Taxi Driver Online

Taxi association boss in York calls for licensing review

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/261862 ... ng-review/

The boss of Elite 100 Station Taxi Association, who says it represents around 60 York cabbies, said that City of York Council’s policies also put financial strain on local drivers and allow vehicles licensed by neighbouring areas to operate in the city under what they say are more lenient standards.

Under current York policies, Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles are generally limited to a maximum age of around 10 years, with strict emissions and vehicle requirements.

By comparison, authorities such as Bradford and Leeds allow compliant vehicles to operate for up to 15 years under their regulations.

City of York Council said it adopted a ten-year maximum age to support emission targets and air quality improvements.

Nazhat Al-Hafiz, chairman of the Elite 100 Station Taxi Association, said: "York drivers are being asked to replace vehicles earlier, spend more on compliance and meet stricter standards, while vehicles licensed by neighbouring councils can still legally operate in York under different rules.

"The issue is not about lowering standards.

"It is about fairness, sustainability and ensuring local drivers are not placed at a financial disadvantage compared to surrounding authorities."

Cross-border hiring rules mean out-of-town vehicles can legally operate in York, leaving local drivers concerned about double standards and uneven competition, the association head said.

An October 2024 meeting of the council’s licensing and regulatory committee recommended approval of a new taxi licensing policy three years in the making, which included representation and comments from the trade and a public consultation.

City of York Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy sets out how the council licenses, regulates and enforces standards for hackney carriages, private hire vehicles, drivers and operators, with a strong emphasis on passenger safety, environmental standards and accessibility.

The policy also defines how applications, renewals and enforcement decisions are made, including how complaints, breaches and licence reviews are handled, and came into force on November 22, 2024 following the consultation and a vote at a full council meeting.

Mr Al-Hafiz said Elite's drivers argue they are forced to meet stricter conditions, absorb higher compliance costs, and replace vehicles more frequently than drivers from West Yorkshire, claiming that the issue is linked to wider national concerns over cross-border taxi licensing rules.

He estimated that there are double the number of operators with licences granted outside York than inside.

The association boss also argued that York’s taxi market is different from larger cities such as Leeds or Bradford, relying more heavily on its hackney carriage fleet for day-to-day coverage, whereas many app-based drivers entering the city are only present during so-called ‘surge periods’ of peak demand.

Responding to the claims, a City of York Council spokesperson said: “We adopted a ten-year maximum age to support our targets around carbon emissions and improvements in air quality – for passengers, drivers and more generally."

Councillor Rachel Melly, chair of the council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: "The taxi licensing policy, including vehicle age limits, is in place to protect the public.

“It was carefully considered and consulted on and is regularly reviewed.

"I would always encourage people to use locally licensed taxis and private hire vehicles, so you can be assured that they have passed local tests and checks.
“Look for the York emblem on the vehicle."

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IDFIMH

Just beat me to it

But I've got the photos as well, so here it is



Nothing particularly out of the ordinary here, but makes a change for an article about cross-border competition not mentioning the W-word

And maybe a tad different is that the call here seems to be for the council to lower the local vehicle spec. Except the complainant here says it's not about lowering standards


Taxi association boss in York calls for licensing review

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/261862 ... ng-review/

YORK taxi drivers are calling for a review of vehicle licensing rules in the city amid claims of unfair competition from cross-border regulation.


Image: Kevin Glenton/York Press

The boss of Elite 100 Station Taxi Association, who says it represents around 60 York cabbies, said that City of York Council’s policies also put financial strain on local drivers and allow vehicles licensed by neighbouring areas to operate in the city under what they say are more lenient standards.

Under current York policies, Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles are generally limited to a maximum age of around 10 years, with strict emissions and vehicle requirements.

By comparison, authorities such as Bradford and Leeds allow compliant vehicles to operate for up to 15 years under their regulations.

City of York Council said it adopted a ten-year maximum age to support emission targets and air quality improvements.

Nazhat Al-Hafiz, chairman of the Elite 100 Station Taxi Association, said: "York drivers are being asked to replace vehicles earlier, spend more on compliance and meet stricter standards, while vehicles licensed by neighbouring councils can still legally operate in York under different rules.

"The issue is not about lowering standards.

"It is about fairness, sustainability and ensuring local drivers are not placed at a financial disadvantage compared to surrounding authorities."

Cross-border hiring rules mean out-of-town vehicles can legally operate in York, leaving local drivers concerned about double standards and uneven competition, the association head said.

An October 2024 meeting of the council’s licensing and regulatory committee recommended approval of a new taxi licensing policy three years in the making, which included representation and comments from the trade and a public consultation.

City of York Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy sets out how the council licenses, regulates and enforces standards for hackney carriages, private hire vehicles, drivers and operators, with a strong emphasis on passenger safety, environmental standards and accessibility.

