolverhampton council continues to fight its corner in the ongoing row over private hire licensing.

The city has cornered the market when it comes to handing out taxi licences, with applicants travelling from far and wide to take the council’s test.

Bosses insist it is because the service they offer is simply better than the others, but that hasn’t stopped the authority building up a list of enemies that is getting longer by the day.

Other councils, including Nottingham, Birmingham and Coventry, have raised serious concerns about Wolverhampton’s system.

Meanwhile, drivers who ply their trade in the city say the vast number of extra private hire vehicles on the city’s streets mean they are struggling for work.

While it looks as though this week’s planned protest has been called off, they insist there will be action in the future.

Undoubtedly, the city council could have handled this whole situation in a more diplomatic manner.

But the crucial issue underpinning all of this involves a controversial change in the law – and for that, Wolverhampton council cannot be held responsible.

Legislation brought in through the 2015 Deregulation Act was always likely to prove controversial.

It opened up what is known as ‘cross-border hiring’, whereby a driver can be licensed in one area and drive in another.

In the face of Government budget cuts, local authorities have been encouraged to operate with a more commercial attitude.

It could be argued that by reducing the price of a licence and opening up the application process to the whole country, the city has done precisely that.

However, there are wider issues that require further examination.

The fact that more than two fifths of applicants fail the city’s test show that it is not quite a case of licences being given out ‘like confetti’, as one critic put it.

But that figure also shows the huge numbers of people that are coming to the city for a licence.

Questions remain over how stringent the authority’s checks are on drivers.

The frequency of compliance checks for those who pass and work in other areas is also of concern.

Unless the Government revisits the legislation, it is hard to see how the situation will change.

In a nutshell I think that nails it quite nicely

In the article the Council is blaming the change in law,think some one in the Council wants to make sure they know the law,private hire vehicle licensed by Wolverhampton cannot work in another licensing district unless he is receiving the bookings directly from a Wolverhampton private hire vehicle operator which I very much doubt if the vehicle is running around the south coast .

Wolverhampton protest back on as Unite set to defy council

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... isruption/

Cabbies from outside the city still plan to protest despite campaigners calling off main rally

Taxi drivers are set to cause disruption to roads in Wolverhampton city centre tomorrow with a 'go slow' protest.

Cabbies from Coventry will descend on the Civic Centre from 12pm to 2pm to demonstrate against Wolverhampton Council's private hire licensing system.

They say the authority has issued thousands of licences to Uber drivers operating all around the country, threatening the livelihoods of black cab drivers in places including Coventry.

A protest organised by the West Midlands Private Hire Drivers' Association, which was also planned for tomorrow, was called off after council bosses threatened anyone taking part with legal action.

The new protest has been organised by the Unite union, which says cabbies have to comply with a large number of criteria and regulations which the Uber drivers can ignore.

Unite regional officer Alan Lewis said: “Coventry taxi drivers who play by the rules are facing having their livelihoods cut from under them by the unthinking actions of Wolverhampton council.

“Wolverhampton Council needs to end the race to the bottom, immediately stop this practice and withdraw licences for drivers not based in their area.”

Councillor Alan Bolshaw, Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee chairman, said: “It would appear that the taxi trade is riddled with competing factions saying different things which paint a confusing, uncoordinated picture.

"One minute we read the protest is off and then it is back on.

"As far as we can tell, it appears that black cab drivers from Coventry, joined by opportunist local Coventry politicians will now be coming over to Wolverhampton to yet again protest about something we are powerless to change.

"They are angry about changes to national legislation, through the Deregulation Act, which threatens the closed shop that is the traditional taxi industry.

"It is the streets of Westminster rather than Wolverhampton where the taxi trade should take their protest.

"It is not fair to treat the people of Wolverhampton as piggy in the middle.

"Not only this, but staging a go-slow protest in the midday sun on a baking hot day threatens public safety and the organisers should rethink their strategy if they want to get people on-side.”

Wolverhampton Council has come under fire from drivers and other local authorities for exploiting legislation brought in through the 2015 Deregulation Act, which allows drivers to licensed in one area to operate anywhere in the country.

The city has handed out more than 9,000 licences in the last year.

Obviously no love lost between licensing councillors in Wolverhampton and Coventry.

Recall that a few days ago a Coventry councillor implied that Wolverhampton is behaving irresponsibly and responsible for altercations between drivers.

Don't wish to sound like El Tel, but maybe the union would be best withdrawing financial support from the local Labour party.

_________________
IDFIMH

The Council is made up of 51 Labour Councillors and 9 Conservative.

