ROUND THE COUNCILS CARDIFF:
SHEFFIELD: TAXIS ALLOWED TINTED GLASS
Taxi drivers in Cardiff have been told they may have tinted glass on the vehicles - if CCTV is installed. According to Wales- Online, Cardiff coun- cil public protection committee heard taxi drivers in the city are having to pay up to £2,000 to replace tinted glass on new vehicles to comply with council rules. The committee was asked to remove a council condition for all Cardiff’s private hire and hackney carriage vehicles - which stated that windscreens must allow at least 75 per
cent of light to pass through, with all other windows allow- ing 70 per cent. Councillors
voted to allow tinted glass in new vehicles if it has been in- stalled by the man- ufacturers. The move would mean taxi drivers would no longer have to pay to replace tinted glass on new vehicles. But taxi drivers must install CCTV in their vehicles if they want to keep glass which is darker than al- lowed currently. Councillors passed the newmeasure put forward by commit-
tee member Cllr Adrian
have
despite some con- cerns about safety. Mmmm… How is it that so many local authority conditions of licence override Construction and Use regulations? It has been in the C&U regs since 1986 that windows behind the door pillars do not have to adhere to the 70 per cent light restriction. Never mind – the compro- mise of mandatory CCTV will amount to a quarter of the cost of replacing stan- dard spec windows, and provide driver safety as well. – Ed.
ALLERDALE: DRIVERS SET TO FACE KNOWLEDGE TESTS
Taxi drivers are set to face a Knowledge- style test to ensure customers are given the best service. The Times and Star reports that Aller- dale Council’s li- censing committee voted to bring in the test to improve the service provided to passengers and re- assure them about safety and security when using taxis. The electronic test will form part of the application process for new taxi licence holders. Existing drivers will be required to pass it within 12 months of its introduction. It will cover topics including general knowledge about the area, relevant
26
legislation on areas such as safeguard- ing and disabilities, and the Highway Code. It will also cover basic
numeracy,
general licence con- ditions and taxi legislation. The un- animous vote fol- lowed a consultation with licensed dri- vers, vehicle prop- rietors and private hire operators, which took place from May 16 to June 4. Eighty-three res- ponses to the con- sultation disagreed with the introduc- tion of the test. Fourteen agreed. People in favour said it would help ensure a more pro- fessional
service, and ensure drivers
had a good knowl- edge of the area. But people against said the test could add further to the cost of a licence and said existing drivers should be exempt. The test will be introduced once a company has been appointed to run it. Mmmm…So what was the purpose of a consultation if the licensing committee took absolutely no notice of the over- whelming majority who voted against the test? Sardar v Watford upheld that if consultation is to take place, amongst other things it must take into considera- tion the responses… don’t think that hap- pened here.– Ed.
Robson,
Sheffield City Coun- cil is to reconsider its policy on tinted windows in taxis and PHVs. The council’s cur- rent taxi licensing policy is the same as Cardiff, opposite. Self-applied tints are also banned under council regu- lations. But according to the Star, a reportto the licensing committee states that with
RULES ON TINTED GLASS MAY CHANGE newer cars,
rear
windows are typical- ly darker allowing only 65 per cent light density. The report asks the council to consider the impact of this shift and explore options
including
forcing drivers to replace windows at their own expense, or installing CCTV in vehicles as an alter- native. In making any deci-
sion, must
councillors take into
account protecting the public, safe- guarding children and the vulnerable, and
preventing
crime, disorder and public nuisance, the report states. It will be considered at a meeting of Sheffield City Coun- cil’s licensing com- mittee on Thursday, July 26 at Sheffield Town Hall.
LIVERPOOL: LAWS TO INCLUDE UPFRONT CHARGING BAN
Liverpool’s black cab drivers could be set to come under a new set of rules that would include a ban on charging cus- tomers up front - an issue that has been repeatedly raised in the city. The council’s licens- ing committee were to consider creating a number of new byelaws for black cabs at their next meeting. The Liverpool Echo reports that drivers would be stopped fromdemanding any kind of upfront pay- ment
from pas-
sengers travelling in Liverpool or that end within fourmiles of the council bor- der. The planned move from the council comes after a cam- paign by the Echo which highlighted how a number of black cab drivers are continuing
to demand large fares
from customers ahead of journeys - rather than using the taximeter. It appears the council have lis- tened to these concerns. Alongwith the clamp- down on charging up front, the council is planning to bring in a number of other new byelaws. Passengers could get increased rights when it comes to paying, with all drivers who have a card machine being required to use it and supply a receipt if asked. The use of e- cigarettes by drivers will also be banned under one of the new rules. And wheelchair users would be the beneficiary of a rule requiring all drivers to be fully aware of how to use the wheelchair ramp in their cars, as well as other features. Once debated at a meeting on July 10
the rules would go to the full council to be voted on. It comes as Liver- pool City Council continues a crack- down on black cab and PHV drivers who flout rules, with prosecutions of in- dividual drivers con- tinuing. The council wants to go a step further and intro- duce a range of specific new bye- laws to tackle the issues affecting the trade. Mmmm… Anything debated and then voted on by the full council would have to be either policy or conditions of licens- ing. Byelaws (which only apply to the conduct of hackney carriage drivers, not private hire) must be ratified by the Secre- tary of State; this can be a lengthy process, and does not usually cover the likes of a ban on e-cigarettes. – Ed.
AUGUST 2018
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