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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:11 am 
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This is presumably another council acting on the Institute of Licensing's guidance, although the report doesn't specifically say so.

Taxi drivers to face stricter regulation

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... -1-9397211

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Image: Wakefield Express

Taxi drivers in Wakefield convicted of a motoring offence could find it harder to get their licence back under new plans.

Councils across West Yorkshire and in York are trying to create a single set of rules for cabbies, in a bid to ensure regulation is the same all over the region.

In August it was revealed that a total of 21 drivers in Wakefield have lost their licence because of a criminal conviction since 2014.

Nearly two thirds of those were for driving offences.

Although cabbies do not lose their licence automatically if they offend, they must inform the local authority if they've been prosecuted. The council then judges each case on its merits.

Now drivers may be forced to wait longer to get their right to trade back if their crime is driving-related, though a length of time has not been specified.

In papers to be discussed by Wakefield Council's licensing committee next week, a report on the issue says: "The main difference between the current convictions policy and that proposed is a stricter approach to motoring convictions, with longer periods required before applicants/licence holders can be considered 'fit and proper'.

"Proposals on driver training see the introduction of refresher training and a test for safeguarding awareness."

If the proposals are backed by councillors, an eight-week consultation process with drivers and the travelling public will start.

The papers suggest that the cost of obtaining a licence, which has been a long-standing grievance for cabbies in Wakefield, may change depending on whether or not more or fewer applications are made.

The report adds: "Changes to policy may have an impact on the number of individuals who wish to and are eligible to hold a Wakefield taxi driver licence."

Any significant changes to the number of licence holders could potentially influence the future cost of service/ income from fees.

"This position will continue to be monitored annually and reported as appropriate."

Concerns were raised earlier this year that drivers from Wakefield and elsewhere were travelling to Wolverhampton to obtain their licence, because their rules were felt to be less strict.

A 2015 law change means that cabbies can work and live anywhere in the UK with one licence from any local authority.

BBC figures show that Wolverhampton Council issued more than twice the number of private hire licences of any other local authority between March 2015 and March 2017.

In July, one driver was refused a licence renewal by Wakefield Council, though the public were barred from attending the meeting.

The local authority has subsequently refused to specify why the application was rejected.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:22 pm 
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Can someone tell me where in law it states you can live and work anywhere in England or Wales with one license issued by a local authority.

Explanation please.


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 7:48 pm 
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heathcote wrote:
Can someone tell me where in law it states you can live and work anywhere in England or Wales with one license issued by a local authority.

Explanation please.


Think it simply means that you need licences from one local authority rather than just needing one licence, so think it could have been worded better, but then again the article is aimed at the general public rather than taxi anoraks/pedants :D

So basically just a question of moving the word 'one' in the original sentence:

Therefore

"A 2015 law change means that cabbies can work and live anywhere in the UK with one licence from any local authority."

becomes:

"A 2015 law change means that cabbies can work and live anywhere in the UK with licence(s) from any one local authority."


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:39 pm 
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Having a national set of minimum standards isn't such a bad thing IMO.

However having those standards set by the IoL is. [-X

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 3:41 pm 
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Location: Wayneistan
more on this -

Taxi driver petition over new Wakefield Council rules they say are stopping them picking up disabled passengers



Taxi drivers say new rules introduced by Wakefield Council are stopping them from taking disabled passengers. The local authority is bringing in legislation which would stop cabbies from using cars manufactured before September 2016, a move which the district’s drivers say is forcing around 90 per cent of their fleet off the road.

Now the local Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association says the new rule is making it impossible for them to buy enough wheelchair-friendly vehicles to serve the area. A petition, which the associations says has already been signed by 200 drivers, will be submitted to the council in the coming weeks.

Association chairman Wajid Ali said: “Our customers are upset we can’t provide them with the service they deserve but it’s out of our hands.

“Under the Disability Discrimination Act it’s up to local authorities to help drivers be disabled-friendly.

“The NHS used to provide transport for patients between home and hospital, but they’ve cut back so much now we’ve picked up a lot of that work. “That’s one area where taxis have a vital role to play in our society.”

Mr Ali was also critical of plans to introduce more legislation, which will be discussed by councillors next week.

Under consideration are plans to make it harder for cabbies with a driving conviction to get their licence back.

But Mr Ali claims that the system in Wakefield is already “over-regulated” and he’s accused the council of not being “business-friendly”.

He said: “Our vehicles are subject to tests every six months, while every other local authority does it once a year over five years and then periodically after that.

“It costs us £160, and we’re paying that twice a year for no reason.

“There’s no chance that will change with this new legislation.

“If we get so much as a parking ticket we have to inform the council within seven days. We can’t do anything without the council knowing about it, so this will make no difference.”

Wakefield Council has been contacted for comment.

Read more at: https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... -1-9400772

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:56 pm 
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Quote:
Taxi drivers say new rules introduced by Wakefield Council are stopping them from taking disabled passengers.

Ah, so they've decided to play the disabled access card now?

Well played =D> :roll:

Quote:
The local authority is bringing in legislation which would stop cabbies from using cars manufactured before September 2016, a move which the district’s drivers say is forcing around 90 per cent of their fleet off the road.


Looked at this a while back, and sure it was Euro6 only that would be allowed, so think the date might be misleading by a year.

And, in any case, the HC fleet *won't* be cut by 90%, even if the spec *is* introduced :roll:

Could be wrong, but last time round concluded that there's a grace period until 2020, at which point all cars over 4.5 years old would have to be taken off.

Quote:
He said: “Our vehicles are subject to tests every six months, while every other local authority does it once a year over five years and then periodically after that.


By "every other local authority" he presumably means one or two next door :lol:

Quote:
“It costs us £160, and we’re paying that twice a year for no reason."


Harsh. If true. :roll:

Quote:
"If we get so much as a parking ticket we have to inform the council within seven days."

:shock:

Does that sound plausible? :-k


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 3:41 am 
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Quote:
He said: “Our vehicles are subject to tests every six months, while every other local authority does it once a year over five years and then periodically after that.


So he wants to keep the older cabs on the road, and wants to adopt similar approach to testing as other authorities, so doesn't that mean they'd be tested at least every six months anyway? :-s


Quote:
“It costs us £160, and we’re paying that twice a year for no reason."


According to the council's website a twelve month HC licence costs £299, but this includes testing, meter seal, plates and stickers.

So not cheap, but not quite the £320 annually just for testing that he's portraying it as.

The website says a full test costs £55, which is presumably for a replacement vehicle.

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/l ... g-fees.pdf


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