..ROUND THE COUNCILS
WINCHESTER: AMENDMENTS TO TAXI POLICY
Winchester City Council has heard the pleas of taxi drivers from across the district. According to the Hampshire Chronicle, council chiefs first shared the new criteria that all council-licensed vehicles would have to meet, back in September this year. The list was unveiled at a licensing committee, where several local drivers voiced their concerns due to losing money over lockdown. Now, following cabinet on Tuesday November 10, the criteria has been changed. From 1 December 2021, all petrol and diesel vehicles must be no older than 12 years and electric and hybrid vehicles can be a maximum of 13 years old. These rules were initially to be in force by the end of this year, but the council has now delayed them by 12 months. Cllr Jackie Porter said: "We have come to a compromise, but with the safety of our drivers, and more importantly their passengers, at the centre of the decision."
DARLINGTON: FERRARI RED TAXIS PUT ON HOLD
Darlington Borough Council has said its new taxi policy will not require all vehicles be painted the same shade of red. The Northern Echo reports that plans for all of the town's taxis to be painted the same shade of red as Royal Mail vans have been put on hold following concerns by committee members that manufacturers may no longer be producing vehicles popular with the taxi trade in this particular shade. Councillor Brian Jones, chairman of the council's licensing committee, said: “The key aim of the policy is to ensure the safety and welfare of the public, encour- age environmental sustainability, and ensure efficient taxi and private hire services in the borough, including streamlining the application process. “We sought the views of local residents and the taxi trade when drawing up the revised policy and have taken those comments on board. Key amendments include the introduction of new age requirements for licensed vehicles to help improve air quality and reduce emissions. The committee also agreed that a longer-term plan to help reduce emissions be included in the policy as well as a requirement that drivers follow Public Health
DECEMBER 2020
guidance in response to national emergencies as part of their codes of practice. On-line DBS update subscriptions will be mandatory to allow a smooth integration with a new on-line licensing application process is currently in development. It will also allow for more frequent checking of drivers, as required under the new government standards. A consultation was held during the summer ahead of the publication of a revised draft taxi policy which, if approved, will come into force from 1 January 2021. The revised policy and key proposals are available on the council’s website and were considered at a meeting on Thursday, November 26.
TEST VALLEY: CONSULTATION ON FUTURE OF TAXIS
Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has noted that residents “are not well served” by the 45 taxis operating within the borough. The Andover Advertiser reports that following a meet- ing of their licensing committee on 19 November, TVBC has approved plans to consult on whether the limit on the amount of taxis operating across the area should be removed. Currently the council allows for a maximum of just 46 taxis, as well as an unlimited number of PHVs, which are estimated at approximately 200, as of 2018. Most taxis operate in Andover, with 43 serving the town, while only two operate elsewhere, both being based in Romsey. TVBC is in “a minority” of local authorities limiting taxi numbers and has the second lowest ratio of taxis to the population in the county. A study in 2005 suggested that this figure should be one for every thousand, with the council stating that residents of Test Valley “are not well served.” In 2006, TVBC’s licensing committee decided to adopt a process of managed growth, where the number of licenses is slowly increased as demand rises. In 2013, this led to five additional licenses being granted, followed by another five in the next year. Only one of these licenses now remains unissued, with the council saying that if more applications were received than licences available, it “could result in a legal challenge which the Council would be unable to defend.” Following the vote on November 19, the public and taxi trade were consulted to decide how to move forward. While no options are given at this stage, they are likely to include a continued policy of managed growth, or a lifting of restrictions on licence numbers entirely.
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