Taxi Driver Online

There's about three million different threads covering various aspects of what's going on here, so here's a new one


Council urged to scrap ‘six point ban’ for Wakefield taxi drivers as cabbies prepare for Town Hall protest

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... st-3774434

Councillors in Wakefield will be asked to reconsider it’s “unfair” taxi driver suitability policy as the city’s cabbies plan to stage a Town Hall protest.

Taxi drivers who rack up more than six points on their licence in three years face lengthy bans from the trade under the local authority’s current policy.

In March, drivers from the Wakefield Driving Association (WDA) picketed the Town Hall over the policy and called for senior councillors to resign

WDA members plan a further protest tomorrow (July 20), the same day a full Council meeting will be asked to consider a motion to make policy changes, including scrapping the six point ban.

Taxi drivers and the council have been at a crossroads since 2019 when the suitability policy was brought forward.

WDA president Yasar Ahmed said that drivers in the district were “promised so much” before the elections but nothing has come to fruition yet.

The council does not recognise WDA as a trade organisation but says it “continues to liaise with them.”

The WDA is also calling for an extension on ‘grandfather rights’, which means eligible cabbies will be able to extend the life of their vehicle for a given period of time due to the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Mr Ahmed said: “A full council meeting is scheduled for July 20 which is why we have chosen this date to protest.

“We’ve had to do this because we don’t have another option.

“Whatever needs to be done, needs to be done now.”

Mr Ahmed said that WDA’s demands are about “equal rights”.

He said: “It is not just about the rules of the road.”

“It is fair enough that they want us to abide by the rules of the road. Let’s say I buy an electric car, they would say it’s over 10 years old so I can’t drive it.

“But, council vehicles don’t have a 10-year age limit. There is one rule for them and another for us.”

A motion, proposed by Nadeem Ahmed, Conservative councillor for Wakefield South, is calling on the Council to:

• Scrap the six point ban on drivers.

• Extend vehicle age limits so that taxi drivers do not need to buy new cars after 10 years for a saloon vehicle and 12 years for a multi-seater.

• Deliver an extension on grandfather rights, which means eligible drivers will be able to extend the life of their vehicle for a given period of time.

• Introduce a new consultation framework to improve dialogue between drivers and the Council

• Remove the requirement which instructs drivers to take out manufacturer-fitted sun protection glass.

• Allow hybrid and electric cars to have a longer license as an incentive for drivers to do more to help the environment.

• Prepare a report for the September meeting of Full Council.

Glynn Humphries, Wakefield Council’s Corporate Director for Communities, Environment and Climate Change, said: “The council continues to be committed to working with the taxi trade whilst protecting the health and wellbeing of the travelling public.

“Policies are reviewed on an ongoing basis which is overseen by the Licensing Committee.”

Not really clear what the difference between the two is here. Maybe it's an either/or (if they don't get a permanent relaxation of the age rule then they're trying for a temporary one), or maybe they want a permanent relaxation but also a temporary one, presumably even less stringent than the permanent relaxation they want

Ain't gonna happen

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

Indeed, Edders, indeed

Quite a long piece, but nothing really on the substance of it all, and more about politicking and sloganeering than anything else.

Photos not particularly interesting, but they do help to break up the text a bit

But, I mean, 'ALLOW FACTORY TINTS' just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

As a political slogan, I somehow doubt it will enter the public consciousness


Councillors reject scrapping ‘six point ban’ for taxi drivers as Wakefield cabbies stage Town Hall protest

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... st-3777639

Wakefield Council has voted against proposals to amend its taxi driver suitability policy amid protests from the city’s cabbies.


Image: Wakefield Express

Emotions ran high both inside and outside the Council chamber as drivers held a demonstration ahead of a meeting to discuss making changes to “unfair” taxi licensing regulations.

It is the second time this year that members of the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) have picketed the Town Hall over the issue.

The WDA want the local authority to scrap the so-called ‘six point ban’ and relax other rules, including extending the life of taxi vehicles, as they struggle during the cost of living crisis.

Currently, taxi drivers who rack up more than six points on their licence in three years face lengthy bans from the trade.

A motion to make policy changes was put to a full council meeting by Conservative councillor Nadeem Ahmed.

It was rejected after the majority of Labour group members voted against it, accusing the Tories of “playing politics” with public safety.


Image: Wakefield Express

Earlier, three councillors attended the demonstration and spoke in support of the taxi drivers.

Nadiah Sharp, newly-elected Labour councillor for Wrenthorpe and Outwood West, told the protesters: “This isn’t about working conditions. This isn’t about pay.

“This isn’t about changing terms and conditions within our working rights.

“This is about parity, equality, social justice.

