Taxi Driver Online

Pretty unremarkable first part of article - council welcomes the DfT report on raising standards etc.

But when you consider it's Rossendale and that the second part of the article is essentially claiming to have blazed the trail in this regard, then it's just a wee bit jaw-dropping

Council welcomes national move on taxi licensing

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... licensing/

GOVERNMENT moves to overhaul national standards for taxi drivers in a move to improve passenger safety have been welcomed.

Rossendale Council bosses have praised a new publication that is the result of a Government-backed review into the industry.

It makes 34 recommendations across a wide range of areas including an urgent review of legislation and introduction of a national minimum standard for taxi licensing.

Individual recommendations include legislation to enable licensing authorities to carry out enforcement and compliance checks and take appropriate action and that it be a condition of licensing that drivers cooperate; a statutory definition of both ‘plying for hire’ and ‘pre-booked’; as well as the urgent review of the evidence and case for restricting the number of hours that taxi drivers work.

Some of the key changes already brought in across Rossendale include enhanced DBS checks for all drivers, involvement with Greater Manchester authorities in the establishment of the national database of revoked drivers, coloured livery, mandatory CCTV in all licensed vehicles as well as new and existing drivers to complete a basic skills test prior to grant or renewal to include a local knowledge test.

The council has also introduced compulsory training in safeguarding, child sexual exploitation and disability awareness for all new and existing drivers.

Cllr Jackie Oakes, portfolio holder for operations, said: "We have been lobbying for government to get a grip of this issue for some time.

"Taxi licensing laws need to be fit for the 21st century and so we are pleased that this report recommends actions on inconsistent standards across the country.

"In Rossendale we have some of the most stringent licensing policies in the country which we started to introduce in 2016 – including many of the recommendations included here – and we have been recognised as best practice for this.

"I hope this is taken forward so we can a have a true national standard that everyone can work from that puts public safety first, and this includes drivers."

"Portfolio holder for operations"...what kind of trumped up non job title is that?

It's like

Land divider technician :a Fencer.
Director of First impressions: a Receptionist.
Coordinator of interpretive teaching: Tour Guide.

Anyone else with a few daft examples of non job titles.

Land passenger transportation vulnerabilty observing psychiatric marriage counsellor medical advisor - Taxi driver !

Should have started in your own manor first.

_________________
IDFIMH

Hygiene Technician. Fills the dishwasher at a Restaurant.
Protein Separator. Fish Filleter.
Transition Operative. Stop/Go sign chap at roadworks.
Barista. Makes the Coffee.
Barrister. Drinks the Coffee.
Solicit Puts the "Goods" on offer.
Solicitor. Prosecutes or defends those that Solicit.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related