Taxi Driver Online

Let's talk about taxis

What are your views on city taxis?

The City Council is carrying out a public consultation to update its Hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies, this includes:

• A code of conduct for drivers including a dress code
• Introduction of a Driver Improvement Programme for existing licensed drivers
• A change in the medical requirements for drivers and the adoption of the DVLA Group 2 Medical Standard
• Changes to current arrangements for vehicle age limits and emissions standards
• A new requirement for private hire operators to assess the suitability of their booking and dispatch staff
• A change to the existing policy on vehicle window tints

There are currently 1018 licensed drivers.

Councillor Jill Fletcher is the chair of the council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee that oversees Hackney carriage and private hire licensing.

She said: "It's residents and the general public that use the city's taxis and private hire vehicles. As a listening council, we take on board and consider the views of residents in our decision-making.

"We are proposing changes to the way private hire vehicles and taxis are licensed and operated within the city. We will do this by looking to introduce what will be known as the Statement of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.

"This will set out in one place information about the licensing and regulation of private hire and taxis.

"The primary objective is to ensure the safety and welfare of the public (with particular regard to children and vulnerable adults), environmental sustainability, and to ensure an efficient private hire and taxi service operates within the city.

"We'd be very interested to hear your views on what you feel about the trade in Sunderland as we draw up and draft these new regulations."

Tell us about taxis - https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/2 ... ing-Policy

The work is in line the Department for Transport's Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and we will consider matters raised through consultation with drivers and companies in Sunderland.

Cllr Fletcher added: "Feedback and comments from all residents, businesses and partners on these proposals is very welcome. Please do have your say."

Please share your views by 5pm Monday 26 September 2022 via email or post. Responses will be collated and used to form a report to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee in October 2022.

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IDFIMH

Sunderland taxi drivers face ban on short-shorts, baseball caps and football strips under new plans

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/pol ... ns-3870268

Taxi drivers in Sunderland are facing a ban on above-knee shorts, baseball caps and other sportswear under a proposed shake-up of rules and regulations for the taxi and private hire trade, which include a new “dress code” for drivers.

The consultation on refreshed rules and regulations for taxi and private hire vehicles and operators is set to close next week.

Sunderland City Council has been holding the consultation to update its hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies and wants more views on the proposals.

These include the introduction of an “improvement programme” for existing licensed drivers, a change in medical requirements for drivers and changes to arrangements for vehicle age limits and emissions standards.

Elsewhere, the plans include a new requirement for private hire operators to assess the suitability of their booking and dispatch staff and a change to the existing policy on vehicle window tints.

A new proposed dress code also aims to “enhance and promote the professional image of licensed drivers” as well as “ensuring that public and driver safety is not compromised in any way”.

The dress code includes a minimum standard of “appropriate” footwear, long-legged trousers, knee-length shorts, skirt, or dress and T-shirts having a full body and short sleeves.

The dress code also sets out “unacceptable” clothing for licensed drivers, including sportswear (football or rugby tops, tracksuits and beachwear) as well as baseball caps, hoodies and clothing with “offensive” words or graphics.

For executive or limousine hire, the proprietor must also ensure that the driver of the vehicle is “appropriately dressed in a chauffeur’s uniform, or ’business type’ clothes when the vehicle is being hired”.

There are currently around 1,018 licensed drivers on Wearside who could be impacted by the proposed changes.

Licensing bosses have confirmed they would respond to complaints from the public about alleged breaches of the wider rules and regulations, as well as making their own observations and considering further action.

Sunderland City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee recently endorsed the extension of the consultation period until 5pm on Monday, October 10.

Councillor Jill Fletcher, chair of the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee, is encouraging all residents, businesses and partners to have their say.

Cllr Fletcher said: “It’s residents and the general public that use the city’s taxis and private hire vehicles.
“As a listening council, we take on board and consider the views of residents in our decision-making.

“We are proposing changes to the way private hire vehicles and taxis are licensed and operated within the city.

“We will do this by looking to introduce what will be known as the Statement of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.

“This will set out in one place information about the licensing and regulation of private hire and taxis.

