..COUNCILS LUTON:
TAXI DRIVERS ASKED FOR THEIR VIEWS
Calling all taxi drivers: Luton Borough Coun- cil wants your views on how the hackney carriage or private hire trade operates. Taxi and Private Hire Services in Luton 2010 and Beyond is a consul- tation document being sent to those in the trade looking at issues such as driving stan-
dards, a code of good conduct, dress code, a scores on doors approach to operators, convictions and cau- tions and security. Cllr Don Worlding told the Luton and Dunsta- ble Gazette: “We want as many views as pos- sible from those connected with the trade, and we expect
quite a bit of debate on some of the topics. “We are particularly keen to recognise the many responsible law- abiding drivers and operators by reducing the red tape burden on them.”
The council are to look carefully at each response and produce a full report this spring.
SOUTH SHIELDS: TAXI OFFICE MEETING HAILED AS SUCCESS
Two councillors say a surgery held at a taxi office was a success. Whiteleas Councillors Bill Brady and Ernest Gibson used the local taxi despatch office as an alternative venue to the usual communi- ty centres and libraries.
Councillors’ surgeries are regular drop-in sessions with elected representatives, where residents can turn up to ask for advice or raise concerns.
But the popularity of surgeries has waned across the borough as more residents get in touch by e-mail or tele- phone.
The pair said they wanted to find new ways to connect with their constituents and the taxi office helped them do that.
Cllr Gibson told the South Shields Gazette: “Normal sur- geries still have a place in local politics, but we have to do new
things to reach out to members of other areas of the communi- ty who wouldn’t usually come along. “Plenty of people came along to speak to us at the taxi office, so now Bill and I are looking for new places to hold our surgeries which are more con- venient for the public.” Cllr Brady said: “Hold- ing a surgery at a taxi office may seem unusual but it makes sense.”
BRACKNELL FOREST: SCHEME WILL KEEP CRIME FIGURES DOWN
A scheme designed to prevent taxi drivers from becoming victims of crime has been launched.
Drivers of hackney cabs and private hire vehicles attended the official launch of Taxi Watch at Bracknell For- est Council’s (BFC) Easthampstead House. The scheme is a part- nership initiative set up by Margaret Weber, Thames Valley Police’s Neighbourhood Watch coordinator,
and
Niamh Kelly, BFC’s taxi licensing officer. Advice is given to driv- ers about dealing with confrontational cus- tomers as well as keeping their passen- gers safe. Mrs Weber told the Bracknell News: “Taxi
Watch is intended to address the safety concerns of both driv- ers and passengers. “It will make it easier for the police to share information with taxi drivers about crime, and to recruit their assistance in looking out for stolen vehicles or missing people.” As part of Taxi Watch the drivers agreed to work with police offi- cers in support of their rape awareness cam- paign which ran until Sunday, December 27. She added: “They ensured that young people get a business card or telephone num- ber to ring when they wish to return home after their night out, so that they don’t get in any unlicensed taxis.
FEBRUARY 2010 PHTM
At the launch PC Paul Mulcuck and PC Frank Glover, specialists in officer safety training, offered a conflict man- agement course for the cabbies.
Rob Sexton, BFC’s head of trading stan- dards and services, said: “This scheme provides an excellent opportunity for the taxi trade, police and the council to work together to address concerns expressed by drivers, passengers and residents on crime issues within the borough. I encourage all taxi drivers to sup- port this initiative.” It is hoped another training session with newly signed up taxi drivers will be held in the New Year.
GLASGOW: CAB FIRMS AWAIT LICENCE DECISION
Several Glasgow taxi firms are waiting to hear if they will be granted a licence under new regulations brought in to regulate private hire and taxi booking offices. Among the 18 compa- nies awaiting a decision from Glas- gow City Council are well known Glasgow firms Carfast, Tower and Fort Cars and Online Private Hire. The updated legisla- tion means that any taxi business with a radio booking office for hiring out cars must apply for a three- year licence to trade at a cost of £289.
Firms will be forced to keep records of every call out. They will also be required to keep files on each driver
and will only be able to hire licensed staff, who will be subject to crim- inal record checks. Police will have the power to inspect taxi premises and compa- ny paperwork.
The new regulations were introduced by the Scottish Govern- ment in a bid to stop gangsters using the trade as a front for organised crime. Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said: “I hope these measures will act as a deterrent to unlawful activity - and send a clear message to organised criminals that there is no room in this industry for those who want to use taxi firms as a front for their illegal activities. “The Scottish Govern- ment won’t allow
hard-working cabbies who borrow from the bank or mortgage their home to buy a cab and make a living to be driv- en off the road by crooks and gangsters.” According to the Dig- ger, it is believed that around half a dozen companies have not yet applied for the licence and are run- ning the risk of being hit with hefty fines. The deadline for appli- cations was November 16. So far only the black cab firm Glas- gow Taxis, who applied months in advance, has had its licence granted. From the date of appli- cations the taxi firm is required to put a notice up to inform the public who can lodge com- ments or objections.
NORTHLINCS: KNOWLEDGE PROVING HARD TO GET
It is proving harder than first thought for would-be taxi drivers in North Lincolnshire to gain The Knowl- edge - and their badge to start work.
Only one out of the eight people who have sat a 50-question examination since June to see if they are fit to do the job has so far passed with flying colours.
Some of the questions ask would-be cabbies to deduct £2.60 from £5 or to identify the loca- tion of Church Square House, Scunthorpe. But it seems that stu- dents are continuing to fail the exam. The failure rate has been welcomed by the 100-strong Scunthor- pe Taxi Association which lobbied North Lincolnshire Council to introduce The Knowl- edge in a bid to stop out-of-town operators stealing their trade. Association spokes- man Stuart Com-
mander told the Scun- thorpe Evening Telegraph: “This is just the results we expect- ed. These people don’t know where they are going and how much they are charging. They have not got the local knowledge.” But North Lincolnshire Council’s licensing manager Nick Bramhill said he thought it was too early to judge the impact of the test. He said: “Time will tell. I intend to discuss the study guide with mem- bers of the local Taxi Licensing Forum.” The manager said the test cost £25 per appli- cant to sit and satellite navigation systems were banned from the classroom. The cash pays for three further attempts at the exam, but after that the appli- cants have to pay a further £25 and start all over again.
Mr Bramhill added: “Anybody found cheat- ing is required to take
the whole test again.” The exam lasts an hour and students have to show their knowledge of local routes, the law and their driving skills before they are given badges.
They have to answer 20 questions on local routes and local land- marks and have to achieve an 80 per cent pass rate.
The test, which also covers road craft including signs, is the first of its kind since taxi licensing began in Scunthorpe in 1936. The legislation part consists of ten ques- tions and all of them have to be answered correctly for a pass mark.
One candidate failed the legislation test on four occasions and another, three times. Only two of the eight students could answer the questions on local routes at the first attempt.
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