Comments from LO.

cabbyman · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:23 pm

Posted on a local forum:

It has been reported today by one of our company drivers (when they dropped in their paperwork to the Council Offices) that LO said that PH company from adjoining borough will be moving into our borough in the next few months! LO also reported that a lot of local Taxi drivers have not renewed their plates this year (last day for paperwork today) and our driver was advised to get a school run as she reckoned all the work in our borough will virtually disappear overnight. Has the local PH operator finally sold out to other non-local PH company? Has anyone heard what is going on?

Any comments regarding the legality of this, both of LO's statement and the possible takeover of an operator licensed in one borough by an operator licensed in another?

We will need to put together solid legal arguments to stop this, if true. So any practices/legal decisions affecting other authorities would be useful. Thanks all.

Sussex · **Posted:** Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:30 pm

All three licenses (drivers/operators/vehicles) must be issued by the same council.

A council has no powers to issue a PH ops license to a base outside of their licensing area (although some do).

Therefore to operate in your manor, all PH drivers and vehicles must be licenses there.

As for what the LO said, I suspect he has as much info as you.

cabbyman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:54 pm

Is there anything to stop one operator having licences in adjoining boroughs under the same company name?

grandad · **Joined:** Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:27 pm **Posts:** 20130

cabbyman wrote:

Is there anything to stop one operator having licences in adjoining boroughs under the same company name?

I don't think so but each would have to have separate licences and telephone numbers.

cabbyman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:15 pm

I have just been told that the neighbouring PHV company have a phone number on our exchange, routed to their existing neighbouring offices. Now, although some telephone areas overlap into neighbouring boroughs, I'm not sure that is the case here. Thoughts???

Also, what was the outcome of Berwick? Can a PHV company send hackneys cross border?

Sussex · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:29 pm

cabbyman wrote:

Is there anything to stop one operator having licences in adjoining boroughs under the same company name?

No.

Sussex · **Posted:** Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:33 pm

cabbyman wrote:

I have just been told that the neighbouring PHV company have a phone number on our exchange, routed to their existing neighbouring offices. Now, although some telephone areas overlap into neighbouring boroughs, I'm not sure that is the case here. Thoughts???

Also, what was the outcome of Berwick? Can a PHV company send hackneys cross border?

They can route here there and everywhere, but the issue is (until the new Cab Act comes in) where the call is taken.

If the call is taken in area A, then only area A ph vehicles can fulfil that booking. If the booking is taken in area B then area A ph vehicles can't fulfil that booking.

In respect of hackneys, well they don't come under any operating regulations in England and Wales, so they could operate the system cross border.

cabbyman · **Posted:** Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:58 pm

The company we have in mind appear to be advertising and 'holding themselves out' to be a company local to our borough, using local phone numbers but answering the phone and sending licensed cars from an adjoining borough. We're not necessarily suggesting this is contrary to licensing laws but is it a trading standards issue?

Is anyone aware of any legal proceedings on this point?

Sussex · **Posted:** Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:56 pm

cabbyman wrote:

Is anyone aware of any legal proceedings on this point?

If they are saying that they are Area A taxis, when in fact they are Area B taxis, then that is false advertising.

But I doubt anyone in authorities really give a stuff.

Welcome to 2013. :sad:

roythebus · **Joined:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:17 pm **Posts:** 2712

cabbyman wrote:

The company we have in mind appear to be advertising and 'holding themselves out' to be a company local to our borough, using local phone numbers but answering the phone and sending licensed cars from an adjoining borough. We're not necessarily suggesting this is contrary to licensing laws but is it a trading standards issue?

Is anyone aware of any legal proceedings on this point?

Yes I've just read it about 10 minutes ago on the legal database section about someone in Derbyshire routing calls to Uttoxeter, it's illegal.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3810

cabbyman · **Posted:** Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:19 pm

Cheers, Roy. I'll pass that on. :-)

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