Taxi Driver Online

Two pieces here with a good bit of overlap, but they're framed differently, as should be evident from the headlines.

But neither very good for Wolves in PR terms. So normally they downplay or don't mention issues found for PR reasons, and for PR reasons they witter on about partnership agreements and 'working closely' with other authorities on enforcement etc.

But both these pieces dent that narrative a bit

Maybe because they found a few dents in the bodywork

Pity there's not a lot of detail, though

But lots of PR blather from all sides...


Safety operation in Telford finds damage and invalid insurance to Wolverhampton-licensed taxis

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/loc ... sed-taxis/

A new cross-border safety crackdown in Telford has uncovered issues including vehicle damage and invalid insurance among Wolverhampton-licensed taxis.

Taxis licensed by Wolverhampton Council but operating in Telford were stopped and checked for the first time under a new reciprocal enforcement agreement.

The agreement also authorises Wolverhampton Council licensing officers to carry out the same checks on Telford & Wrekin Council-licensed private hire vehicles and hackney carriages when they are operating within Wolverhampton.

During the operation, Telford & Wrekin Council exercised the new powers to inspect and suspend unroadworthy vehicles, with Shropshire Council officers also in attendance. Inspections took place at NI Park in Newport and at Randlay Car Park on Queen Elizabeth Way, focusing on vehicle safety, compliance and presentation standards.

Several vehicles were stopped with issues including accident-related damage and invalid insurance identified. Non-compliant vehicles were referred to the relevant licensing authority for follow-up action.

Telford & Wrekin Council deputy leader and cabinet member for highways, housing and enforcement Councillor Richard Overton said: "This operation has proven the value of cross-boundary enforcement. By working together, we are closing the gaps that once allowed unsafe vehicles to operate unchecked.

"By working together we are sharing knowledge and improving our ability to ensure vehicles are safe for our residents.

"Public safety must always come first. These new powers allow us to act swiftly and decisively, to act against vehicles which are not operating to the required standards."

The agreement aims to prevent licensees from bypassing regulation by working outside their licensing area and follows the Department for Transport's taxi and private hire vehicle licensing best practice guidance.

Hundreds of drivers are licensed by Wolverhampton but live in Telford - and until now, officials in Telford did not have authority to inspect or suspend those drivers when they were operating in the borough.

Sharon Major of West Mercia Police said: "This operation sends a clear message: unsafe or non-compliant vehicles will not be tolerated.

"By working in partnership, we’re using every tool available to protect the public and uphold high standards across our region."

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at Wolverhampton Council, added: "City of Wolverhampton Council is proud to work with Telford & Wrekin Council in upholding public safety relating to the private hire industry.

"The councils have jointly authorised each other’s enforcement officers, to ensure that officers are equipped with the powers to take action against drivers of unsafe vehicles out of area."

Telford & Wrekin Council says it will continue working closely with neighbouring authorities and police partners to maintain "high standards" across the region’s licensed fleet.

Telford-licensed taxis 'better standards' - councillor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75124kqg75o

A Telford councillor has claimed his local authority has "better standards" for taxi licensing than neighbouring Wolverhampton.

It comes as Wolverhampton-licensed taxis operating in Telford are being stopped and checked to make sure they meet safety requirements, as part of a cross-border agreement.

Telford and Wrekin Council and City of Wolverhampton Council have been granted powers to stop one another's vehicles, and even take them off the road if they are deemed unsafe.

A spokesperson for the City of Wolverhampton Council stated that safeguarding is the authority's "number one priority in taxi licensing," and said they "adhere to the highest standards."

Since the 2015 Deregulation Act, private hire drivers can live and operate outside the borough they are licensed by.

A report to Telford and Wrekin Council said there were 343 private hire vehicle drivers with a Telford address licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council.

That compares to 405 private hire drivers from Telford licensed by Telford and Wrekin Council.

As many as 96% of taxi driver licences issued in Wolverhampton between April 2023 and the end of March 2024 were for people living outside of the city - which has been dubbed the "taxi capital."

'We have better standards'

Cllr Richard Overton, who is Telford and Wrekin Council's cabinet member for highways, said: "They [Wolverhampton] are very quick at licensing taxis, so other drivers want to register with them because they get their license done quickly.

"But here in Telford and Wrekin, we're one of the best, I think, with our [licensing] conditions because we're quite strict," he added.

"We want the drivers to be the best, the cars to be the best, because we really care about passenger safety."

When asked if he believed Telford and Wrekin's licensing standards were higher than City of Wolverhampton Council, Cllr Overton said: "I think we have better standards than Wolverhampton, yes, because we take passenger safety seriously."

