Taxi Driver Online

Council blunder could see Fenland’s taxi drivers share £100,000 payout


A COUNCIL blunder could see Fenland’s taxi and private hire drivers share a £100,000 windfall.

An investigation by the National Private Hire Association (NPHA) found that Fenland District Council has failed, for more than a decade, to advertise increases in vehicle and operator licence fees.

Ironically the mistake was picked up by Councillor Dave Patrick, who also chairs the Wisbech and District Taxi Drivers’ Association.

“I’m dismayed that the council has failed to keep its own house in order,” he said.

A council spokesman said: “We have published the fees on our website, as we do with all our fees. Our error was to fail to advertise them in a local newspaper.”
Taxi drivers could be set for a payout after the Fenland District Council error.Taxi drivers could be set for a payout after the Fenland District Council error.

A 35-year-old law means councils must advertise rises in “at least one local newspaper” if the licence fee exceeds £25. The current cost of a vehicle licence in Fenland is £115.

Bryan Roland, General Secretary of the NPHA, said that, under the statute, taxi drivers were entitled to compensation for the unadvertised fees in the last six years.

Mr Roland said this would result in payments of £481.50 for every hackney carriage driver in Fenland, as well as £476 for private hire drivers and £229.65 for operators. He said the blunder could cost the council more than £100,000.

Mr Roland said: “What we’ve said to them is quite simple. If they want to take it to the Ombudsman then that’s fine, but we’re giving them a chance to respond.

“We’ve written but we’ve had no answers apart from the acknowledgement of their mistake. Whether it’s a ‘bury your head in the sand job’ or not, the point is this has got to be resolved.”

The council spokesman said that not every driver would be affected, as some operators ran more than one vehicle, and it was “very unclear” how much money could be involved.

He said: “We do not believe the figures quoted by Mr Roland are correct. We are currently examining both the numbers involved and the potential financial implications.”

The mistake mirrors a similar case earlier this year in which Guildford Borough Council paid almost £100,000 to cabbies after failing to advertise fee increases.

The spokesman added: “A number of other councils are also currently reviewing their processes following the court case in Guildford.

“Any driver seeking to make a claim will need to provide detailed evidence of that claim to enable it to be investigated and a remedy found. Any successful claim will be only be settled once that evidence has been provided.

“It is important to stress that the council does not make money from these charges. They simply pay for the service and ensure that it does not cost the council or the general public.”

Cllr Patrick said: “This investigation was done on behalf of every taxi driver in Fenland. It’s a massive amount of money for a basic mistake. I mean, how much does an advert cost?

“It’s absolutely amazing that they still haven’t advertised the rises, despite all this going on. They just don’t seem to have a clue what they’re doing.”

http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/

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

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IDFIMH

I wonder who Bryan will blame for this one?

Presumably it's the fault of the 1847 and 1976 acts

CC

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

Perhaps he can join up with the Liverpool T&G and arrange a training course to sort the problem.

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IDFIMH

So all of a sudden this is stumbled upon?

Something smells a little here.

CC

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

I don't think I've ever noticed when our council have advertised an increase in licence fees, I've seen the notices for proposed increases in the taxi tariff. I guess that's why it went on for so long because people don't look for these notices or know that they suppose to advertise such increases

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

+1 Toots. I've never seen my LA publish increases to licenses anywhere, but they do give warning of fare increases. Something I'll have to look into.

To both the two above, your council must advertise the increases in a local newspaper.

And allow two weeks for objections.

If they don't do that the increases are illegal.

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IDFIMH

So where would you find out such information?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

F.O.I the council asking for copies of said adverts, where they were placed and the costs of such adverts.

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IDFIMH

Cheers Sussex

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Seems bent to me, shows there isn't any team in GB anymore, at a time like this the council can do without that bill, and that bill will get passed on next April on everyone in the districts council tax, loooooooozahs.

The LA expects us to abide by the vast amount of legislation they throw at us and are only too happy to chuck the book at us when we don't. It's only fair for us to expect the LA to comply with the law as well, and suffer the consequences just like we would have to if they don't.

I've checked my records and the license fee has only gone up by £15 over the last six years, that was two years ago. So possibly a largeish bill for the council but only £30 to me so not worth the effort. However having just received my renewal pack it seems they're trying to make money via other means instead, the CRB has gone from £30 last time to £50 now. So rather than pay the council to process it I'm going to do it myself - anyone know a good place I can do it ? Online perhaps ?

Are you allowed to do it yourself. Your council may not accept it if you do it yourself and you may then end up paying twice. I would check with them first. As for cost, it used to be £36 for an enhanced CRB so at £30 you were getting a bargain. I believe that the cost has gone up now to either £44 or £46 for the enhanced CRB check.

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Grandad,

It may have been £36 last time, I knew it was around the £30 mark - still it's a bit of a hike, 50% increase in three years. And wasn't there a thread that mentioned LA's can't ask for enhanced CRBs for cabbies ? I notice the form I've been given to fill in doesn't say whether it's an enhanced or standard check, previous forms have said 'enhanced' at the top, so I don't know which it is.

By doing it myself I mean sending the form off with payment to the CRB people. At the moment I fill in the form and give it to the LA along with the payment, they then stick it in an envelope and send it to the relevant body, which they charge for. By sending it myself I avoid the councils levy.