The policy also defines how applications, renewals and enforcement decisions are made, including how complaints, breaches and licence reviews are handled, and came into force on November 22, 2024 following the consultation and a vote at a full council meeting.


Image: Kevin Glenton/York Press

Mr Al-Hafiz said Elite's drivers argue they are forced to meet stricter conditions, absorb higher compliance costs, and replace vehicles more frequently than drivers from West Yorkshire, claiming that the issue is linked to wider national concerns over cross-border taxi licensing rules.

He estimated that there are double the number of operators with licences granted outside York than inside.

The association boss also argued that York’s taxi market is different from larger cities such as Leeds or Bradford, relying more heavily on its hackney carriage fleet for day-to-day coverage, whereas many app-based drivers entering the city are only present during so-called ‘surge periods’ of peak demand.

Responding to the claims, a City of York Council spokesperson said: “We adopted a ten-year maximum age to support our targets around carbon emissions and improvements in air quality – for passengers, drivers and more generally."

Councillor Rachel Melly, chair of the council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: "The taxi licensing policy, including vehicle age limits, is in place to protect the public.

“It was carefully considered and consulted on and is regularly reviewed.

"I would always encourage people to use locally licensed taxis and private hire vehicles, so you can be assured that they have passed local tests and checks.

“Look for the York emblem on the vehicle."

And if I hadn't been fannying around with the photos, comments, waiting on the Archive site with my dead internet connection, making coffee and checking the washing machine etc, I'd have gotten there first

Anyway:


The latter point seems to be the usual one saying that these drivers are commuting from Leeds and Bradford just to cover 'surge periods'. I doubt that somehow. But, of course, Uber's surge-pricing (most obviously) is intended to get drivers working, and maybe get them to a slightly different area, so there's probably a bit of truth in what he says, but maybe just a tad overdone.

And, as regards the wider point about HCs in Leeds and Bradford, that's because historically the number of HCs there have been tightly restricted, so in comparison to other big cities the number of HCs is tiny, thus the proportion of PHVs is huge

By contrast, I think York is more like Aberdeen and Dundee - a disproportionately high number of HCs serving both the rank and pre-booked sectors, with a relatively small number of PHVs.

Typically daft and superficial comment from a licensing chair - if you're looking for a 'York emblem' then that'll be a public hire scenario, thus it's more a legal imperative for customers as opposed to something where there's an element of competition and choice.

(And if it's a pre-booking scenario then the only relevance of her quote would be that the car would be rejected when it rolls up?

Won't be happening, and in any case it's hardly good advice, for obvious reasons...)

does it matter ?

as for the article well he represents a very small proportion of drivers and I suspect he's more bothered about himself than his drivers.

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

Well it does matter, Edders, if you've spent a bit of time on it, especially if it's paywalled, and you've put a bit of time and effort into it finding it elsewhere, dotting the i's and crossing the t's, links, photos, and an appropriate credit, making it all look presentable with appropriate formatting, maybe a quick look at the comments for any interesting insight. And then adding my own comments

And when you finally press 'submit' you realise someone else has gotten there first

(Or, in this case, since I'd faffed around with it waiting for connections etc, I checked first to see if Sussex or someone else had maybe posted it - he seems to post earlier on Sundays )

In the taxi context, it's maybe a bit like one of those runs where you bust a gut to get across town for a pickup, traffic lights, traffic jams, rising stress etc

And you get there and realise they've phoned two different offices, just to make sure they get a car. And the other car has just beat you to it

been there hundreds of times ! one of the main reasons I decided to sell up and get out of the trade.

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

I kind of assumed you were back in the trade, Edders. But was afraid to ask

Anyway, if you don't like my thinking-out-loud/stream-of-consciousness style then just ignore me and read the articles. You of all people should know what I'm like by now

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IDFIMH

I do feel the fella has a point on at least one issue.

Expecting the local trade to adhere to higher standards, in terms of vehicles and entry requirements, yet compete with vehicles and drivers who are licensed elsewhere to lesser standards.

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IDFIMH

Nope i was able to take a couple of pensions early which aren't a huge amount but still enogh to pay tax on the plan was to supplement that by renting a house out, BUT, have decided it is so ridiculously one sided now that it's nearly impossible for a private landlord to make an adequate return after all the new rules and regs requiring you to spend £10's of thousands bringing it up to millibellends standards. Only big business can afford to do that ! And of course that's assuming you don't get problem tenants which can easily cost you £50 to £100K.

House is empty whilst it takes me the three or five years to get the business rates liability removed so that I can sell it. In the meantime it is costing money and losing value as house prices are still not bottomed out locally. Eventually once I can get rid of it I will be comfortable although if I didn't have the costs of 2 houses I might be able to afford a descent holiday a year and a few other small trips.

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

Ah, yes, I'd forgotten you were a property magnate as well as a taxi mogul, Edders

In some ways my one spell of property ownership as a lot better than yours. But a lot, lot worse in other ways

ooooh juicy gossip please tell !

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