“The primary objective is to ensure the safety and welfare of the public (with particular regard to children and vulnerable adults), environmental sustainability, and to ensure an efficient private hire and taxi service operates within the city.

“We’d be very interested to hear your views on what you feel about the trade in Sunderland as we draw up and draft these new regulations”.

The work is in line with the Department for Transport’s statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and will consider matters raised through consultation with drivers and companies in Sunderland.
Details of the policy and proposed changes to rules and regulations are available on Sunderland City Council’s website via this link.

Views on the consultation can be shared via email at taxiconsultation@sunderland.gov.uk or via post.

The final deadline for representations is 5pm on Monday, October 10.

What do you mean in the same way as they have been duty-bound to do so since 1847?

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IDFIMH

Nothing particularly interesting here, except that it's unusual to see local reps quoted in a council news release like this.

They certainly seem on board with it all, but what's the betting that the refusnik elements of the trade weren't asked for a quote?


Updates for Hackney Carriage and private hire licensing

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/2 ... -licensing

New rules and regulations for the city's Hackney Carriage and private hire trade start at the beginning of January.

The City Council oversees and licenses the trade and the new regulations are in line with national and statutory standards issued by the Department for Transport.

There are 557 Hackney Carriage drivers in Sunderland and 489 private hire drivers.

Councillor Jill Fletcher chairs the council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee that regulates the trade and the first statement of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy is now approved.

She said: "We are working towards a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland and our drivers and companies have a role in this too.

"We all recognise and appreciate the valuable role those who work in the trade play in transporting the people of Sunderland and our many visitors, especially during these difficult times.

The policy sets down eight major objectives and how: The overriding objective of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing regime is the protection of the public, with particular emphasis upon safeguarding children and vulnerable people and to protect them from harm.

Following the consultation with companies, drivers, residents, Northumbria Police and others, from 1 January 2023 key points in the licensing policy also include:

• A new Convictions Policy and Assessment of Previous Convictions document relating to the licensing of drivers

• A new Code of Conduct for licensed drivers and the responsibilities they have towards passengers and residents. It also includes a new 48 hour self-reporting period for any matters, such as alleged offences, convictions, cautions and fixed penalty notices that could have a bearing on a licence, and a new dress code

• A new Driver Improvement Scheme - existing licensed drivers who accrue more than 6 penalty points and up to 9 penalty points for minor driving offences within a 3-year period will be requested to complete a driver improvement course

• Changes to the specifications of tinted windows in licensed vehicles. These provisions went live this month and only manufactured body tinted glass will be permitted to be used

• Private hire operators to assess the suitability of their booking and dispatch staff.

The council has also outlined that as Sunderland becomes a more low-carbon city it aims to only issue vehicle licences to ultra-low, or zero emission vehicles by 2030.

Full details of the policy are at: Taxi and private hire licensing - Sunderland City Council

John Gettins, of City Taxis and Chairman of the Sunderland Private Hire Association, said: "We know how we always have to move forward and keep up with changing times.

"This includes how the City Council and councils across the country that regulate the private hire trade must follow and update guidelines and legislation that come from the Department for Transport."

Trevor Hines, Managing Director of Station Taxis (Sunderland) and Regional Secretary, of the National Taxi Association (North East & Cumbria), said: "There are some key points within the new Licensing Policy that the trade has been requesting for several years, such as local authorities sharing information through a National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations.

"The safety of children and vulnerable adults is of paramount importance, and a central licensing database should hopefully stop drivers who have been refused a licence or had their licence revoked by one local authority moving to another area to work."

Paula Hough, General Manager of City Taxis, said: "It's great to see active and positive steps coming from licensing at the local authority. The private hire and Hackney Carriage industry are facing enormous pressures at the minute and it's good to see the City Council making efforts to help the industry."

I'm glad everyone is happy.

Well at least the bosses are.

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IDFIMH

New rules come into force for Sunderland taxi drivers - tougher checks, higher standards, and dress code included in new policy

Taxi drivers and other private hire vehicles have been officially issued with a new list of rules to help keep passengers safe and comfortable when travelling in Sunderland.

The rules and regulations for Sunderland’s Hackney Carriage and private hire went live at the beginning of January.

