http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/15139199.Bradford_Council_comes_under_fire_for__quot_failure_quot__to_ensure_good_quality_and_safety_within_the_district__39_s_private_hire_industry/A KEIGHLEY private hire firm boss has launched a blistering attack on what he says is Bradford Council's failure to enforce high standards in the local private hire industry.
Stuart Hastings, who owns Metro Keighley Taxis, said individual council officers were not to blame for the situation, and laid the responsibility at the feet of the council's political leadership.
"There needs to be a revolution and councillors must stand back and look at what they are supporting, because it's appalling," he added.
"Councillors are more interested in looking after taxi drivers than the people who use the taxis."
Speaking at the latest meeting of Keighley Public Transport Watch last Wednesday (March 1) he detailed what he described as a catalogue of problems with the current licensing and contracts system for private hire companies.
According to Mr Hastings, these include failure to ensure private hire drivers are using safe vehicles, not ensuring there are enough licensing officers to manage Keighley and Bradford's estimated 4,000 taxis, and awarding contracts to private hire firms based purely on cost instead of quality.
Mr Hastings said he routinely spends many thousands of pounds to guarantee his own firm's vehicles and drivers are safe, but complained that he is losing out on council contracts to other taxi companies which refuse to spend anywhere near these amounts.
He added:"There are just seven officers to manage 4,000 taxis, which just can't work. It's impossible."
Mr Hastings repeated his previous argument that the existing regime in Keighley and Bradford district for testing private hire cars and their drivers is not tough enough.
A Bradford Council spokesman said it set minimum standards, approved by councillors at the Regulatory and Appeals Committee, that vehicles must pass on annual inspection to be licensed.
“This is a snapshot in time and is supplemented by additional routine unannounced checks of vehicles by the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Enforcement Officers.
“The number of such Officers is appropriate to the needs of the service and has been agreed with all West Yorkshire Licencing services.
“The number of private hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles failing to meet the required standards is still too high.”
The council is planning rules to force improvements in vehicle maintenance standards to meet manufacturers requirements.
“Mr Hastings owns a respected private hire company which is an approved supplier to the Council and is eligible to bid for contracts.
“All approved suppliers to the Council are compliant with the safety and operating standards required and bid for work through a competitive tender process."
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