ROUNDTHE COUNCILS WAKEFIELD:
ENTRY EXAMSTHWARTINGNEWCANDIDATES
Nearly two thirds of people applying to become private hire and hackney carriage drivers are failing the required maths and English tests. Since April last year, candidates have been asked to take numera- cy and literacy tests before they are grant- ed their licence. And a Wakefield Coun- cil licensing report has revealed that only 49 candidates out of 135 had passed the tests so far. According to the Wakefield Express, the report said taxi trade representatives had urged the council to scrap the tests for can- didates who hold recognised qualifica- tions, such as GCSEs and A Levels.
They have argued that those
should
candidates only
be
required to pass the knowledge test, which is currently stage two of the testing system and is only set once the would-be driver has passed their maths and English. But the report said: “On the face of it, this seems
reasonable;
however, there are a number of concerns specifically relating to defining equivalency and perhaps more im- portantly, the authen- ticity of
the qual-
ification and whether it has been awarded to that applicant and how this would be verified.” The knowledge test consists of a 45- minute presentation, followed by 50 random
questions. And just 25 out of 47 have passed since it was intro- duced last year. At a meeting last month, the licensing and regulatory commit- tee said the testing system was working to promote “safe tour- ism”. And the report added: “When granting a licence, the council must be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.” Candidates
are
charged £25 for the tests, which ensures that there are safe- guards against fraud. The report added: “To date, one applicant has attempted to sub- mit a fraudulent cert- ificates and is current- ly subject action.”
to legal ALLERDALE: CUMBRIANFIRMCLAIMS EXTRATEST STOPPINGJOBS
A west Cumbrian minibus and taxi oper- ator claims Allerdale Council is preventing him creating new jobs because of strict licensing rules. William Patterson, of Rosies Travel, told the council that the Cros- by Villa firm had been offered four new four- year contracts to start in September which should allow four new drivers to be recruited. But, he said, after sev- eral months of trying to recruit, the compa- ny had not been able to fill the posts. Mr Patterson told the Cumbria News and Star: “This is because of Allerdale’s insis- tence that new drivers should take an extra driving test and pay high costs associated with that test. If we can’t recruit by August we will have to hand those contracts back.” Under council policy, all new taxi drivers must pass a DSA test,
PAGE 52
over and above the normal DVLA driving test, before being granted a licence. They must also have - and pay for
- criminal
records check and a medical. Costing £80 to £100, the test can result
in the DSA
requiring a driver to have extra driving les- sons, at further cost. The council’s licens- ing committee re- viewed the need for the test after a request from Mr Patterson, and recommended that the policy remain as it is. But Mr Patter- son called on full council to vote against that recommendation and allow new drivers to have licences with- out a test, as is already the case in Copeland. Cllr Phil Tibble, execu- tive member respons- ible for licensing, said: “I feel there has to be some
assessment,
over and above the DVLA test, for profes- sional drivers. The test
complements other aspects of applying for a licence. It’s a pack- age ensuring that taxis and their drivers around Allerdale are safe.” But Mr Patterson raised concerns that some taxi drivers have not sat the test, as they were exist- ing drivers given grandfather rights when the tests were intro- duced 11 years ago. Mark Fryer called on the licensing commit- tee to review the issue of grandfather rights. He said: “How many of the drivers with grand- father rights are safe? Everybody has got bad habits.” Licensing chairman Angela Kendall agreed to review the issue, but added that the number of drivers who had not taken the test was reducing. Coun- cillors agreed with the committee’s recom- mendation that drivers should have to com- plete the test.
A new scheme to cut MoT costs for taxi and private hire drivers and boost trade for garages has been launched in Wolver- hampton. The Express and Star
reports that the city council’s
committee has given the green light
licensing to
plans to allow black cab and private hire drivers the chance to have their cars tested
REDDITCH: DISABILITYCOURSEAMUST FORDRIVERS
Taxi drivers in the bor- ough must take part in disability awareness training to keep their licence, under new rules. According to the Red- ditch and Alcester Standard, plans to introduce courses in Redditch have now been given the green light by councillors and will apply to all drivers of hackney car- riage and private hire vehicles. Training will be offered at a cost of £20 for the afternoon and must be completed within 12 months of being given a new licence unless drivers can prove they
have completed an NVQ level
two or
equivalent qualifica- tion, which includes disability awareness. The proposals were approved at a meeting of Redditch Borough Council’s
committee in July fol- lowing a consultation with companies in the town. Speaking at the meet- ing Cllr Andy Fry said he was ‘very much in favour’ of it being a mandatory scheme. “Otherwise the good ones will take it and the poorer drivers will not or the people who think they can save a bit of money and still
RUGBY:
Taxi drivers in Rugby may be forced to make their meters tamper- proof following con- cerns that passengers are being ripped off. According to the Rugby
NEWPLANTOTHWARTTAXIDRIVERS and
Advertiser,
Rugby Borough Coun- cil decided last month to bring in the new rule, which is in response to complaints of over- charging. NPHA member, Grev Mills, Secretary of Rugby Hackney Own- ers Drivers Asso- ciation, is backing the idea. He told the coun- cil: “To maintain trust in the trade, we have to address this in whatev- er manner we can. “Over several months, we have been getting reports of overcharg-
ing by a few drivers.” The meters would pre- vent drivers manually changing the rate they charge. They would be fitted with a pre-pro- grammed chip, which would automatically change
the rate
according to the date and time. But taxi driver John Cole is against the move. He told the council: “I look on this as a shadow on my integrity. “I find it quite insulting that I could be asked to replace a perfectly operating meter, which will
incur more
expense to my ever- decreasing business finances. I have been a taxi proprietor in Rugby for 15 years
have never
received a complaint from one of my cus- tomers or the borough council.” Cabbies staged a protest
last against plans
year to
increase the number of taxi licences issued in the borough. Mr Cole added: “One of the biggest prob- lems in Rugby is that too many outsiders are coming to work in the town who have not got
the knowledge
needed to do the job.” The borough council estimates that adapt- ing an existing meter would cost the driver £15. They will be given up to six months to comply with the change.
PHTM AUGUST 2013 licensing
do the job,” he said. “We need to have the best service we can get for all of the people. Having training that effectively makes them a better driver I think is £20 well spent.” Private hire vehicles which can accommo- date passengers in wheelchairs will also be given extended licences as part of changes to the policy surrounding licensing. Previously, vehicles could only be licensed until they were nine years old but now adapted vehicles will be licensed for a fur- ther three years until they are 12.
WOLVERHAMPTON: TAXIMOT FEESARE REDUCED
at approved VOSA garages across the city. Previously, drivers had to have their car safety tests carried out at the authority’s own depot.
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