ROUND THE COUNCILS DURHAM:
NEW POLICY DELAYED TO ASSESS COVID IMPACT
The planned introduction of a new taxi licensing policy has been put back so that further consultation can be carried out over the impact that the Covid pandemic has had on the travelling public and the taxi trade. The new policy, which was due to be presented to a full council meeting on Wednesday 26 January, will be with- drawn, so that further engagement work can be undertaken. The move is in response to concerns raised by the trade that the previous consultation had not been able to account for the full impact of the pandemic. Cllr John Shuttleworth, Cabinet member for rural communi- ties and highways, said: “This is a very important policy for taxi users and for the trade itself - and it is important that we get it absolutely right. “The circumstances under which we have been developing the new policy have been severely impacted by the pandemic and we need to ensure that these are fully taken into account.” Cllr David Stoker, Chair of our general licensing and registra- tion committee, said: “The committee and the council's officers have worked diligently to produce a well-rounded, forward-looking policy, with the safety of the travelling public and environmental protection at the forefront. “However, further work should be undertaken on under- standing the impact of coronavirus on the trade and passengers, which we will do over the coming months to allow us to consider these as part of the policy review.”
ISLE OF WIGHT: GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW TAXI SAFETY RULES
There will be more frequent safeguarding tests for cab drivers, while cars used as taxis on the Isle of Wight can be older than before, as long as they are electric. According to the County Press, the changes were recently given the green light by leading Isle of Wight Council cabinet members. Under the new rules, taxi drivers will sit a safeguarding exam every two years - including learning to identify passengers who are in trouble. The current system has already required an enhanced DBS since 2016. Training will include spotting and reporting issues such as traf- ficking and abuse, and drugs-linked ‘County Lines’ activity. Councillor Ian Stephen, Cabinet lead for community protec- tion, said: “The main aim of the taxi licensing policy is public safety and firming up safeguarding training, which already takes place, in this policy. “These moves will make sure vulnerable and at-risk
FEBRUARY 2022
members of the public continue to be looked after safely and any concerns raised with the appropriate agency.” Under the previous rules, the maximum age of a car when applying for a new licence was three years. This has now been extended to up to five years for electric vehicles.
AMBER VALLEY: NUMBER OF WAVs SET TO INCREASE
The number of wheelchair accessible taxis in Amber Valley looks set to increase after the council agreed to lift restric- tions for cabbies - freeing up access to key services and hospitality to many more people. During a recent review of its Taxi Licensing Policy, Amber Valley BC discussed equality of access to taxis, through the greater provision of WAVs. The council has agreed changes to make acquiring WAVs more attractive to taxi owners and firms hoping to add to the current 20 WAVs in the borough. Modifications to the policy are designed to widen the pool of vehicles available for use as WAVs by increasing the length of time they can remain licensed, increasing the allowed mileage, and permitting advertising to be displayed on the vehicle. Cllr Tony Harper, Cabinet portfolio holder for Regeneration and Community Safety, said: “Although these are relatively small changes to our policy, they are designed to make provision of a WAV more attractive to the trade and encour- age an increase in overall provision across Amber Valley. “Provision of WAVs is a challenging subject to address in an area with a geography and demand for taxis like ours, as generating enough business demand to justify initial purchase costs of WAVs is significant. “The additional level of upfront investment required from the trade if they wish to purchase a WAV doesn’t always make this a feasible option.” Councillor Harper added: “At the annual meeting of the Licensing Board in April 2021 an appetite was expressed by members to increase the number of WAVs serving the borough as at that time only 14 vehicles were registered. “We now have 20 and want that number to continue to rise. ““The taxi industry has been adversely impacted by the Covid pandemic alongside trades such as hospitality and air travel which the taxi industry serves. This uncertainty has made investment in more expensive WAVs difficult for the trade, so we have loosened some of our vehicle require- ments to make such a decision more attractive. “Ultimately, we would all like to see a fleet of vehicles that are equally accessible for wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users alike, improving access to key services and hospitality for all”. Private hire companies wishing to find out more about the WAV policy changes should call the Licensing Service on 01773 570222.
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