..ROUND THE COUNCILS EAST LOTHIAN:
TAXI FARES TO BE FROZEN
Taxi fares in East Lothian did not increase when they came up for review after a lockdown consultation received no feedback. According to the East Lothian Courier, a report to East Lothian licensing sub committee told councillors there is no need to increase the fares as part of an 18-month review because no representations were made. It says a consultation with the taxi trade was launched on March 20 – days before lockdown began – and closed on May 18. But it said: “There were no responses or proposals received to alter the current fee structure. “The sub-committee is entitled to complete the review of fares with the decision being to make no changes to the current levels.” Therefore the sub committee meeting was asked to formally re-adopt the current fares “in the absence of any proposals for change”.
HARROGATE: TAXI FARES SET TO INCREASE IN DECEMBER
Taxi fares in the Harrogate district are set to increase for the first time in two years. According to The Stray Ferret, under Harrogate Borough Council proposals, the flag fall will increase from £3.30 to £3.40 during the day and from £4.95 to £5.10 at night. Also, 3% will be added to the fare for running miles and waiting time. Rates will also increase for Christmas and New Year from £6.60 to £6.80. The proposed increase will come into force on December 1. The last fare increase was December 2018. A council decision notice said: “The setting of fares is a statutory duty placed upon the council and it is the council’s responsibility to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and to the taxi driver.” Taxi drivers had called for the increase and said many drivers had lost work due to coronavirus. In a letter to Cllr Mike Chambers, cabinet member for safer communities, one firm said: “The taxi trade has suffered immensely during the lockdown, with many experiencing little or no work whatsoever and currently things are still far from being normal for the trade as far as income is concerned.” Objections must be made by letter or email to the council by November 19.
DECEMBER 2020
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE: PROPOSED LICENSING POLICY CHANGES
Taxi drivers will have more frequent training to spot children at risk of sexual exploitation and will not be allowed to carry passengers in vehicles which are more than 12 years old as part of licensing changes in South Staffordshire. Currently in South Staffordshire drivers must undertake CSE training and assessment when first applying for their hackney carriage or private hire licence. But as part of proposed licensing policy changes this training would be also be required when a licence is renewed. There are also new standards covering DBS checks, South Staffordshire Council’s licensing and regulatory committee heard at its latest meeting. A report to the committee said: “The new standards advise that all drivers should undergo an enhanced DBS check at least every six months. Currently, drivers are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check every three years in line with the renewal of their driver licence. “Most vehicle licence holders are driver licence hold- ers. However, the standards recommend conducting annual basic DBS checks on all vehicle licence holders. This will have implications for vehicle leasing and accident management companies, who own licensed vehicles but do not drive nor undertake licensed work themselves. “It is proposed that vehicle licence holders who do not have a driver licence are required to provide a basic DBS certificate to Licensing Services every 12 months. Where the licence holder is a limited company, all the directors would be required to undergo a basic check every 12 months and if a new director joined, a new basic DBS certificate would need to be provided. This would be included on the vehicle licence conditions.” An upper age limit for vehicles is being proposed of 12 years – and any vehicle over ten years would not be granted a licence. Environmental health and licensing manager John Gerring told the committee meeting: “By bringing in the limit they will have two years in which to replace that vehicle. “There will be an extensive period of consultation and we will be consulting with operators, drivers and vehicle owners. I would imagine we will go out to consultation in early November for a minimum period of eight weeks.” The council’s latest taxi and private hire licensing policy would cover the 2021-24 period.
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