Taxi Driver Online

York Council chiefs refuse to renew Uber's licence in York

Council chiefs have refused to renew the taxi-hailing company Uber's licence to operate in York. Members of York Council's Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight debated for more than two hours over Uber Britannia Limited's application. The company's current 12-month licence is due to expire on Christmas Eve.

Councillors concluded that the taxi-hailing firm was not a fit and proper person - a required condition to refuse an application of its kind. A spokesperson for York Council said: “The application by Uber Britannia Ltd to renew its private hire operator’s licence in York has been considered by City of York Council’s Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight.

“Applying the legislation, the committee has decided to refuse the application having concerns about a data breach currently under investigation and the number of complaints received."

Speaking after the meeting Neil McGonigle, general manager for Uber in York, said the company would now review the details of the decision. He said: “This is a disappointing vote for the riders and drivers who use our app in the city. "More choice and competition is a good thing for both consumers and licensed drivers in the area. "Passengers tell us they love being able to track their car on a live map, pay without cash and get a receipt with their fare and the route taken.

"Licensed drivers partner with us because with Uber they can choose if, when and where they drive. We will review the details of the decision once we receive the formal notice from the council.”

It comes after Transport for London refused to renew Uber’s licence on the grounds of “public safety and security implications” in September. The firm's appeal against that decision in London will be heard by Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Spring next year. Uber Britannia Limited can lodge an appeal with the Magistrates' Court over the latest decision by York Council.

Coun Sonja Crisp tabled a motion to refuse the application on the basis of the data breach that affected the 57 million customers and drivers in 2016. The second reason for refusal related to complaints made against the firm in York. The decision is the latest blow to hit the taxi-hailing company, after Uber had its licence suspended in Sheffield this week. The move came after the firm failed to respond to requests for information about its management.

Since December 2016, 296 complaints were made relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles or drivers in York up to November 22. York Council said 155 of these complaints related to Uber vehicles or drivers. But only four related to an Uber vehicle or driver licensed by the council - and 129 were made against those licensed by other local authorities, leading to councillors raising questions about the number of Uber drivers coming from outside York to work in the city.

Coun Dave Taylor, a member of the committee, said during the meeting: "This city needs to have control of its taxi services and it needs to have a level playing field and I don't know if that means then national legislation aught to be tidied up. "But I don't think that we can license a company which directs drivers to go around the houses, pumping up fair for customers, that tries to claim it has no liability for any claims, demands or losses, which claims to have a local office but never seems to staff it and the number of complaints against them is so high. "I think those are the grounds on which we can refuse this licence."

Neil McGonigle, Uber Head of Cities, North of England, spoke in support of Uber at the meeting. He revealed that some 28,000 have used the company's app in York in the last three months. Mr McGonigle said: "From our experience the passenger like the ability to press a button to request a car, take a trip without having to use cash at all and from a safety point of view, being able to track every element of that journey real-time.

"Whether that's themselves, family members, friends or whatever through the app." He said people from 73 different countries are now using the app in York, as Uber has recently taken on more international visitors in York.

The meeting was told licenses for Uber to operate had been refused in Reading, North Tyneside and Cardiff. Saf Din, chairman of York Hackney Carriage Association said he does not object to competition, but that Uber was not a "fair player" in the public transport game. Ahead of the decision, Mr Din told the meeting: "I urge you to be the most active members by refusing the application and offer no licence until you are fully satisfied." He also handed over a petition regarding safeguarding of passengers, objecting to Uber's licensing renewal.

Speaking during the debate tonight, Coun Suzie Mercer said: "I was still undecided having read the papers and I'm still undecided. "Everyone is just trying to do a job, you've got good apples and bad apples in all trades. "Uber is used all over the world by millions of people. In York it's mainly the young people who use it and I think maybe as well it's probably a young thing. "Out of town drivers wouldn't come if there wasn't any work and we must remember that if the public want it, then who are we to deny it?"

