Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies may get longer licences

RULES which force Calderdale taxi drivers to reapply for a licence every year may be relaxed.

Instead, consideration is being given to a three-year licence, even though it would put Calderdale Council out of step with most other licensing authorities.

There are 765 licensed private hire drivers in Calderdale and 151 hackney carriage drivers, according to licensing services manager Sarah Richardson.

The Department of Transport has recently advised councils that having to renew licences every year can place an undue burden on drivers and licensing authorities.

Figures show that 15 of the 19 licensing authorities in the north of England issue one-year licences only.

The annual fee for a licence is £81 and it could go up to £243 over three years.

However, if the renewal period is extended and a driver commits a criminal offence it might not be notified to the licensing authority for up to three years

"A working group has suggested that procedures should be changed so that drivers who are out of the country for a long period of time can surrender and then renew their licence later, without having to go through the full grant procedure," she said.

The council's licensing committee will discuss the options when it meets on Monday.

* Taxi drivers have called on the council to pay for security cameras inside their vehicles to reduce incidents of abuse from passengers, as reported in yesterday's Courier.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Has it never occurred to the brain dead at Calderdale council that it is quite in order to have cab drivers complete a statutory declaration every year and send it in by post?

Regards

JD

Apparently not. But I wonder if they have stat decs & CRB's, surely if someone tells fibs on the stat dec then the CRB would show this and then they would be liable for perjury?

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I was going to refer to CRB checks but some councils have a two year interval between checks and some have three years, so I would assume that CRB checks in most cases might coincide with three year license renewals? However to suggest that the licensing authority has no remedy for controlling disclosure of convictions is totally ludicrous.

Regards

JD

But this is the same area where when a drivers is attacked, the first response to calls for cameras is that unfeeling statement from the chair of licensing.....so why are we wondering about the rest of it?

regards

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

The price is over the top for the 3 year one, when all they have to do is put the date for 3 years time on it, I would have thought that £100 max would do.
We only have a 1 year licence, for £69 but the council are looking into a 3 year one after we pointed out that the majority of councils in Scotland issue a 3 year one for £100, we pointed out that the cheapest was in the highlands and islands at £23, and that Edinburgh was £105

How much is your Badge and how long does it run for

The cost of licenses should be reflective of the licensing regime.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Here's a list of Scottish license fees I've compiled.

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtop ... 5516#65516

Regards

JD

I think the problem with the three year license is that people can hide things they shouldn't. I know that CRB's are generally done three yearly, but by having annual renewals it puts the onus on drivers to complete the forms truthfully. And if they don't they can lose their licenses just for that.

But clearly the bonus point of the three yearly license is the cost. It shouldn't cost much, if anything, more than the cost of a annual license.

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IDFIMH

True, I'd rather pay £100 for three years, than £47 for one.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Published Date: 18 January 2007
Source: Evening Courier
Location: Halifax
Taxi licences set for three-year renewal cycle


TAXI drivers in Calderdale will only have to apply for a licence every three years.
A meeting of Calderdale Council's Licensing Committee reviewed the application process and decided that cabbies would apply every three years, rather than annually as at present.

New drivers will be able to apply for a one-year licence for their first three years in the business before moving on to the three-year system.

This will bring licence renewal into line with Criminal Records Bureau checks, which are completed every three years.

The committee rejected a proposal to give drivers the choice of either a one-year or three-year licence.

Bryan Smith (Lab, Ovenden) said: "Our understanding is that the majority of taxi drivers do support the three-year licence for the future."

And David Ginley (Con, Warley) supported the change, saying: "I think three year licences seem perfectly reasonable in view of the staff cost savings and inconvenience to the driver."

The cost to drivers will remain the same, with a one-year licence costing £81 and a three-year costing £243.

The licensing department would review the process after 12 months and any savings would be passed on to the drivers.

Martin Peel (Con, Sowerby Bridge) expressed concern about the up-front costs to new drivers. He said: "I have driven private hire taxis years ago and the financial constraints on the drivers are extreme, what with fuel costs, the radio, medical and criminal checks.

"These people really should not be penalised more than they already are."

There are 765 private hire drivers and 151 hackney carriage drivers in Calderdale.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well at least Mr Wharfy, bless him, will be pleased.

Which should make a bloody change the miserable sod.

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IDFIMH