Taxi Driver Online

Not a clue what this is all about

You'd guess it was all about making it easier to get licences to stop the trade getting them from Wolverhampton. But then restricting their use to school runs, say.

But why and how anyone would want these restricted licences compared to what's currently on offer locally, or via Wolverhampton, isn't clear...


Plan to make private hire recruitment easier

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyxg05r9jno

New licences are set to be offered in the Telford area, allowing minicab drivers to take on a limited set of services, like home-to-school transport.

A report to councillors said restricted licences would represent a more "compelling offer" for private hire firms who only carry out certain types of work.

The meeting on Thursday, external will hear that the scheme would help Telford & Wrekin Council regulate more services locally, as without it, there was a risk operators would seek to be licensed in areas with more flexible policies.

Since 2015, drivers can be licensed anywhere, leading to concerns that some are shopping around for less onerous requirements.

The report by the authority's licensing manager, Amitabh Singh, also said it would help ease a recruitment crisis in the trade.

He said there were "lots of competing alternative driving opportunities in the food and parcel delivery service areas, and the proposals in this report seek to overcome some of the difficulties in driver retention".

The report also said that "attracting new operators with new operating models will allow the council to uphold better standards in the private hire market".

If the policy is agreed, council officers would draw up the "conditions deemed necessary to ensure public safety".

You would guess it would all be about lowering standards, effectively, so what that's all about isn't clear at all

Of course, you'd assume it's all about getting rid of onerous requirements such as a knowledge test, age rule for cars, or mandatory CCTV. But then restricting the vehicles and drivers to specified markets, as opposed to the mainstream private hire industry. But zero in terms of explanation in that regard here

Had a look at the official paper, and it's as much use as the good old chocolate teapot


Utter nonsense for a start - where it says 'Deregulation Act 2015', substitute 'Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976'

Apart from that, the rest of it doesn't really explain what's going on, except that these new licences would be restricted, but no real rationale is provided. It's not that long, if anyone else can have a look and make sense of it:

https://democracy.telford.gov.uk/docume ... 0Final.pdf

I would say worse because it wouldn't taste as nice

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

I think Oadby and Wigston have a school work only licence. I know Wannabees favorite company 24/7 have got an ops license with them and drivers and vehicle are plated through them.

Any idea why anyone would want a restricted licence in Oadby & Wigston, Grandad?

Had a quick look on their website, and couldn't find anything (except the usual executive vehicle exemption for displaying plates, which is obviously about higher standard vehicles - you'd guess a restricted private hire licence would be about a lower vehicle (or driver) spec... )

It's not uncommon for councils to issue restricted licenses for school runs only, B&H did it for a number of years. I think Lewes allows a fleet of over 50 8-seaters to undertake school runs with restricted driver's licenses.

The way the council and the school's operator look at it is that they would struggle to get part-time workers (2 hours in the morning, two in the afternoon) to do that work. Whereas if they can only have to do a medical and DBS check they will find it easier to fill those vacancies.

Personally, I wish more drivers would go restricted and leave the rest of the work to the likes of me.

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IDFIMH

I suspect the firms doing the contract work want to carry on with the same three licenses and don't want to be Wolverhampton operators or have their vehicles licensed by them.

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IDFIMH

Basically, its to make it easier for semi-retired folks to get a bit of beer money, and not rot away at home in front of the telly.

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IDFIMH

I kind of get what you're saying about the rationale, Sussex, and why Telford Council might be doing it. But in terms of conditions/spec etc that's obviously considered over-onerous, there's zero explanation as regards what might be changed. So neither the BBC report nor the official council paper offer any sort of proper explanation in that regard, therefore hardly the basis for an informed discussion or decision by councillors.

Or Mr Magoo councillors

Had to Google that one

Incidentally, looking at the Oadby and Wigston stuff, it may be that it's drivers who are being offered a less onerous spec under a restricted license, as opposed to vehicles.

Thus Oadby and Wigston seems to have English assessments, and another driver competency test

Not to mention a disability awareness course, as well as safeguarding

And also looks like it has the Blue Lamp Trust driving assessment

Which is what we should be doing in my manor

As long as it only applied to new drivers

Or if I was guaranteed a pass

https://www.bluelamptrust.org.uk/taxiassesments/