SOUTHAMPTON:
ROUND THE COUNCILS LEICESTER:
CARD MACHINES AND DRUG TESTING
Southampton hackney carriages will now be required to have working card machines for customers after concerns were expressed by the industry. Members of the city council’s licensing committee heard the card requirement would prevent a “minority” of drivers who used the lack of a card machine to refuse short trips. A new drug testing policy for all taxi and private hire drivers in the city will also come into force. Councillors approved the rule changes, along with adding the previously stand alone policy on taxi cameras into the main policy document. Phil Bates, licensing service manager, told the committee at a meeting on 26 June, that the card machine policy had been successfully trialled within the docks. He said the request to bring in the change had come from the trade during forum meetings. Also, customers paying by card must be able to identify the vehicle, driver or registered limited company that took the payment on their bank statements. A further consultation would be needed to introduce the card machine requirement for PHVs. On the subject of implementing a drug testing policy, Mr Bates said: “Very rarely, thankfully, we get some information that suggests a driver might be taking some drugs. Without any policy, it makes it very difficult for officers to be able to follow a process that satisfies keeping the officer safe and offers protections for the drivers as well.” Senior licensing officer Russell Hawkins said they did not think there was a “big problem” but the team was not “sitting on our hands”. “What we are looking to do is be able to screen and test during operations or during periods of time that we see fit,” Mr Hawkins said. He told councillors they were not being presented with the specifics of how the licensing team would carry out screening and testing, instead the mechanism of being able to do it as part of the policy. A consultation on the changes saw them all supported by at least 63 per cent of respondents. The committee also approved a slightly amended style of door sticker for PHVs. A full switch to the new layout, which has a border line and rounded corners, will be left for the trade to tell the council when they believe the old stickers should be replaced. For the time being, both sticker designs will be permitted.
52 RELAXATION OF AGE RESTRICTIONS
Leicester City Council has announced a relaxation of age restrictions for taxis in a bid to support drivers facing financial hardship. The taxi policy was last reviewed in 2012, and since then the trade had experienced the pressures of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and changing customer demand. The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing suitable vehicles. Under the previous rules, taxis had to be less than five years old when first registered and under 11 years for relicensing. These limits have now been extended to nine and 15 years respectively. The council said the decision was made following a consultation with drivers, who reported a significant decline in the number of affordable second-hand taxis available. The increased costs were said to be putting immense pressure on drivers, forcing many to work excessive hours to cover vehicle payments. In a decision report, the council said there was “clearly a need to support the trade during difficult financial circumstances”, adding an “overly restrictive age policy” would “lead to drivers moving to other licens- ing authorities but continuing to work in Leicester”. By changing the rules, the authority believes it will “retain some control over taxi operations within the city”. To mitigate any potential safety concerns, the council will introduce additional inspections for taxis over the age of 11 as well as unannounced spot checks.
WEST SUFFOLK: ACCESSIBILITY FEEDBACK SOUGHT
West Suffolk Council is seeking feedback from residents on the accessibility of the local taxi service. This follows the council’s decision in July 2022 to remove the mandatory wheelchair accessibility requirement for new and replacement taxis. A survey targets taxi users, businesses, healthcare professionals, and organisations supporting people with disabilities. The survey covers various aspects of taxi accessibility, including the location and number of taxi ranks, as well as the types of vehicles available. The public survey closes on August 11:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/X1PPQK/
AUGUST 2024 PHTM
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