Taxi Driver Online

Nothing particularly new here, but another mayor adding impetus to ending cross-border working and moving to regional licensing.

And probably just as well to read the actual letter linked to at the bottom of this post, as opposed to the article itself.

And indeed the letter reveals that this is another one who seems to think 'ride-hailing' firms belong to some kind of different sphere of licensing


Mayor calls for tighter taxi licence controls to create 'level playing field' for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire drivers

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/new ... rs-5457757

Mayor of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Paul Bristow has called for tighter regulations on taxi licencing to create a fairer playing field for local drivers.

Mr Bristow is currently working with mayors across the country, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, to push for responsibility for taxi licencing to switch from city councils to the Mayoral Authority.

The Mayor has said that this could bring a number of benefits, including creating a more efficient system as well as restricting vehicles licensed in one authority from operating extensively in another. Peterborough currently has a number of taxis licenced from other authorities in the city, including South Kesteven, Cambridgeshire and Wolverhampton.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mr Bristow said: “The system for regulating the industry has well and truly passed its used by date. The multiplicity of licence authorities has led to unacceptable local variations with inconsistent standards on vehicles in terms of quality, emissions, accessibility and safety.

"With ‘cross border’ licensing, these local variations have been a means of driving down standards to a lowest common denominator, rather than encouraging best practice.

"While Hackney carriages can only operate where they are licenced, private hire vehicles can apply for a licence from any authority and can operate throughout the country. This needs to end and we need laws to tackle it.”

Mr Bristow added: “Taxis are a crucial part of our transport network and I want our taxi fleet to be amongst the safest and most trusted in the country. I also want a level playing field for local taxi drivers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

“We can’t do this with the current broken licensing system. Councils often have no relationship with the drivers coming in from outside our region, no levers to enforce the standards, and no control over the numbers of taxis serving our communities.

“I also think we can do better with the licensing system for local drivers. I received scores of complaints from taxi drivers from Peterborough in particular about the current licensing service.

“To do this we need national change in the English Devolution Bill to devolve taxi powers to Mayor regions. Such a change will give political leaders more control over measures that impact public safety, vehicle standards, emissions and accessibility. This is what Andy Burnham in Manchester has called for and I agree with him.

“I want Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to be the best place to be a taxi driver."

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=127 ... 4038983237

Of course mayors want taxi licensed to be put under mayoral control it helps justify their existence and enormous salaries

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

And if such mayors can bin off cross border hiring then bring them on.

_________________
IDFIMH

Reads like the Peterborough PHA not happy - obviously they don't like cross-bordering, but they equally don't want local responsibility and accountability moved to a more remote tier of government

Who'd have guessed that, particularly in the likes of Peterborough, with all the CCTV stuff etc?

For local 'accountability', perhaps read 'capture' and 'collusion'


Peterborough taxi drivers call for 'end to cross-border exploitation' and a 'return to fairness in the industry'

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/new ... ry-5460337

Peterborough Private Hire Association has insisted that the current licencing system in the city has failed and that local drivers have paid the price.

The association’s comments come following calls from the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, for tighter regulations on taxi licencing to create a fairer playing field for local drivers.

Mr Bristow is currently working with mayors across the country, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, to push for responsibility for taxi licencing to switch from city councils to mayoral Authorities.

The Mayor has said that this could bring a number of benefits, including creating a more efficient system as well as restricting vehicles licensed in one authority from operating extensively in another.

The issue was raised by both Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes and North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling in parliament in June.

In response, the association has highlighted the need for reform, raising a number of issues such as licenced drivers from neighbouring authorities distorting the market and this driving down standards.

The association has insisted that it should be consulted on any future plans.

A statement said: “The current system has been allowed to fail, and local drivers and operators have paid the price. Cross-border licensing has distorted the market, driven standards down, and created an uneven playing field that punishes those who follow the rules and invest properly in safety, vehicles and compliance.

"Private hire and taxi drivers are not the problem. We are the ones ensuring residents get to work, school, hospital appointments and home safely every single day. Any attempt to “reform” licensing that ignores the voices of working drivers and local operators will be strongly opposed.

"We will not accept: decisions made without the trade, reforms that threaten livelihoods, centralisation that removes local accountability and policies that shift blame onto drivers while failing to enforce standards fairly.

"If licensing is to change, it must end cross-border exploitation, enforce consistent standards everywhere.”