Saw this is a press rehash, but this is from the original council papers, and I've tidied it up a bit to omit the usual council procedural stuff etc. But it's basically an enforcement update to be presented to the committee later this week
Looks like problems with cross-border cars mainly ranking and plying stuff - who'd have expected that?
As for the issues with the local cars - oh my aching sides
A new one I haven't seen in spot check reports, though. Or heard
Report of the Assistant Director to the
General Licensing Regulatory Board
to be held on the 3 September 2025
https://barnsleymbc.moderngov.co.uk/doc ... Update.pdf
ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Background
Members are minded to note, that Licensing Officers have continued to
proactively work with the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trade and other
Local Authority Departments and partners to ensure that any issues and
concerns within the trades are raised and addressed accordingly.
Through the regular Trade Liaison Meetings, the Hackney Carriage and Private
Hire Associations have raised concerns in relation to the volume of private hire
and hackney carriage vehicles licensed by other authorities that are working in
the town centre.
Current Position
On the 12 July 2025 Licensing Enforcement Officers took part in a pro-active
static nighttime operation in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police, focusing
their attention on the Eldon Street taxi rank in the town centre and the drivers
and vehicles that work in the night-time economy. Councillor Steve Green was
also in attendance for the operation.
During the operation it was specifically noted by Councillor Green that from
19:20 to 21:10 he observed in excess of 100 vehicles licensed by other local
authorities pass through the town centre.
13 of these out of town vehicles were spoken to on the night and they have
been written to and advised in relation to offences under the Local
Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 Section 64, Prohibition of
other vehicles on hackney carriage stands and the Town Police and Clauses
Act 1847 Section 45, Plying for hire without a Hackney Carriage proprietors’
licence.
Their respective licensing authorities have also been contacted and informed of
the action we have taken.
In addition to the above, 4 vehicles and drivers licensed by Barnsley MBC
were spoken to and received written warnings in relation to the following:-
- • No rear licence plate
• No front licence plate
• Inappropriate levels of music be played in the vehicle
• Parking on a loading bay
Vehicle and driver non-compliance is an issue Officers are concerned with
during the undertaking of every enforcement operation. Regardless of which
authority issued the licences, illegal actions are not acceptable and cannot be
excused and officers will continue to pro-actively enforce both the legislation
and our local conditions accordingly.
Proposal
Proactive and reactive enforcement operations will continue to take place on a
regular basis. Vehicle failures are always unacceptable, and our enforcement
operations must convey the message that operators, vehicle proprietors and
drivers must accept responsibility for any failures and make a change. All
Licensing Authorities have clear standards that must be adhered to as failure
to do so may put the safety of the public at risk when using a hackney carriage
or private hire vehicles.
The principal consideration for all is, as always, one of public safety.
Members are asked to support Officers and encourage private hire and hackney
carriage drivers and operators to comply with the conditions of their licence and
continue to keep their vehicles as safe as possible for both drivers and
customers at all times.