Nothing particularly new here, but to the average member of the public reading this it must sound like the firms are threatening to up sticks and move their businesses lock, stock and barrel, whereas all they're threatening to do is get their licences in another borough.
Also suspect readers will think these people are representing the whole trade, whereas it looks like they're mainly offices and operators.
'We love the borough and don't want to leave' - Cabbies set for showdown meeting with council leadershttps://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/we ... nt-2963368Drivers in Newcastle are at odds with the local authority over policy changesCabbies will make their final pleas to council bosses tonight ahead of a controversial change in licensing policy – and they’ll strike again if they don’t get their way.
Black cab and private hire drivers in Newcastle are furious with the proposed changes they say will increase costs to the consumer, make the practice less safe, and ultimately cause a mass exodus of operators seeking registration in ‘friendlier’ boroughs.
Newcastle Borough Council bosses have twice changed the policy since cabbies brought chaos to the town centre with a go-slow protest in March.
They also refused to pick up revellers on a Friday night, prompting an increased police presence in the town to keep order.
The new policy includes new rules for vehicle testing, a reduction in the age-limit for vehicles, and a new English language test, to be provided by the council.
But drivers say not much has changed and they’re still unhappy with a service they say can leave them off the road for up to three months.
Parvez Khan, of City Cabs, read the most recent revised policy. He said: “We wouldn’t really say much has changed to be honest with you. It’s still the same language.
“They’re going to allow us 10 minutes each to speak at the meeting, 10 for private hire and 10 for Hackney carriages.”
Drivers met for an emergency summit in Shelton last night to discuss a plan of action when they come before council chiefs tonight.
In May, Trevor Colclough, of Sid’s Private Hire in Chesterton, warned the business would leave the borough if serious changes weren’t made, and others were willing to follow suit.
“We’ve got no confidence in the council and we want the college to do the test because they’re unbiased,” said Mr Colclough. “It should not be done in-house by the council.
“I’m fearful of more industrial action after June 11 if this doesn’t get sorted.
“We’re a family-run business, we’ve always been in the borough, we love it and we don’t want to leave. But if it comes down to it, we will.”
The council’s income from taxis last year was £360,435. Sid’s says it contributes about £50,000 a year to that, and warns a large chunk of public money could be lost if there is a mass exodus of cabbies.
Shahraz Yaqub, business development manager at Autocab, says passengers will also be affected by the changes.
He said: “Public safety will be impacted because there are now going to be drivers going out of the borough to get registered in places like Wolverhampton.
“Because there’s no restriction on cross-border operating, Newcastle Borough Council will have no say on the drivers operating in their borough.
“Ultimately, the costs of all this will be passed on to the customer.”
Stephen Sweeney, cabinet member for finance at the borough council, said: “The council has gone to great lengths to keep a constant, open dialogue with representatives from the Hackney carriage and private hire trade throughout the draft policy’s development.
“It has listened carefully to the points made during the consultation – which was extended twice at the taxi drivers’ request – and at numerous meetings by changing four proposals which include no longer recommending that all new/replacement saloon hackney carriages (black cabs) must be electric vehicles. Two drivers have now been given permission to address the committee.
“It’s understood some drivers are still not happy with the draft policy and are threatening more action, which will impact on their customers, if they do not get all of their own way.
“This is deeply regrettable, but the council believes its first priority is to safeguard standards and safety/welfare for the travelling public.”