PROTEST PLIGHT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE APOLOGISES AFTER CABBIES BLOCKED FROM WAKEFIELD COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING
A group of drivers and representatives were blocked from attending a Wake- field Council licensing committee meeting which took place on Wednes- day 27 July. Security staff eventually allowed the drivers in, four at a time after a 25-minute stand-off, thanks to chief executive Andrew Balchin being informed of the situation. However, most of the agenda items relating to taxi trade licensing issues had been dealt with by the time the group gained entry to the meeting. According to the Wakefield Express, there were comments made in the council chamber as the meeting was closed. One of the attendees said: “We have been blocked at the front doors for 25 minutes, this is supposed to be a coun- cil meeting that is open to the public, it is absolutely disgusting. It took the chief executive to get us in. It’s supposed to be a public forum this is the death of democracy.” Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) simply wanted to hear updated reports and were asking for understanding and a relaxation of the ‘six point ban’ rule, a review on tinted window restrictions, a fare increase, and extending the grand- father rights for taxis and PHVs, as they struggle to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. After the meeting, Nadeem Ahmed, Conservative councillor for Wakefield South, said he contacted Mr Balchin after receiving a phone call from drivers about being refused entry, he said: “These people are hard-working taxpayers, who came here to exercise their democratic right, they were promised their concerns would be considered at a public meeting which they were then stopped from attend- ing, it’s wrong.” Cllr Akef Akbar, Independent councillor for Wakefield East, said: “I think that the drivers’ voices are being blocked from being heard. I am quite surprised that there are two security guards here
AUGUST 2022
today, I have never seen them used before for anything since I was elected, either here or at the Town Hall. It is quite obvious they are here for these guys.” Tony Homewood, licensing committee member and Conservative councillor for Ossett, spoke with the drivers after the meeting and told them he also planned to raise the issue with the Chief Executive. He said: “When I came, I was allowed to go straight into the building, no one stopped me.” After the meeting, Mr Balchin issued a statement which read: “Our licensing commit- tee meetings are open to the public to ensure that all decisions are seen to be open and transparent. We are sorry that on this occasion a miscommunica- tion meant that some people were not initially allowed into the meeting. This was resolved as quickly as possible, although we accept this has caused upset to those initially unable to access the meeting. We would like to reassure people that we are taking steps to ensure as far as possible that this does not happen again.” Despite being excluded from most of the council meeting, Wakefield drivers managed to win half their battle as Wakefield Council passed the following: • Age limit for hybrids increased to 12 years
• Manufactured tinted windows agreed by councillors now going out for four weeks’ consultation from Thursday 28 July which will be brought back onto the agenda for the next council meeting for approval
• Hackney drivers can charge tariff 2 all day and night whilst a consulta- tion is launched for new tariffs which is to be advertised from 28 July
NPHTA comment: security staff were at the front doors to stop entry to anyone attending the meeting, despite some being actually registered to speak. At first they said: “We are not to allow any members of the public in.” This then changed to: “We are not to let any drivers in as it is a closed meeting!” This changed again, telling councillors: “We were not told to not let anyone in, we weren’t briefed where to send them!” Oddly enough, they were not there prior to the meeting, followed us into the meeting, and left after the meet- ing? So, they were only there for that one role! This should NEVER be allowed to happen, it is not even lawful to do so, as they are public meetings. The most annoying part of all this is that the reports being considered were very favourable towards the trade, we were there to thank them and com- mend them on the common-sense approach and the understanding. PHTM would like to say congratulations to Yasar Ahmed, Chairman WDA and ALL the Wakefield drivers who stood together to achieve this result! And to NPHTA director David Lawrie for supporting the trade locally, as always.
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