Taxi Driver Online

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/uber-demand-liverpool-council-re-10349375

Uber demand Liverpool council re-think delay on licence

Local authority is considering halting approving new liences to all 'App-based' operators while is carries out consultation

Neil McGonigle(General Manager),of taxi firm Uber,who are launching in Liverpool.

Online taxi service Uber is to demand Liverpool city council rethink proposals which would delay them getting a licence.

The city council’s licensing committee is being asked to suspend approval of taxi licences for “smart phone App-based private hire” operators.

The delay would continue until a consultation on new private hire taxi and operator licensing conditions was completed.

The taxi firm Uber already operates in Merseyside and was launched during the summer.

The company was given a licence from Sefton council but its drivers can operate across the region, including Liverpool city centre.

Using the Uber app people can order a taxi on their smartphone, and payment is made by a credit card rather than cash.

Uber applied to Liverpool council for a license last year but is still waiting approval, despite several meetings to discuss the application.

Now the company fears there will be even more delays if the council suspends applications from “App-based” operators and says it will be asking councillors to reconsider the plans.

Neil McGonigle, general manager of Uber Merseyside, said: “All Uber wants is a fair hearing.

“We have been going through the licensing process for over a year now and hundreds of private hire drivers in the city have expressed an interest in partnering with us so they can become their own boss and work when they want.

“We hope the committee will reconsider.”

A report to the licensing committee said: “Given the continuing level of concern regarding public safety and security in connection with App-based private hire services, the interim head of licensing wishes to thoroughly consider, as part of the proposed consultation process, the creation of new conditions which are reasonably necessary to regulate App-based private hire services.”

The report said that until the consultation process on has been completed, “the interim head of licensing considers that with immediate effect, in order to maintain public confidence in the private hire licensing regime and ensure any risk to public safety and security is minimised, no current or future applications seeking the grant of App-based private hire operator licences should be determined”.

The council licensing committee will be asked to look at the recommendation when they meet at Liverpool town hall today.

All we ask is for a fair hearing and a nice free advert that mentions our name many times in the echo.

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

I'm sure in some countries of the world that by simply issuing a threat of a delay it can significantly increase the potential size of any bung along with a bigger range of incentives to those granting permission from those seeking permission even in the case of an already inevitable successful outcome.

Luckily we live in Britain and no such things can happen.

What would happen if all PH had to be fitted with meters in merseyside. were would that leave Uber.? Just a thoutht....Bye-Law...or maybe not..

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Oh look there goes a flying pig !!!

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Nothing decided at the meeting...been put on the back burner again...can't see them getting in. before Xmas...