“We are the Labour Party. Labour means to work. We stand by the workers.

“That includes taxi drivers, bus drivers, train drivers.

“What is inflicted against the taxi drivers has a knock-on effect on the residents.

“I have elderly residents that are reporting that they can’t get a taxi for an hour. Mums that can’t get their kids picked up from school.”

Coun Sharp told the drivers: “You are valid, you are needed, you are valued.

“You are the bedrock of the Wakefield community and I stand with you.

Akef Akbar, Independent councillor for Wakefield East, said : “The bus drivers have recently held strikes that have lasted weeks on end, bringing the city to a standstill.

“You, the taxi drivers, have kept this city running.

“We saw councillors of all parties attending at the picket line with the bus drivers for photo opportunities.

“Where are they for the taxi drivers?”

“We need to push our elected members and show them that the private hire drivers matter.

“We can’t just brush it under the carpet and ignore the problems of our taxi drivers.”

Coun Ahmed, Tory councillor for Wakefield South, also addressed the protesters, saying: “All we are asking for is fairness.

“It is not a political issue. It is a matter of common sense.

“The costs are unbearable for people. You are trying to make a living for your families.”


Image: Wakefield Express

As the issue was being debated at County Hall, Wakefield Mayor David Jones briefly adjourned the meeting as Coun Ahmed was speaking.

As the meeting resumed, Coun Jones said: “Councillor Ahmed, I appreciate your emotions on this subject and I appreciate you wish to give over your argument.

“But I would also appreciate it if you respect the rules that govern the way in which this council meeting is conducted.”

Michelle Collins, Labour councillor for South Elmsall and South Kirkby, told the meeting: “We have listened to the issues highlighted by the private hire and taxi trade.

“We have taken positive action to address those concerns.

“However, there is a process for considering such matters.”

Coun Collins said many of the issues raised are due to be considered at a licensing committee meeting next week.

She added: “It is important that licensing policy, conditions, good practice and procedures are considered in a proper way.

“As a council, it is right and proper that you balance the need of the trade with the safety of residents.

“Public safety should be at the centre of any licensing policy and it would not be right for this council to bypass those safeguards with this motion.

“This motion is designed to stoke nothing but hate and division between communities and the Labour group will not be part of that.

“We will not undermine the process in place to deal with such issues.

“Unlike the Tories opposite, we will not play politics with public safety.”

Knottingley Liberal Democrat Councillor Pete Girt supported the motion, saying: “When I was a bus driver I got six points on my licence.

“I wasn’t a bad driver. I just took my eye off the speedo for a couple of seconds.

“I didn’t have my licence taken off me.

“Why should these guys have their licenses taken from them?

“I support this motion. It is common sense. Let’s just use a bit.

At least when it suits

And indeed they're all playing politics really. I mean, the Labour Party accusing others of playing politics with public safety?

Zero tolerance when it suits, but zero enforcement historically when it comes to the likes of CSE in Rotherham and Telford, not to mention a whole host of other stuff

Of course, to a degree at least, the reason for the stricter zero tolerance approach to a lot of this stuff is over-compensating for the whole CSE thing.

Democracy at its very worst.

Chief executive apologises after cabbies were blocked from entering Wakefield Council meeting to discuss taxi trade licensing changes

Wakefield Council’s chief executive has apologised to taxi drivers after they were blocked from entering a public meeting.
By Tony Gardner

A group of drivers were refused entry into Wakefield’s County Hall to attend a licensing committee meeting about the taxi trade.

Security staff eventually allowed the cabbies in after a 25-minute stand-off once the local authority’s chief executive Andrew Balchin had been informed of the situation.

Most of the agenda items had been dealt with by the time the group gained entry to the meeting.

There were angry scenes in the council chamber as the meeting was closed.

One of the protesters said to councillors: “We have been blocked from coming in for 25 minutes.

“This is supposed to be a council meeting open to the public.

“It is absolutely disgusting.

“It took the chief executive to get us in. It’s supposed to be a public forum. This is the death of democracy.”

Last week, drivers held a demonstration outside Wakefield Town Hall ahead of a full Council meeting to discuss making changes to “unfair” taxi licensing regulations.

Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) want the local authority to scrap the so-called ‘six point ban’ and relax other rules, including extending the life of taxi vehicles, as they struggle during the cost of living crisis.

Currently, taxi drivers who rack up more than six points on their licence in three years face lengthy bans from the trade.

Councillors rejected the proposals but said many of the drivers’ concerns would be addressed at yesterday’s licensing committee meeting.

After the meeting, Nadeem Ahmed, Conservative councillor for Wakefield South, said he contacted Mr Balchin after receiving a phone call from drivers about being refused entry.