_________________
IDFIMH

it even made the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42328380

Uber has been banned in a third UK city after councillors in York rejected the firm's bid to renew its operating licence.

Taxi drivers had complained of the city being "overwhelmed" with drivers using the ride-hailing app, which has already been banned in London and Sheffield.

Concerns about a huge data breach also contributed to the decision, the City of York Council said.
An Uber spokesman said competition was good for the local economy.
All vehicles and drivers were checked, he added.

presumably York like most other councils other than TFL carry out the checks themselves

It said it was concerned about a data breach currently under investigation and a number of complaints received about the firm

Speaking before Tuesday's council meeting, Saf Din, Chair of York Hackney Carriage Association, said the city was being overwhelmed by out-of-town drivers.

He said some were coming from as far afield as London and Birmingham, and taking money out of the local economy.

"We must also have every driver from Bradford here at the moment," he added.
York Hackney Carriage Association

Saf Din, Chair of York Hackney Carriage Association, said hundreds of out-of-town Uber drivers were coming into the city

Wendy Loveday, Chair of the York Private Hire Association, said there was also an issue with passenger safety.

The firm is able to appeal against the decision.

Uber had its licence suspended in Sheffield after it failed to respond to official requests about its management.

Transport for London, which has criticised the firm's record over reporting criminal offences and carrying out driver background checks, decided not to renew Uber's London licence after it deemed the firm "unfit" to run a taxi service.

Earlier this week, Uber was slammed by a nurse who was quoted up to £149 for a 10-mile trip to work in the snow.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Still don’t understand why Über set there business up this way, they only need one operator licence, licence all there vehicles and drivers there, and carry on as normal working all over, it says there all Bradford drivers working York anyway.

I presume this is to do with the rules on subcontracting but as MCF says in theory as long as the three license rule holds they could accept bookings from anywhere just need all their cars and drivers licensed somewhere that they do have an ops license

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

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

I'm not actually sure they really know what they are doing.

_________________
IDFIMH

Thought the fella did well cramming as much info as possible in the three minutes allowed by the committee.

https://youtu.be/Yo__JzMmSso

_________________
IDFIMH

I'm sure if they pay me a wad of cash, I'd advise them

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

To be honest I'm absolutely amazed they haven't approached people who know what they are doing, in respect of taxi licensing.

Instead they appear to employ graduates who know f*** all about f*** all.

_________________
IDFIMH

Uber submits appeal to keep operating in York

CONTROVERSIAL car firm Uber have lodged an appeal against City of York Council's refusal to renew their licence.

The council refused to renew the firm's licence in December, after concerns from drivers, a number of complaints to the authority, and question marks over how Uber handled a cyber attack in October 2016 when the data of 57 million users and drivers was hacked and it was not disclosed for 13 months.

An Uber spokesperson said today: "While we have filed our appeal we are also seeking to meet with York City Council in order to address their concerns. We want to continue providing more choice and competition for both consumers and licensed drivers in the city."

Mike Palmer, secretary of the York Private Hire Association, said the appeal was expected. Mr Palmer said: "Assuming the correct questions are asked in court and all evidence is brought forward to the magistrates, I expect Uber to walk away very unhappy."

_________________
IDFIMH

How long do you get to submit an appeal, if its 14 days they are outwith the time limit

Does Section 77 of the 1976 Act mean that Councils should close down Uber operations in the district where a license has been not renewed as they were operating illegally,driver taking booking not operator.

I thought the European ruling said otherwise i.e. Uber are a taxi company therefore they are accepting the bookings not the drivers and the issue is where they are legally being accepted surely ?

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It is usually 21 days.

_________________
Grandad,

Uber have admitted in court cases that the driver accepts the booking before the operator and the E,C.J. did not say they were a TAXI company,they are a transportation service and have to abide by all regulations governing their private hire operator services.They also will never be a TAXI company.