Taxi Driver Online

Not sure if there's actually anything new here in this piece on the Manchester Evening News website, or if it's actually a 'statement' that's just been issued.

Problem is there's a lot of this kind of stuff about at the moment, and Taxi Point in particular seems to be churning out endless stuff like this, but a lot of it is simply recycle, rehash and repetition, without revealing anything particularly new. Then there's the AI angle - call me cynical, but I'm increasingly assuming that's underlying a lot of online 'news' stuff and similar

But, to be fair, it's to an extent because politicians and government ministers are churning out a lot of stuff at the moment that doesn't say anything particularly new because it's done for political PR purposes, or it's required by parliamentary procedures because MPs ask questions, or whatever.

So it's an endless churn.

So thought I'd post this one here to really just force me to read it, but in the end I kind of glazed over, just did the copy and paste job (more churn ), and spent a lot more time writing this intro than actually reading the piece


Government issues statement on plans to tackle 'out-of-area' taxi drivers

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... e-33007109

A new Bill has been proposed to tackle 'out-of-area' taxi drivers

The Government has issued a statement on its plans to tackle 'out-of-area' taxi drivers under The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Under the proposed licensing reforms, taxi drivers would have to undergo “rigorous vetting”. A national minimum standard is planned to be set out as part of the Bill, with the aim of tackling issues linked to out-of-area working.

When asked about whether she is considering requiring drivers to register with their home local authority and have this validated by checking council tax, electoral roll and credit reference data, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport, Lilian Greenwood said: "The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill seeks to introduce powers to set national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. If passed, national minimum standards would enable government to set robust standards for licensing across England, to keep all members of the public safe, wherever they live or travel.

"It would also help reduce the variability of licensing standards across the country, which is a significant factor in inducing drivers to licence with an authority other than that in which they intend to work. The Department continues to consider further options for reform, including out-of-area working and enforcement.

"We need to ensure that taxis and PHVs are able to work in a way that facilitates the journeys passengers want and need to make, in a consistently safe way, whilst achieving the best overall outcomes for passenger safety."

It comes after it was announced that taxi drivers would have to undergo “rigorous vetting” under proposed licensing reforms in the Government’s devolution plans, a minister told the Commons. A national minimum standard will be set as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with the aim of tackling issues linked to out-of-area working.

Local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said the standards will focus on “safeguarding passengers and improving accessibility”. It comes after Baroness Casey identified “many cases of group-based child sexual exploitation” as having links with taxis in her audit.

She said “a lack of stringency means that drivers who are unscrupulous can apply to a lax neighbouring borough” for a licence, and urged the Government to “close these loopholes urgently”. Speaking at the Bill’s report stage, Ms Fahnbulleh told MPs: “The powers sought are necessarily broad, so that we can make sure that the new powers catch all complexities of the current legislative framework.

“National minimum standards will set a high but proportionate standard for licensing that is focused on safeguarding passengers and improving accessibility of these services for everyone. This means that people, particularly those who rely on these services the most, such as women and girls and people with disabilities, can be reassured that the drivers, such of these services, have undergone rigorous vetting where they are in the country, wherever they are in the country.

“This is an important first step to tackle some of the issues that have arisen from the practice of out of area working. In addition, we will be consulting shortly on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicles, further strengthening the regulation of the sector, and we will continue to build on these reforms in the weeks and months ahead.”

Transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury told MPs of the need for common standards across England that were “not basic minimum standards, but high and absolute standards”. The Labour MP said her committee’s inquiry on taxis and private hire vehicles had found that the lack of common standards encouraged “licence shopping”, whereby drivers chose to be licensed in local authorities that had the least onerous standards, even if most of their work took place elsewhere.

Ms Cadbury said: “When people get in a taxi or a cab, they want to know that they’ll be safe, that the vehicle is safe, that the driver has had training in a range of different situations, and that their specific access needs or disabilities will be recognised and supported, and that they will be treated with respect.”

She welcomed Government amendments to the Bill that would enable the Transport Secretary to “prescribe standards and for granting, renewing, suspending and revoking driver and operator licences”. The broad Bill will expand the powers of regional mayors and create a tiered system of strategic authorities.

Transport, planning and housing will be devolved to new unitary local authorities, under its proposals. The legislation also proposes to automatically designate sports grounds which hold more than 10,000 spectators as Sporting Assets of Community Value (SACV).

Communities will have the first right of refusal when a facility is put up for sale – a change from the current system where grounds are sold to the highest bidder.

Ms Fahnbulleh said: “The Government recognises how much communities value their local sports ground as spaces that foster local pride, belonging and identity. The Bill will automatically designate grounds across England as sporting assets of community value, ensuring that these essential local spaces are protected.

“We have introduced a new 16-week review period for communities seeking to purchase a sporting asset of community value, accommodating over 10,000 spectators.”

Labour MP Chris Hinchliff noted a “slight oversight” in the Bill, arguing that “despite its title, it does not actually give communities any substantially new powers”. The North East Hertfordshire MP said: “The strengthening of tools local people have at their disposal to purchase assets of community value are certainly very welcome progress, yes, but not fundamentally new.”

He advocated for a “charter of community rights”, which would include seven key elements, including a right to a clean and healthy environment. Shadow levelling up minister David Simmonds claimed the Bill was “this Government’s botched and incoherent restructuring”.

The Conservative frontbencher said: “When we look at this Bill, what we see is legislation that makes a complete mess of local democracy: elections cancelled, then deferred, announcements of new mayors that then don’t make it through to the final announcements about new structures.

“It is a Bill which takes powers away from communities and gives them to mayors who, as we heard earlier on in the debate in the case of Surrey, may not materialise at all. It devolves nothing of any significance closer to our constituents, and it seeks to make our local elected councillor brethren simply hosts of talking shops rather than decision-makers for their local community.

“And worst of all, despite the Government’s occasionally lofty rhetoric, it abolishes 90% of the representation of Shire England at the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. Where is the voice for our constituents in local government under this centralising Labour government?”

The Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by 322 votes to 179, majority 143. It is now set to be scrutinised by the House of Lords.