Taxi Driver Online

21 Feb 2008

‘No show’ taxi drivers are suspended over training

THREE taxi drivers who failed to turn up for training have had their
licences taken away by council officers.

The drivers were supposed to attend compulsory disability discrimination training.

But despite numerous invitations and letters throughout the year they
failed to take part.

"Failing to attend mandatory training and failure to comply with conditions
of a Licence is a serious matter," said Liz Bailey, principal environmental
health officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council.

"As the organisation which licenses taxis throughout the district, we have
to take into consideration the safety of all our passengers whether they be
able-bodied or disabled.

"We want to send a clear message to the small minority of taxi drivers
who ignore our requests to attend training that we will suspend or revoke
your licences if you don't comply with our requirements."

The training teaches drivers how to deal with various types of disabilities
from the visually impaired to those with walking difficulties.

The course also includes a discussion session followed by a multiple-choice test.

As the training forms part of the requirement to hold a licence to drive a
private hire vehicle or Hackney carriage, council officers took the firm
decision to take the 'no show' cases to the council's licensing committee,
which led to the suspension of their licences.

Source: Ely Standard
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A quick appeal then back on the road until the appeal is heard then another to the magistrates.
I could see the point of new hack drivers going through training but not established ones, but why PH as well???
Another case of we know best in force

Most councils don't live in the real world but see it as their mission to rules and standards on the taxi trade at the trades expense of course

the point is were the drivers able to attend it might well have been because they have school contracts which they might not have been able to fulfill otherwise

We were all told that if we didn't attend the course in our Borough then our badges would not be renewed. Only about half the drivers have done the course but so far none have not had their badges stopped.

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Grandad,

We have training courses in the Borders but they are for new drivers only, and they can reclaim 90% of the charges from a national government fund so it only cost £10, so any drivers who have to do do one anywhere in the UK should ask there council for the brochure
Our council tried to get everyone to do the courses but we told them do you want your school contracts covered and they backed down

Surprised they didn't just rechedule the courses for a school holiday period

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

The college is closed then and we need to have one as well

Not no more Mr skippy41.

That was the contentious bit in the 2006 Road Safety Act.

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IDFIMH

Sussex if your saying they cannot appeal to the council, and there only option is the magistrates, they could claim loss of earnings from the council if they are successful

The council could be open to a claim, but they can bankrupt someone also.

TBH I think most councils will only revert to the option allowed them in the act if the offence is one of a sexual or violent nature. But I doubt all.

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IDFIMH

They can of course refuse to renew a license but I'm afraid they cannot set conditions on a hackney carriage license once that license has been issued. And they certainly can't revoke or suspend a license for not attending a training school during the license period. However councils will always do as they like until such time Taxi licensing is removed from their administrative duties.

Regards

JD

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That would be so easy, you should Prime Minister

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

More PC madness

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.