He said: “These people are hard working taxpayers and they came here to exercise their democratic right.

“They were promised their concerns would be considered at a public meeting which they were then stopped from attending. It’s wrong.”

Coun Akef Akbar, Independent councillor for Wakefield East, said: “I think that the taxi drivers’ voices are being blocked from being heard.

“I am quite surprised that there are two security guards here today.

“I have never seen them used before for anything since I was elected, either here or at the Town Hall.

“It is quite obvious they are here for these guys.”

Tony Homewood, licensing committee member and Conservative councillor for Ossett, spoke with the taxi drivers after the meeting and told them he also planned to raise the issue with the chief executive.

He said: “When I came I was allowed to go straight into the building and no one stopped me.”

After the meeting, Mr Balchin issued a statement which read : “Our licensing committee meetings are open to the public to ensure that all decisions are seen to be open and transparent.

“We are sorry that on this occasion a miscommunication meant that some people were not initially allowed into the meeting.

“This was resolved as quickly as possible, although we accept this has caused upset to those initially unable to access the meeting.

“We would like to reassure people that we are taking steps to ensure as far as possible that this does not happen again.”

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IDFIMH

An interesting enough topic, but couldn't be bothered reading through all this, because I'd guess it says just about everything except why precisely the councillor is facing the hearing, and apart from that it's not of much interest


Wakefield Labour councillor to face party disciplinary hearing over support for taxi driver protest

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... st-3828716

A Wakefield Labour councillor is to face a party disciplinary hearing after supporting taxi drivers when they staged a Town Hall protest.

It is understood that Nadiah Sharp is under investigation by the Wakefield Council’s Labour Group chief whip.

The investigation is believed to relate to Coun Sharp’s public show of support for cabbies at a demonstration on July 20 this year.Drivers held a demonstration ahead of a full council meeting to discuss making changes to “unfair” taxi licensing regulations.

It was the second time this year that members of the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) picketed the Town Hall over the long-running issue.Coun Sharp told the drivers at the protest: “You are valid, you are needed, you are valued.

“You are the bedrock of the Wakefield community and I stand with you.”

A letter has been sent to Labour councillors from chief whip Richard Forster to confirm that a special meeting has been called on Monday September 5 at Wakefield Town Hall.

The letter states: “This will be a one item agenda to discuss a disciplinary investigation that I have conducted in relation to two alleged breaches of Labour Party Rules by a member of the Labour Group.

“The purpose of this meeting will be to provide more details about the nature of the investigation that has taken place, along with my conclusions and recommendations.

“During the meeting, the Councillor concerned will also be given the opportunity to speak and members present will be invited to put specific questions to both myself and the Councillor in question.”

The letter continues: “Members will then be invited to take part in a vote on the course of action that I will be proposing at the meeting.

“Please note that only those who have been present throughout the discussion on this item of business may take part in the vote, which will be by secret ballot.

“Scrutineers will be appointed at the start of the meeting.”

Taxi drivers have been calling on the local authority to scrap the so-called ‘six point ban’ and relax other rules, including extending the life of taxi vehicles, as they struggle during the cost of living crisis.

Currently, taxi drivers who rack up more than six points on their licence in three years face lengthy bans from the trade.

A motion to make policy changes was put to the full council meeting on July 20 by Conservative councillor Nadeem Ahmed

It was rejected after the majority of Labour group members voted against it, accusing the Tories of “playing politics” with public safety.

Coun Sharp, who was elected as councillor for Wrenthorpe and Outwood West in May this year, told the protesters ahead of the meeting: “This isn’t about working conditions. This isn’t about pay.

“This isn’t about changing terms and conditions within our working rights.

“This is about parity, equality, social justice.

“We are the Labour Party. Labour means to work. We stand by the workers.

“That includes taxi drivers, bus drivers, train drivers.

“What is inflicted against the taxi drivers has a knock-on effect on the residents.

“I have elderly residents that are reporting that they can’t get a taxi for an hour. Mums that can’t get their kids picked up from school.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “Labour Councillors agree to accept the rules of the Labour Party as a condition of membership of the Labour Group.

“A disciplinary hearing will be held to consider alleged breaches of these rules.”

Coun Sharp declined to comment.

Another day, another demo

Can't really be bothered with the details of all this, but suffice to say the Labour Party is saying that the councillor's suspension has nothing to do with her support for the drivers


Labour councillor Nadiah Sharp suspended as taxi drivers hold Town Hall protest outside party disciplinary hearing

https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news ... ng-3833567

A councillor was handed a suspension from the Labour party as taxi drivers held a protest outside Wakefield Town Hall in her support.