Taxi Driver Online

This consultation was launched a month ago and has in fact now ended, but for whatever reason it was just publicised in the local press a few days ago.

Anyway, suspect it's quite unusual for cars to need a new plate up to three times per year, but this is tied with the council's requirement to test older cars three times per year. And this is for cars just five years old, so obviously quite onerous. But, of course, the stringency here largely due to the Jay and Casey reports on Child Sexual Exploitation, as mentioned in the council's press release.


Consultation launched on changes to taxi licence plates

https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/news/artic ... nce-plates


Image: Rotherham Advertiser

A consultation is underway on plans to alter the issuing of taxi vehicle licence plates across the borough.

Based on feedback received during consultation, the Council is now consulting on a draft proposal to issue a vehicle licence plate annually, rather than at each compliance check.

The Council believe that this is more efficient for officers and drivers, will reduce the associated costs of licensing a vehicle, and reduce the impact on the environment.

Following the Jay and Casey reports of 2013 and 2015, the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy was reviewed and improved significantly.

It included a requirement that all licensed vehicles must undergo regular compliance checks, the number of which are determined by the age of the vehicle:

Under 3 years – 1 test per year
Between 3-5 years – 2 tests per year
Over 5 years – 3 tests per year

To support this, the current Policy is that vehicle licence plates (the physical plate displayed on the taxi itself) are issued for the duration between compliance checks, so a vehicle that is over five years in age is issued with three licence plates a year.

Due to the additional checks that the Council are now able to undertake through online systems, it is proposed that the Council changes its policy and issue only one licence plate a year to drivers with the number of compliance checks staying the same.

This would reduce the number of plates printed and issued by approximately 1500 every year, whilst also saving the licensed trade approximately £28,785 a year.

Furthermore, the Council are required to dispose of all expired plates which are non-recyclable, meaning that 112 square metres of plastic is currently sent to landfill unnecessarily every year.

Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads & Community Safety, Councillor Emma Hoddinott, said: “The Council’s taxi licensing policy has come a long way since changes were introduced in 2015 and we are committed to further improving taxi licensing for customers, drivers and operators.

“We are keen to hear the public's views on whether the license plates on the car should be tied to the date of inspections, or whether this requirement is no longer needed."

This public consultation period will end on 15th January 2021, when a proposal will be written and presented to the Council’s Cabinet.

You can view the consultation on the Council website here http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultation-feedback

Published: 16th December 2020

So I suppose for new plates there are maybe four different scenarios:

- plate lasts as long as the car is used as HC/PHV, ie undated. This was what we had in Fife when I started (but our plates are now dated). Suspect this is quite rare nowadays.

- new plates issued at each vehicle test. Or, if this is considered too onerous, then just like in Rotherham the required period can be extended.

- new plates required at each licence renewal. That's what we have in Fife at present, and the date on the plate isn't therefore linked to the test. (Not sure if that's what's being proposed in Rotherham, or if they'll just issue new plates at a particular test date, but not for every test.) Suspect this system less common than plates dated to the test date.

Of course, each system has its pros and cons. Issuing them at test time seems most convenient for the driver. Ours is a pain because it needs a round trip of at least an hour just to get the new plates at the council depot. And that's when things go smoothly. Not so bad now I'm getting the three-year plates, but every year was a pain.

But I think Skippy said his council has the easiest system of all for the trade - plate can last as long as the licence is in force, therefore can be transferred between vehicles?

(Maybe Skippy's plates have to be renewed every time the licence is renewed, and thus dated to the licence expiry, but I'm not sure. But if it can be transferred between vehicles then that's certainly unlike each of the three scenarios outlined above.)

I've had the same plate (vinyl sticker) since I bought my car 5 years ago.

Can't see why plates need to be dated TBH.

_________________
IDFIMH

Everything seems to require an expiry date these days, including you, me, and a bottle of mineral water.

Absurd.

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Former taxi driver

Ours used to be aluminium but the Council decided to go for the vinyl/plastic plates with all information on. The TAXI Association objected to this to no avail, Council claimed it was necessary for public safety. On asking if the plastic plates were recyclable the answer was a resounding "YES" lo and behold we are now going to be issued with new plates without the expiry date upon it decision of the Council.
Again they just cannot leave well alone, there was nothing wrong with the old aluminium plate, it had the details that was required by 1847 Town Police Clauses Act upon it.

To a degree it's well-meaning, to an extent it's just people making work to justify their existence. Then there's the PC 'equality' kind of stuff. Just came across this from the summer, from Edinburgh licensing. Wonder what the 'equality' stuff is all about?