Taxi Driver Online

Rossendale taxi licences HALVED after 'knowledge' crackdown

The number of hackney cab licences issued by Rossendale council has dramatically dropped by nearly 1,500 following the introduction of stringent new tests and enforcement action. Figures show the number of taxis currently licensed by the authority stands at 1,165 - down 56 per cent from a whopping 2,600 licences in 2016.

Licensing bosses have hailed the impact of new ‘knowledge and conditions tests’ to improve standards and safety and enforcement to crack down on drivers operating outside of the borough.

A three-section test was introduced last year covering basic maths and English, conditions and bylaws and geographic knowledge of the Rossendale area. Applicants also have to complete a two-hour training session and pass a multiple-choice test.

A new council report states that since June 2017 a total of 640 new applicants and 160 renewal drivers have taken part one of the test. Of all the renewal applications received, 56 were drivers working in Rossendale and all ‘achieved the required standard’. However, 85 per cent of those living and working outside the Valley failed and have had their application for renewal refused.

Coun Steve Hughes, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said it ‘shows the good progress we are making’. He said: “We’ve had an issue in the past where our policy hasn’t been robust enough and we’ve taken clear action. We are now seeing the benefits of that.

“The introduction of the various tests and mandatory CCTV is a massive step forward and makes a huge difference to both the safety of drivers and passengers. “For everybody that was saying we aren’t taking this issue seriously then what this shows is we are and doing everything we can to ensure the public are safe and the vehicles that are licensed are fit and proper.

“If you want a licence but are operating outside of this borough then go to the borough that you’re going to operate in. There was a lot of uproar about drivers having to take the tests but we pursued along with that and they are reaping the rewards. They have passed and are seen as better drivers.”

A council licensing report states that joint working with officers from other local authorities, the police and VOSA staff is ‘having a significant impact on those who choose to work out of area’.

_________________
IDFIMH

Is the correct answer.

_________________
IDFIMH

Makes one wonder if Officers were misusing delegated powers in issuing all those licenses and Councillors had decided to take control back by setting higher standards which must be applauded.
Other Councils should take note.

Maybe Rossendale will rein them in but I have heard that Knowsley council have lost a court case where they tried to restrict the licensed vehicles working arear....apparantely the judge ruled the council should have no control over this...and awarded costs to Delta Cars...

Correct, the court decision was posted here today.

Drivers not vehicle. IMO that's a massive difference.

_________________
IDFIMH

Of course, Knowsley case about PHVs, not the HCs in Rossendale. Principle of PHVs working out of area seems more established than HCs working hundreds of miles away from where they're licensed, especially when they can't even ply for hire out of area, and to a judge that probably just looks totally ridiculous. Of course, lots of HCs do private hire work, but suspect a judge would view the primary purpose of an HC license to ply for hire in area licensed in, so if doing exclusively pre-booked work in an area a long distance away it just looks like they're exploiting a loophole.

And, as per the other thread, looks like judge did entertain the possibility that a PHV could be restricted geographically, although not necessarily by local authority boundaries.

So I suspect the courts will look at geographical conditions imposed on HCs differently to those imposed on PHVs, but it seems unlikely that the whole mess will be clarified - either by court judgements or legislation - for a few years to come yet.