"They do [take safety seriously] too, but our conditions are a bit more stricter [sic]."

The powers granted to Telford and Wrekin Council are reciprocal, meaning City of Wolverhampton Council can pull over and inspect Telford-licensed taxis operating in their area.

"We're checking tyres, bodywork, the condition of the vehicle itself, interior and exterior," said Amitabh Singh, licensing and night-time economy manager at Telford and Wrekin Council.

Officers pay close attention to "anything that would be dangerous or cause it to fail an MOT", Mr Singh added, with new powers helping to "protect the travelling public."

"Previously, we weren't allowed to stop or suspend [Wolverhampton-licensed] vehicles," he said, adding they are now able to "take [them] off the road" if they do not meet standards.

'Efficient yet rigorous'

A spokesperson for the City of Wolverhampton Council stated that safeguarding is the authority's "number one priority in taxi licensing," and said they "adhere to the highest standards."

They added that many applicants are drawn to their "efficient yet rigorous" licensing process, and that under the current laws it is illegal to impose a limit on the number of licenses they issue.

They said that the local authority "take[s] enforcement responsibilities seriously" and "does not gain financially from taxi licensing" as the fees are ringfenced to spend on "related activities."

The Telford local authority has said it will send a report to their colleagues in Wolverhampton with the findings of their inspections.

The aim of the operation is to make sure the public is kept safe, and that rules are being enforced consistently across the two neighbouring boroughs.

This is the formal council news release, which is nearly a week old now

Snazzy photo as well


Councils and Police unite for cross-border taxi enforcement

https://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/news/co ... nforcement



A *MATES operation has seen councils, and West Mercia Police join forces for the borough’s first joint taxi inspection - marking a major milestone in cross-boundary and public safety. (Multi Agency Targeted Enforcement Strategy)

For the first time, Telford & Wrekin Council has exercised powers newly granted by City of Wolverhampton Council that allow officers to inspect and suspend unroadworthy vehicles licensed by Wolverhampton. Shropshire Council were also in attendance.

This forms part of a reciprocal agreement which also authorises Wolverhampton licensing officers to undertake the same enforcement of Telford & Wrekin licensed private hire and hackney carriages operating within the city of Wolverhampton.

These powers, are designed to strengthen public protection and prevent licensees from bypassing regulation by working outside their licensing area, introduced under the Department for Transport’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Best Practice Guidance.

The coordinated inspections, held at NI Park in Newport and Randlay Car Park on Queen Elizabeth Way, focused on vehicle safety, compliance, and presentation standards.

A number of vehicles were stopped, with the following issues being identified, accident-related damage and invalid insurance. Non-compliant vehicles were referred to the relevant licensing authority for follow-up action.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said: “This operation has proven the value of cross-boundary enforcement. By working together, we are closing the gaps that once allowed unsafe vehicles to operate unchecked. By working together we are sharing knowledge and improving our ability to ensure vehicles are safe for our residents.

“Public safety must always come first. These new powers allow us to act swiftly and decisively, to act against vehicles which are not operating to the required standards.”

Sharon Major West Mercia Police, Licensing Mates Police Officer said: “This operation sends a clear message: unsafe or non-compliant vehicles will not be tolerated.

“By working in partnership, we’re using every tool available to protect the public and uphold high standards across our region.”

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for Resident Services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “City of Wolverhampton Council is proud to work with Telford & Wrekin Council in upholding public safety relating to the private hire industry.

“The councils have jointly authorised each other’s enforcement officers, to ensure that officers are equipped with the powers to take action against drivers of unsafe vehicles out of area.”

Telford & Wrekin Council will continue working closely with neighbouring authorities and police partners to uphold high standards across the region’s licensed fleet and ensure safer streets for all.

Complaints about Telford & Wrekin Council licensed drivers can be made online and complaints against taxis licensed by Wolverhampton City Council can be made here and Shropshire Council here.

I suspect the BBC were in attendance as well, hence the added stuff from the councillor in the BBC piece above, plus the two photos with its article - the councillor and night time economy manager respectively...


https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/9 ... 3.jpg.webp

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/9 ... 3.jpg.webp

I mean, there's the like of this in the BBC report, which in tone isn't the kind of stuff you'd find in a council press release.

And they've also drawn attention to his bad grammar at the end there. Which is also unusual - I'd guess they'd normally just correct it, as opposed to simply saying that he's quoted correctly because that's what he actually said


I mean, all they had to do was take out the word 'more', presumably

Can't be bothered looking it up, but maybe his politics are right-wing or Trump-esque, hence the BBC taking a wee dig