Sussex wrote:
I'm interested in finding out exactly what has miffed you so much about your council.
Or is it just about everything?
Their total incompetence and lack of accountability over several years.
We had new policy rules brought in around 2018/9 when at consultation the drivers object to several of the changes. They went ahead anyway, only for them to be withdrawn a week after launch due to the policy actually breaking discrimination laws !
We have my personal issue over them issuing a Hackney plate to a vehicle when a social domestic and pleasure insurance policy was presented. This incident has personally cost me thousands, and still not even an apology, let alone admission of guilt !
Correspondence sent out is frequently wrong, ie wrong vehicle details, or even personal details being sent to wrong recipients.
Letters are generally signed off as "licensing team" if at all, rarely to we see a name
During covid they appeared to be able to write new laws also, this was quite alarming......
Notices were sent out to display in the vehicles in lieu of them issuing new license plates. The notices were unsigned but stated the vehicle will receive its new plate in due course....
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licence
(New and Renewals)
For the time being Babergh District Council will not be producing any vehicle plates (external or internal).
Vehicle Renewals - you will need to keep the expired plate on your vehicle and keep the new paper licence with you at all times when working.
New Vehicles - you will have to display the paper licence in the rear window.
THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO "CAR REG" plate PH***** expiry date 1 December 2022
Please keep a copy of this notice in the vehicle.
We will send out plates and badges, or request that you collect them, when the offices are staffed again.That was it, just a letterhead and unsigned (and for someone else's vehicle registration and plate number, not mine!!!)
This is emailed so we get to print is off and display in the vehicles. Everyone knows that our insurance is conditional on a valid license plate being on display, otherwise it is null and void. I was not aware that licensing authorities had the power to unilaterally change this overnight.
This practice went on for two years until they got their office opened up again.
Complaints going ignored continuously
7 out of 8 scheduled meetings with drivers and operators cancelled over a 5 year period
Safeguarding issues being ignored
etc, etc, etc, on and on it goes. We feel neither represented or protect by licensing, but need protecting FROM them