Taxi Driver Online

Rossendale council accused of adopting 'lower' standards for taxi licensing




The council has hit back at claims by Rochdale council that its licensing policy is undermining work to counter child sexual exploitation

Rossendale council has hit back at claims its taxi regulations ‘undermine’ work to counter child sexual exploitation (CSE) in a neighbouring borough.

A damning report published for Rochdale council’s licensing committee claimed that work to protect vulnerable residents is undermined by a ‘legal loophole’.

Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed by one authority can work in another area as a Private Hire vehicle. The report into Rossendale’s approach to Hackney carriage licences claims this loophole is being used by drivers who obtain a Hackney carriage licence from Rossendale, then go on to work in Rochdale for private hire operators.

According to the report, Rochdale councillors raised concerns last December that Rossendale council allegedly adopts a ‘lower standard’ for its drivers in areas including language skills, area knowledge, and training, as well as safeguarding issues.

The report states that licensing has been at the forefront of Rochdale council’s efforts to improve safeguarding in relation to CSE as licensed drivers frequently come into contact with vulnerable people.

It adds: “All these local benefits are undermined by a policy adopted by a neighbouring authority, which allows drivers over whom this authority has no control, to operate on a regular basis in this borough.

“Given the lengths this authority has gone to in countering CSE it is unacceptable for this progress to be undermined by the actions of another local authority.”

The report suggests that up to 100 drivers may have stopped working as Rochdale-licensed drivers in favour of a Rossendale council badge, although it admits that is merely an estimate.

Rochdale council has this week apologised for not informing Rossendale council of the contents of the report.

Rossendale council said it “refutes various aspects” of the report.

A spokesman added: “We also find it incredulous that their very serious concerns and complaints were not raised with us.

“As soon as we were aware of the report we made contact with Rochdale council, and though we do welcome their apology, we look forward to meeting with them very shortly.”

Steve Rumbelow, Rochdale council’s chief executive, told the Free Press a ‘differential’ between the two licensing policies on aspects of public safety must be addressed.

He added: “We have already apologised because we didn’t make Rossendale council aware of what we were doing. The important thing is the two councils are absolutely committed to working together on this. I think it is to the benefit of all our communities and the trade.”

source: http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/ne ... er-8725039

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