Taxi Driver Online

This piece drones on a bit about what to me doesn't seem very much at all


'It won't risk public safety': Taxi driver unions call for changes to Wakefield's licensing system

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... em-3129271

Taxi drivers are calling for changes to the licensing system, claiming the current rules are too bureaucratic and bad for the environment.

Cabbies with vehicles over five years old are only given a licence from Wakefield Council for six months at a time, which costs them £120 per renewal.

Drivers want the licences to be extended to a full year, in a move they say would cut costs for them and the taxpayer, and bring Wakefield into line with other West Yorkshire councils.

Cars over five years old also have to be tested every six months at a cost of £54 per time.

The drivers say they have no issue with six-monthly tests continuing in the interests of the public safety.

Both the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) and the Wakefield District Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Association (WDHCPHA) have called for the changes, with one local driver having started an online petition.

The council said it was too early to comment on the issues raised, but confirmed it had received the petition.

WDA spokesman Wajid Ali said: "This is something drivers have been calling for for a number of years. The council has always said their policy is about maintaining public safety.

"We don’t want to risk public safety at all. We don’t have any issue carrying on with the tests every six months.

Mr Ali said the petition was "About cutting bureaucracy and cutting plastic waste", because the local authority currently issues "around 3,200 plastic licensing plates a year".

"You can divide that by half if they extend licences to a year," Mr Ali added.

"It’s taxpayers who are losing out here too.

"We hope common sense prevails and we want to work hand-in-hand with the council."

The WDA said that continuing with the policy risked forcing cabbies to get their licence from another authority elsewhere in the UK while still trading in Wakefield.

Taxi drivers are entitled to do this under a controversial deregulation system brought in by the government in 2015.

WDHCPHA chairman Abdul Rehman said his union had first raised the issue in December 2018 and that the council was already considering the issue.

He added that the association was expecting a decision on the matter by the council's licensing committee at the end of next month.

Mr Rehman said: "Whilst a matter for the council’s licensing committee, WDHCPHA hopes this requested change to policy will be made, as the benefits have now been clarified and reassurance given that such a change would not compromise public safety in any way.

He added: "WDHCPHA welcomes the support from other associations and the trade generally in relation to this request.”

In response, the council's service director for communities, Antony Sadler, said: "It is too early to comment on the specific points raised, but we can confirm that we have received a petition, it will be considered in the usual way and we will be responding in due course."

Can see why they don't like six month plates, but is it really such a big deal if they're having six month tests anway, and they're happy enough with the tests? I'd have thought the tests would be a lot more of a hassle.

And suspect that if they do get annual plates then they'll end up paying nearly double for them anyway

Anyway, at least this looks like the WDA and the WDHCPHA have kissed and made up

For now, at least

When our vehicles get to 8 years old we have to have 2 tests per year but the plate is still for 1 year.

_________________
Grandad,

we have to have 6 monthly tests even if the vehicle is brand new !

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

Sounds more sensible. And more like standard practice, I suspect.

We have our three-year plates* available for all cars, with a ten-year age rule and annual testing only.

So I can see what they're getting at in Wakefield, but does seem a bit of a mountain out of a molehill.

(*We've got one-year or three-year plates, but it's purely at the applicant's discretion which one they apply for.)

I'm sure one of the HCs in another Fife zone was 10+ years old and had something like 600,000 on the clock.

But still only annual test required

You can get rid of it 100% if you remove the date.

I think this kerfuffle is more about having two tests a year rather than 6 monthly licenses.

_________________
IDFIMH

Section 43 of the 1847 Town Police clauses act.

Plates issued for one year ONLY.

_________________
Former taxi driver

But Council can test the licensed vehicle up to 3 times a year.

The plate has nothing to do with the vehicle. A proprietor can put on a dozen different vehicles in a year the plate remains in force for one year. The testing regime has nothing to do with the plate. There is no such thing as a six month plate, nor is there the option for a three year plate.

_________________
Former taxi driver

If a Council issues all licences on one date say 1/1/00 at a full licensing meeting and the next full licensing meeting is 1/7/00 and they have decreed there is only 2 full licensing meetings every year on the same dates there would not be anything stopping them from issuing 6 monthly licenses according to the Act.

And which act would that be? Sister act?

_________________
Former taxi driver

1847 Act. It would appear you did not read the full section.

Common sense prevails, but is it really worth hiring a licensing consultant to save £120 per year on a six-month plate? And I suspect the yearly plates could end up costing more anyway


Wakefield taxi drivers' petition successful as council alters policy

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... cy-3301891

Taxi drivers have scored a win in their bid to change how they are licensed, after claiming tight regulations left them out of pocket.

Local cabbies wanted Wakefield Council to relax its rules, which meant drivers using vehicles over five years old needed to have their licence renewed every six months.

The council has now agreed that such cars will now only need to be licenced every year, in line with vehicles under five years old.

Wakefield's two taxi driving unions had called for the change, because renewing a licence costs drivers £120.

Vehicles over five years old will still be tested twice a year however, in the interests of public safety.

The consultant representing the Wakefield and District Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association (WDHPHA) welcomed the news.

Speaking at a licensing committee on Wednesday, where the council confirmed the change, Chris Woodrow of A2Z licensing said: "The association supports the move.

"It's purely an administrative change. There's no safety issue here.

"It will save drivers time and money. Potentially it will also reduce plastic waste because fewer licence plates will be issued.

"So it's fully supported."

Waj Ali, the driver who started the petition, said questions remained over costs and that he was still waiting for confirmation that cabbies would not be charged for two renewals at the start of each year.

However, he said the move was "a step in the right direction".

Mr Ali, speaking on behalf of the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) after the meeting, said: "It's been a long time coming, but it does show that the council are willing to listen and engage with us.

"They've taken our points on board, but we still need to be sure that drivers are going to be saving money from this."