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Grandad,
To support my charity text MAYORWALK to 70085 to donate £5

Taxi bosses hit back in licensing row

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... nsing-row/

Taxi bosses have hit back over claims that drivers livelihoods are being put at risk by Wolverhampton Council's controversial licensing system.

The city has handed out more than 9,000 private hire licences in the last 12 months, taking advantage of legislation allowing drivers to register in one area and operate in another.

Drivers say it is flooding the market and leaving them without work, a claim which has been rubbished by bosses from the city's biggest four private hire operators.

The owners of ABC Cars, Wednesfield Radio Cars, 24 7 and Go Carz have backed the city council's licensing system and accused drivers of 'flexing their muscles' by putting forward a series of 'unreasonable demands'.

They told the E&S they have lengthy staff shortages and struggle to fill vacancies, with ABC Cars alone currently looking for up to 20 drivers.

Neil Caley, who runs ABC Cars, said: "Drivers say that the licensing system is affecting their ability to make a living, but we see no evidence of that.

"I need to take on between 10 and 20 drivers for the winter and I can't get them in. There is a shortage of drivers willing to work proper shifts, not a shortage of work."

He added that drivers in the city could earn up to £1,000-a-week during the busy winter months, with the summer average lower at £120-a-day.

Wolverhampton Council has come in for criticism for taking advantage of a change in the law in 2015 allowing so-called 'cross-border' hiring, which means a driver can get a licence in one area and work in another.

The resulting upsurge in licences given out has sparking fury among drivers and some other local councils.

City drivers had planned a 'go slow' protest through the city this afternoon. It was called off after the council threatened legal action, although some drivers said they still planned to protest.

Wednesfield Radio Cars boss Jim Sharma said: "The licensing people Wolverhampton Council were very smart and got ahead of the game when the new law came out. As far as we are concerned the system is the best it has ever been.

"Drivers need to understand that the council is operating within the law.

"If they have a problem they should be protesting at Parliament, not on Wolverhampton ring road."

The West Midlands Private Hire Drivers' Association, which represents drivers, has submitted a list of seven issues which it says it wants the council to address.

They include licence control, permanent stickers on vehicles, and rules around working exclusively for a single operator.

Mr Sharma said: "We want to protect drivers, it is in our interests. But none of these issues are affecting their livelihoods.

"These are unreasonable demands and the whole thing is purely about them flexing their muscles."

The bosses have also responded to concerns raised over city private hire firms having several out-of-town operators registered at their head offices.

Wednesfield Radio Cars base on Raynor Road has 12 firms listed and ABC's Ettingshall Road headquarters is home to 15 operators.

Mr Caley explained: "We do that to help other operators combat Uber, which also helps us.

"By having a base in Wolverhampton, these operators are able to offer drivers work in cities, where they could otherwise have to wait for months to get a licence."

Visit the Express & Star's website to view a nifty wee video of the protest.

Not sure if this is best way to go about these things, but certainly seems a decent turnout.

Hundreds of drivers stage licence protest in Wolverhampton



Black cab drivers claim the city council has issued thousands of licences to Uber cabbies and it's hitting them in the pocket.

Hundreds of taxi drivers drove into Wolverhampton city centre as part of a demonstration.

Cabbies from Coventry descended from 2pm to campaign against Wolverhampton Council's private hire licensing system.

They say the authority has issued thousands of licences to Uber drivers operating all around the country, threatening the livelihoods of black cab drivers in places including Coventry.

Taxi drivers, backed by the Unite union, gathered at Wolverhampton Science Park before setting off to drive the final one and a half miles down Stafford Road into the city centre.

The group planned to make their way towards Wolverhampton Civic Centre to protest to council officials.

A protest organised by the West Midlands Private Hire Drivers' Association, which was also planned for today, was called off after council bosses threatened anyone taking part with legal action.

Meanwhile, council bosses hit back at the protestors - with staff handing out bottles of water to anyone caught up in the traffic jams.

In a tweet the council said: "Coventry taxi drivers have arrived in Wolves and we are ready with water to give to the public who might be caught up in the sweltering heat caused by this pointless protest. The protest needs to go to Westminster not Wolves."

I get that, but if those paying the piper are not enjoying the tune, then it's in their hands to sort.

_________________
IDFIMH

I pointed out the number of Labour councillors to affirm your post about withholding union subscriptions to the Labour party having some effect on the councillors views.

_________________
Grandad,
To support my charity text MAYORWALK to 70085 to donate £5

I don't think the trade union movement has a lot of success in that field

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

I'm most grateful for said affirmation.

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IDFIMH