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| LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32781 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue May 29, 2018 12:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
Not sure if there's anything particularly new here, but this news release was issued on 24 May, presumably in response to the investigation in the Times: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms "Councils have been making the case for our outdated patchwork of taxi laws to be updated with a taxi regime fit for the 21st Century, and it’s now time for government to deliver this." The Local Government Association has over a period of several years consistently called for a taxi licensing regime “fit for the 21st Century” that would update Britain’s outdated and unfit-for-purpose licensing laws for taxis. Some taxi laws date back to 1847 and the era of horse-drawn hackney carriages, and the current patchwork of outdated laws leaves councils with restricted powers to enforce taxi licensing requirements in their area. Currently there are no national minimum standards for taxi operators and drivers. Additionally, if a driver has been banned or refused in a particular area, it is difficult for councils to be able to stop that person from gaining a licence somewhere else if the driver does not disclose their previous history. Alongside safeguarding worries, the LGA has concerns that a failure to update cab legislation: • Takes no account of the increase in app-based taxi services such as Hailo, Uber, and other companies, which has led to concern over how new models fit within the outdated framework and results in legal challenges which are costly and disruptive for councils, residents, and industry. • Has opened the floodgates for drivers operating across licensing authority borders, with councils unable to take enforcement action against taxi drivers licensed by other local authorities, even if they are operating in their areas. • Has undermined the level playing field between different parts of the cab industry and drivers licensed in different areas. In the absence of Government introducing new legislation or even guidance on minimum standards, the LGA has been working with its members to try to strengthen the system, including the development of a national register for sharing information about individuals found to be not fit and proper to hold a taxi licence. The LGA said: “Councils have been making the case for our outdated patchwork of taxi laws to be updated with a taxi regime fit for the 21st Century, and it’s now time for government to deliver this. “The current regime is not fit for purpose – some parts of the law pre-date the internal combustion engine, let alone apps and smartphones – and it’s long past time we had taxi licensing laws that reflect the everyday realities of this industry, and its vital role in our communities.” “We’ve seen numerous cases where drivers have abused the trust of their passengers, with even children becoming victims of sexual exploitation cases. In some cases, drivers banned in one area have simply gone to the other part of the country and got a licence under false pretences, without being honest about their history. “In other cases, drivers are getting a licence in one area, then working in another part of the country entirely. “We need to move towards taxi licensing that accounts for today’s challenges, with drivers licenced to national minimum standards and required to work in the area where they are licensed. “We would urge the Government to deliver a licensing framework fir for the age in which we live.” |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue May 29, 2018 12:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
LGA's call backed by Rossendale Council: Borough with most licensed taxi drivers backs tougher licensing calls http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... ing_calls/ THE council which licensed more taxi drivers than any other in England has backed calls to to tighten up laws around licensing of the vehicles. Britain's 'outdated and unfit-for-purpose licensing laws for taxis' should be updated by legislators, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). That call has been backed by Rossendale Council, which licensed 3,756 taxi drivers last year, far more than any other English council. It puts the borough ahead of major cities such as Manchester with 2,329, Liverpool with 2,224 and Birmingham with 1,338. The borough has 53.7 licensed taxi drivers per 1,000 population, ten times as many as Christchurch, the second highest in the list, which has 5.3. The figures emerged in an investigation by The Times, which found that people from across the North sought licences from a town hall that was seen as a ‘soft touch.’ Rossendale Council refuted claims made in the Times article and it is now supporting calls by the LGA for tougher laws around around taxi licensing, which they said 'weren't consistent' across the country. Cllr Jackie Oakes, portfolio holder for operations which includes public protection at the council, said: "As we made clear in our response to the Times piece yesterday, we have some of the most stringent licensing policies in the country which we started to introduce since 2016. "But this is not consistent across the country. "There are no minimum standards for taxi operators and drivers. Essentially the taxi licensing laws need to be fit for the 21st century and they are not. "We support the LGA calls and would urge the government to get a grip of this issue once and for all. "As well as to continue to lobby for these changes, we will take steps locally. "Our leader Alyson Barnes will ask Lancashire district council leaders to see if we can agree a set of standards for taxis that the whole of Lancashire adopts and implements based on the work we have done here." |
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| Author: | bloodnock [ Tue May 29, 2018 4:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
Councillors do not need to get the Government involved, instead of passing the buck to westminster for their own LA failings they should get their own houses in order and implement something rigid and meaningful...it's not rocket science just common sense. |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue May 29, 2018 5:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
bloodnock wrote: Councillors do not need to get the Government involved, instead of passing the buck to westminster for their own LA failings they should get their own houses in order and implement something rigid and meaningful...it's not rocket science just common sense. Problem is though that there will always be widely differing standards as things stand, and the cross-border thing can only really be sorted out by Westminster. There's a big conflict of interest at the heart of it all as well - if councils are all doing the same thing then it undermines the need to have hundreds of different councils involved in licensing. So basically councillors and officials have to be careful not to promote something that could be cutting their own throats, and to that extent there's little chance of them all doing the same thing unless Westminster tells them to. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue May 29, 2018 7:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
StuartW wrote: In the absence of Government introducing new legislation or even guidance on minimum standards, the LGA has been working with its members to try to strengthen the system, including the development of a national register for sharing information about individuals found to be not fit and proper to hold a taxi licence. From what I can see with zero effect. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue May 29, 2018 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
StuartW wrote: Cllr Jackie Oakes, portfolio holder for operations which includes public protection at the council, said: "As we made clear in our response to the Times piece yesterday, we have some of the most stringent licensing policies in the country which we started to introduce since 2016. 
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| Author: | bloodnock [ Wed May 30, 2018 7:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: LGA calls for taxi licensing reforms |
And if you get a Unilateral English/Welsh Taxi License then it will cure the cross border driver issue by simply making it legal for all to work and drive where ever and when ever they choose...it'll compound such issues not cure them and even then Scotland's Taxi laws are devolved to Scotland, would Scottish taxis be banned from England and Visa Versa? |
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