Slightly bizarre press article here.
Of all the 'flurry of changes' recommended by officials, this focuses on insurance write-offs
Why, is not clear. But it all underlines why stuff like this should be decided nationally, as opposed to by 300 or so UK councils.
Great photo from the Doncaster Free Press, though
(And, of course, purely coincidental that the CCTV appeal today is about an incident in Doncaster.)
Flurry of changes to Doncaster Council taxi licence requirements recommended by officialshttps://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/ne ... ls-8751304
A 12-week consultation on a range of proposed changes to Doncaster’s taxi licensing policy received less than 550 responses.City of Doncaster Council officials have recommended a series of changes to the local taxi licensing policy following a public consultation.
Among the recommended changes is a new requirement stating any vehicle previously categorised as a “write-off” by an insurance company will not be able to be licensed.
The council’s current licensing policy states category A (scrap) and B (break) write-offs will not be considered by the authority, however, category S (structural) and N (non-structural) write-offs “will be considered if a roadworthy vehicle inspection has been carried out and a report produced”.
As part of a 12-week consultation on potential changes to Doncaster’s hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing policy, officials outlined two potential changes to the write-offs policy, asking respondents whether to keep the current arrangement or change to one of the two possible alternatives.
Both proposed changes stated no vehicles which previously categorised as a write-off will be considered for taxi licences, however, the proposals varied on whether this will affect licences previously granted for category S and N write-offs.
Amendment option one stated previous licences would not be affected, whilst option two determines they will, but drivers will be given a three-year “grace period” for replacement vehicles to be licensed.
Consultation responses showed a stark contrast in opinion between the hackney carriage and private hire drivers, referred to as “the trade” in the report, and the public.
Two-thirds of taxi drivers stated they would prefer to keep the existing policy. However, votes from across the trade and public showed a “strong appetite” for change with a combined 250 votes for changing the policy, compared to 221 to keep it unchanged.
Option two, requiring drivers to find a suitable replacement vehicle within a grace period, was the most popular change – with officials recommending this option be adopted in the new hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy.
The report said: “There is no standard level of inspection report to establish the suitability and safety of vehicles which have previously been written off.
“The authority has seen a range of inspection reports produced, with varying levels of detail and, in most cases, no clear indication that the vehicle is safe and roadworthy.”
It was said that ensuring all previous licences are affected would “remove potential risk to public safety”.
Officials also recommended a series of other changes, including removing the requirement for new licence applications to include two character references; and requiring a medical certificate be provided alongside every new application and renewal, then annually from age 65 onwards.
Three possible changes will be considered in more detail at future licensing committee meetings, the report said.
These proposals included the possibility to make it mandatory for taxis to have CCTV systems in their vehicles; to put limits on vehicle exhaust emissions; and whether vehicle and compliance testing to be carried out at DVSA-approved MOT centres.
545 people responded to the council’s licensing consultation. 53.4 per cent were in the trade, 44 per cent were members of the public and 2.6 per cent were “other”.
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