Taxi Driver Online

Extra council jobs to cope with flood of taxi licence applications

BERWICK Borough Council is creating two new jobs to deal with the flood of licence applications coming in from taxi drivers from all over the country.

The number of hackney carriage licenses issued by the authority has increased from 46 to 487 in less than two years as word spreads about its low-price offer.

The council's policy committee has now agreed to employ an additional licensing officer and licensing assistant — doubling the unit's staffing levels — at a combined cost of £46,500 to deal with the backlog of applications.

Chief executive Jane Pannell said: "What we are trying to do is provide the resources to do the job and the rate at which the job is going means we need to bring in another two officers."

The council can justify its decision on the back of a major increase in taxi licensing revenue which is likely to be in the region of £140,000 for the current financial year.

Even though a legal challenge has been brought against the authority by Newcastle City Council over its interpretation and application of licensing law, the fact it is not due to be held in the High Court until next year —by which time it is widely assumed Berwick Borough Council will have been dissolved — means the high level of licence applications will almost certainly continue.

David Wilson, borough licensing manager, said: "The predicted revenue for this year and next, even after appointing additional staff, will result in a surplus upon the dissolution of the council of £40,000 to £50,000.

"In reality, the number of licences are going to continue to grow and the revenue and surpluses are going to do likewise."

Council revenue from taxi licensing is already over £113,000 for the current financial year, with a further £30,000 anticipated by the end of the financial year.

However, while former mayor, Coun Anthony Murray welcomed the extra licensing income he questioned whether the media attention the controversial policy is generating was a good thing for Berwick.

He said: "It would appear the money is going to come in to replace the cost of the salaries we would be creating but I would question the publicity we are getting at the present time because of our licensing policy which has resulted in Berwick-licenced taxis operating all over the north of England."

The council's reception is currently despatching 60 or more hackney carriage application packs a week but this increases when there is media coverage.

Mr Wilson said: "It's said that all publicity is good and that is the way it is in this case. Every time there is media focus on this issue and we get bad publicity it results in a wave of inquiries from taxi drivers looking for licences."

Mrs Pannell added: "There is a judicial review and we don't want to step across the nature of that activity. Throughout the process we have sought legal advice on the way we have conducted our business and that advice has confirmed the way we are doing business is appropriate."

By law, a council only sets the fees it charges at a level that covers the costs of providing the service and not to make a profit. In the event there is a significant revenue surplus, the council would be required to reduce its fees accordingly.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Will they be based in Wales and the Midlands?

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IDFIMH

Why haven't you applied Sussex or does your council charge the same

I have just spoken to my licensing officer and told her that I am considering licensing with Berwick. Apparently the licensing officer from Berwick is on the same training course as ours.

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Grandad,

As Berwick has admitted making a profit from licencing, and is employing more staff to cope, and is even prepared to reduce the prices so that they dont make one, How much is your council making if they are charging more than Berwick does

You'll find Skippy, that with the creation of the new jobs..... the licensing officers own position will have changed ... more responsibility... he will go up A grade or two on the old wage scale..... and have less work.... they don't have to return any money..... they simply need to spend it..... any money you like his expected budget for next year will only be pounds short of what he expects to generate... red tape... more red tape... equals more wages....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Berwick council did state that they where prepared to reduce the cost of the licences, as they where not allowed to make a profit, it would be good if all councils took a leaf out of Berwicks book

What they say and do.. are two different things... I will bet he has already ordered his new car...

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

No medical?

No DSA test?

CRB every year is that skippy or is it every 3 years (as per best practice)?

Vehicle test fee?

how old has the vehicle got to be on 1st license?

Does the vehicle need a taximeter?

Does it need a roofsign?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Wilson, David B
E-mail Address(es):
dbw@Berwick-upon-Tweed.gov.uk

Why dont you ask him or are you scared of the truth, CC

PS how are the drivers enjoying using the station rank they where illegally excluded from


No medical? YES

No DSA test? NOT A REQUIRMENT

CRB every year is that skippy or is it every 3 years (as per best practice)? ?????? NO INFO ON WEB SITE

Vehicle test fee? INCLUDE

how old has the vehicle got to be on 1st license? IF ITS OVER 5 YEARS OLD IT HAS TO BE INSPECTED BY THE COUNCILS TAXI INSPECTOR BEFORE BEFORE IT GOES FOR ITS TEST

Does the vehicle need a taximeter? YES

Does it need a roofsign? YES

The point here is being missed ....................... Berwick is in Northumberland ..................... and along with all the district councils in that county are being dissolved within the next year.

This will no doubt lead to a unified licensing department with completely new policies ................. probably.

I wonder how many LO's visit certain areas of Newcastle where the use of HC's from outside Newcastle is considered acceptable .................... even though some of them are in fact licensed in Berwick.

Seems a wee bit hypocritical to me like.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

No I'm quite happy you doing the donkey work, thanks.

And I guess they're quite happy, they only appear to be excluded from one particular space now, in fact I was so happy with the decision myself I bought myself a nice new saloon car

So whats Berwicks taxi licensing guys qualifications for inspecting vehicles then? sounds iffy to me that one.

And these tests......its an MOT test isnt it? Carried out at any garage?

Taximeters? how would Berwick know if a vehicle has a meter in? let alone the tariff thats on the meter?

The roofsigns....same as above....but why would Berwick also permit a driver to scribble out the Berwick sign and replace it with their own?



Get your licenses from Carlisle
Hackney Carriage (wheelchair) £110.00
Hackney Carriage Driver £51.00
CRB £33.00
total £194.00

WOW Carlisle is cheaper? Now why dont these people license here?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Q JD

Mann and Overton have some nice deals.

I don't know much about the legal situation going on at the moment over these 'local Taxi's' being used all over the country, but for my twopenneth worth, it just does'nt sit right with me having a Taxi licensed in the Scottish / English border area, working in . . . Southampton?

Who's checking on the vehicles fitness or correct useage?

Play the game, if you work in Rugby / Northampton / Exeter or any of the other few hundred area's, license the vehicle through the appropriate L.A.