Taxi Driver Online

Basildon Council may ask Uber to ‘withdraw’ from borough

https://yellowad.co.uk/basildon-council ... m-borough/

BASILDON Council will decide next week whether to write to online taxi firm Uber and ask it to either ‘withdraw from Basildon’ or apply for a specific licence to operate in the borough.

A council report said an influx of London-licensed Uber drivers was damaging the earnings of local drivers – and added that the London drivers were not subjected to the same checks as local drivers.

The document, to be considered by Basildon’s Licensing Committee next week, said it was ‘not unlawful’ for London Uber drivers to operate in Basildon.

However, it added that the council was powerless to take action against Uber drivers who behaved improperly, because it is not responsible for their licences.

It said: “Drivers are not under the same level of scrutiny when operating away from their licensing area…This may result in private hire vehicles flooding the market and Basildon Council being unable to undertake enforcement and compliance checks to secure the safety of the travelling public.”

The committee will also decide next week whether to write letters of concern to Government and to Transport for London (TfL), which is responsible for Uber licences.

The report said Basildon had ‘witnessed an increase in private hire vehicles licensed by other local authorities working within the borough boundary over the past two to three years’. Most of them were Uber drivers licensed by TfL.

It stated: “The feedback from local licensed Hackney Carriage and private hire trade is that this operation is significantly impacting their business activities and therefore their income.

“There are concerns, raised not only by the local trade but also by (council) officers, that the fact that out of town vehicles and drivers are not subject to the same standards creates an unlevel playing field.

“The drivers licensed by TfL do not have to undergo all of the same checks and training as those licensed by Basildon Council.

“TfL do not require their private hire drivers to undertake a knowledge test, driving standards assessment or passenger assistance training, for example.”

The Licencing Committee will meet in public at the Bas Centre next Wednesday, September 18, at 7pm.

Same old, same old.

To repeat what I said a month ago about Brentwood about Thurrock:


Like the other two down there in that neck of the woods, suspect Uber will just laugh at them.

But I suspect the council just going through the motions to keep the trade happy(ish) but know there's nothing that can be done.

About sums it up.

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IDFIMH

Think the word 'could' in this headline should more realistically be replaced by 'unlikely to'.


Uber could be finished in Basildon

https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co ... -finished/


Image: Maldon & Burnham Standard

UBER’S “stranglehold” over Basildon could come to an end as council bosses plan to write to the controversial firm insisting it either withdraws from Basildon or applies for a proper licence.

A host of Basildon-based taxi firms have previously told the Echo that Uber is eating into their business across the borough.

Basildon has seen a sharp increase in Uber drivers in the area over the last three years and, as a result, the council’s licensing committee met to discuss fears over Uber and the best next steps.

As things stand, Uber drivers are licensed by Transport for London - meaning Basildon Council has little power to take action against drivers and to regulate Uber’s work in the borough.

A driver, who asked for his identity to be withheld and business not to be named, said: “It is excellent news that Basildon will be putting extra pressure on Uber.

“We all know that they are not up to scratch; they are not licensed by the council, no-one is really regulating them. We go through so much training and rigorous testing, and they rock up with a driver’s licence and a nice car and it is all easy.”

In the past, Direct Cars driver Martin Taylor told the Echo “money had dropped and hours have increased” since Uber’s emergence in the borough.

But not everyone is convinced.

Basildon councillor Andrew Schrader has publicly spoken out in support of the firm previously, branding it “healthy competition” and part of the modern use of technology.

He was not able to comment for this story, but following the Echo’s initial story on the council’s plans, he tweeted: “A totally retrograde step that seeks to remove legitimate freedom of choice from our residents, stifle competition, and maintain a closed shop.”

As a result of the meeting, on Wednesday, the council decided to write to Uber - as well as any other cab firm operating from outside the borough - and write to the relevant secretary of state expressing concern.

A meeting will also take place between the licensing committee, MPs, and Basildon-based taxi firms later this year to discuss the issue.

The council has previously sought legal advice on the issue, which has stated that Uber’s activity is “not illegal”.

Basildon Council requires a knowledge test, driving standards assessment or passenger assistance training.

Suspect a bit of Charlie Boy-style distortion in that photo - doubt the E7(?) in pole that much longer than the Mondeo(?) behind it.

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IDFIMH

The camera never lies

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