ROUND THE COUNCILS GATESHEAD:
WREXHAM: LICENCE FEES UNDER REVISION
Taxi drivers in Wrex- ham could soon have to pay more to operate. The Leader reports that Wrex- ham Council is pro- posing to increase licence fees for HCs and PHVs. It would see charges for new HC licences go up from £168 to £243, and renewals from £168 the same amount to £234. Meanwhile, PHV op- erators would have to pay £238 for a licence instead of £186 with renewals rising to £230. The local authority is also looking to introduce adminis- trative fees ranging from £20 to cover the cost of replace-
ment plates up to £44 for drivers to change their regis- tration number. A senior official said the price hikes were being put forward to reflect the cost of staff time. The council’s chief officer for planning and regulatory Law- rence Isted said: “The fees were last considered by the environment and licensing committee in April 2016. “The processes have changed since they were last reviewed, the cost of officer time has not previ- ously been accur- ately reflected, and departmental struc- tures have also
changed.” The proposals in- clude plans to re- move a discount of ten per cent cur- rently applied to all WAVs. Mr Isted said the cost of provid- ing the reduction in fees was ‘significant’ and making taxis available to wheel- chair users was now normal.
He added the sug- gested fees were lower than in other neighbouring areas. The new charges were to be consid- ered by the licensing committee on Mon- day, January 20. If approved, a 28-day consultation would be held to gauge the trade’s views.
VEHICLE POLICY & CONDITIONS CONSULTATION
Gateshead Council is reviewing its policy and conditions for HCs and PHVs. It is keen to
• Age of both exist- ing and new li-censed vehicles
get the
views of licensees, the public and part- ner agencies on a number of proposed changes and issues relating to the policy. The topics include: • CCTV
• Colour of vehicles • Window tinting • Exemption for licensed vehicles used solely for executive purposes
• Expectation that hackney carriages stand or ply for hire in Gateshead
BURY: CHANGE TO STOP DRIVER ATTACKS
Taxis in Bury will be fitted with smaller licence plates, after drivers complained that front plates were contributing to attacks on them. The Manchester Eve- ning News reports that Bury Council looks set to heed their calls as a panel of councillors voted in favour of the changes to the local authority’s rules.
Rules on tinted win- dows are also set to change so that taxi drivers can keep those windows al- ready fitted by manufacturers. The size of front licence plates will be reduced from April pending ratification at a full council meeting. Licensing manager Michael Bridge told taxi drivers at a
meeting last month that Oldham Council had recently reintro- duced the require- ment to have two plates on vehicles. But Bury Private Hire Driver Associa- tion secretary Mu- hammad Sajjad urged the licensing and safety panel to remove the require- ment for front licence plates on a temporary trial basis.
MILTON KEYNES: SCHOOL TAXI SAFETY CHECKS FAULTY
MK Council has been ordered to take urgent action after a fault was found in the way it checks taxi drivers transporting vulner- able school children. The MK Citizen reports that Local Government Om- budsman has told the council to audit the declarations of those who have not lived in the UK for at least 20 years or have spent long periods abroad.
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Such individuals are not able to get a DBS check; instead they must get a statutory declaration, witessed by a solicitor, magis- trate or notary. Faults emerged after a Milton Keynes dad, (Mr X), complained that the council had changed his autistic son’s, (Y) home-to- school arrangements in 2018 without con- sulting the family. The council said they had held meet- ings but the father
claimed they had not taken place, and the council had been unable to prove it, the Om- budsman said. The council had also failed to keep a record of a series of meetings, the LGO said in a ruling an- nounced last month. Now the council has also been ordered carry out a fresh assessment of Y’s needs and make payments to Mr X and his son.
FEBRUARY 2020
• Theft or loss of li- cence plates
• Tow bars • Spare wheels • Minimum vehicle engine capacity
Access the consulta- tion here:: https://consultation.
gateshead.gov.uk/ survey/966 The closing date is 1 March 2020.
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