TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE GRANTS
OUR INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BE FORGOTTEN AND NEGLECTED
Our industry is an intrinsic part of the UK transport infrastructure. It is our drivers – hackney, PH and chauffeurs - who work in all weathers, 24/7, 365 days a year to ferry the young, the old, the professional, the holidaymaker, the student, the drunk, the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled; often abused and unappreciated but always ensuring that the public reach their destination safely nationwide.
PHTM and the NPHTA thank the following small number of authorities for understanding our drivers’ financial plight and offering some support; but demand to know why these grants are a postcode lottery?
Devolved Governments and all councils in England have been allocated pro rata budgets by Westminster to support businesses whose income has been affected by Covid -19, so why is it that some can find the money and others cannot OR will not support our trade?
NORTHERN IRELAND GOVERNMENT:
After the NI taxi and private hire trade united in mass protests, Stormont ministers responded by setting up The Taxi Drivers Financial Assistance Scheme 2020. The scheme is for ALL eligible self-employed taxi drivers registered in Northern Ireland. It provides a one-off financial support payment of £1,500 towards the drivers’ yearly overhead costs, including PPE, and recognises the financial pressures sustained by taxi drivers due to Covid-19. Therefore, it is additional support to that which is available to self- employed drivers through the SEISS Grant.
To be eligible, drivers had to be working or available for work between 22 March 2020 and 30 September 2020; had to have a valid taxi driver’s licence; and a valid taxi insurance covering driving for hire and reward.
This scheme opened for applications on Friday 13 November and closed at midnight on Friday 27 November 2020 – drivers just had to complete a simple online application and payments are planned to be made before Christmas.
LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY: (Includes: Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral Councils)
The Authority has provided a fund of up to £1.5 million to the six local authorities in the city region to enable them to help cover the costs of licences for taxi/private hire drivers resident in the Liverpool city region who have been severely impacted by Covid-19.
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In a joint statement with city region leaders, the council stated: “We recognise the hardship experienced by our area’s taxi drivers, who have seen their trade seriously affected by the Coronavirus restrictions. “We know this fund can only make a small contribution but wanted to make this available as a gesture of support for a sector that has been hit hard without adequate support. “As leaders and mayors, we are continuing to press the Government for financial support packages that work for everyone who has seen their livelihood affected by Covid- 19 restrictions.”
The funding will be allocated proportionately to each local authority, according to the number of licenced taxi/private hire drivers in their area. The fund will enable all of the city region’s local authorities to introduce schemes which benefit local taxi/PH drivers in addition to what is available to them through national support schemes. In the case of Liverpool City Council, funding will help contribute to their previously announced scheme.
Liverpool City Council: Grant of £210 to all licensed taxi and private hire drivers who live in the Liverpool city region with a current and valid licence issued by Liverpool City Council.
Knowsley MBC: Grant of £100 to all licensed taxi and private hire drivers who were licensed by Knowsley MBC as of the 23 March 2020 and who reside within the Liverpool city region.
Sefton MBC: Grant of £100 to all taxi and private hire drivers licensed by Sefton MBC as of 23 March 2020 and reside in the Liverpool city region. Application by invitation only, eligible drivers will be sent a letter telling them how to apply.
PHTM believes Halton, St Helens and Wirral will also be offering a £100 grant under the same criteria. All grants expected to be paid before Christmas.
SHEFFIELD CITY REGIONAL AUTHORITY: (Includes: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield Councils)
To support taxi and PH drivers who have suffered loss of income due to wider restrictions having an impact on their trade, a flat payment of £500 is being awarded to each licensed driver. This payment will be made from the £30M figure provided to Sheffield City Region.
Barnsley: To claim the £500 grant drivers must: • be licensed in Barnsley • be working in South Yorkshire
DECEMBER 2020
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