Some rules are based around driver standards others around background checks and previous convictions, and regulations even extend to banning crop tops, short shorts and caps.

There is also provision for ensuring only eco-friendly vehicles are used in coming years.

Sunderland City Council oversees and licenses the taxi and private hire trade, and council chiefs say the regulations are in line with national and statutory standards issued by the Department for Transport.

Councillor Jill Fletcher chairs the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee that regulates the trade and its drivers.

The committee approved the council’s first statement of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy in December.

"We are working towards a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland and our drivers and companies have a role in this too,” said Cllr Fletcher.

"The trade is regarded as being ambassadors for the city and I would like, on behalf of the travelling public, to pass on my thanks to everyone who contributed and commented during the consultation. The updates and new policy are about assisting the trade, protecting the public and meeting national and local requirements."We all recognise and appreciate the valuable role those who work in the trade play in transporting the people of Sunderland and our many visitors, especially during these difficult times."The policy sets down eight major objectives and how “The overriding objective of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing regime is the protection of the public, with particular emphasis upon safeguarding children and vulnerable people and to protect them from harm.”

Following the consultation with companies, drivers, residents, Northumbria Police and others, from 1 January 2023 other key points in the licensing policy include::: A new Convictions Policy and Assessment of Previous Convictions document relating to the licensing of drivers:: A new Code of Conduct for licensed drivers and the responsibilities they have towards passengers and residents. It also includes a new 48 hour self-reporting period for any matters, such as alleged offences, convictions, cautions and fixed penalty notices that could have a bearing on a licence, and a new dress code:: A new Driver Improvement Scheme which aims to improve the general standard of driving on the part of licensed drivers. Existing drivers who accrue more than six penalty points and up to nine penalty points for minor driving offences within a three-year period will be requested to complete a driver improvement course:: Changes to the specifications of tinted windows in licensed vehicles. Those provisions went live in December 2022, and stipulate only manufactured body-tinted glass is permitted:: Private hire operators to assess the suitability of their booking and dispatch staff.

Also included is a dress code for drivers, which requires them to wear long trousers, knee-length shorts or skirts or dresses. T-shirts must be full body length and have short sleeves.

Sandals, flip-flops and other footwear not secured round the heel are banned, and limousine-hire drivers must wear a chauffeur’s uniform or other ‘business-type’ clothes.

Sportswear is deemed inappropriate, except during important tournaments or to ‘celebrate successes’.

No headwear, or other items that partially, or completely cover the head, face, or which conceals the identity of the licensed driver – including baseball caps and hoodies – are permitted, except for religious purposes.

The council has also outlined that, as Sunderland becomes a more low-carbon city, it aims to only issue vehicle licences to ultra-low, or zero emission vehicles by 2030.

Full details of the policy are at: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/media/222 ... 3-2027.pdf

There are 557 Hackney Carriage drivers in Sunderland and 489 Private Hire Drivers.John Gettins, of City Taxis and Chairman of the Sunderland Private Hire Association, said: "We know how we always have to move forward and keep up with changing times."This includes how the City Council and councils across the country that regulate the private hire trade must follow and update guidelines and legislation that come from the Department for Transport."We’ve seen and been involved in the consultation process, points we made have been recognised and we note how this is a very necessary piece of work. it is all about benefiting members of the public and making further improvements for everyone in the trade."

Taxi companies say they welcome the new regulations, adding they have been pushing for some of the changes themselves in recent years.Trevor Hines, Managing Director of Station Taxis (Sunderland) and Regional Secretary, of the National Taxi Association (North East & Cumbria), said: "There are some key points within the new Licensing Policy that the trade has been requesting for several years, such as local authorities sharing information through a National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations."The safety of children and vulnerable adults is of paramount importance, and a central licensing database should hopefully stop drivers who have been refused a licence or had their licence revoked by one local authority moving to another area to work."Paula Hough, general manager of City Taxis, said: "It’s great to see active and positive steps coming from licensing at the local authority.

"The private hire and Hackney Carriage industry are facing enormous pressures at the minute and it’s good to see the City Council making efforts to help the industry."

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IDFIMH