ROUND THE COUNCILS WALSALL:
OLDHAM: COUNCIL RECOMMENDED TO JOIN NR3
Members of Walsall licensing committee are being recom- mended to join the National Register of Taxi Refusals and Revocations (NR3), set up in 2018. NR3 allows those signed up to it to see the names of all HC and PHV drivers whose licences have been revoked or had applications refused. According to the Express and Star, a report to the com- mittee, whichmet on June 10, said that in the past drivers who have been banned in one town or city havemanaged to get a licence elsewhere by not disclosing their previousmisde-
meanours. If Walsall Council signs up to the reg- ister, it will be able to add the identity of drivers banned or who have had appli- cations refused to the register
for
other local authori- ties to see. Infor- mation on why licences have been refused or revoked will not be on the register. In turn, they will also be able to check the names of people submitting
new
applications to see if cabbies wanting to operate in Walsall have previous issues. The report to com- mittee said: “There have been numerous
high profile cases where drivers who have been refused licences, or had a licence revoked in one area, have gone to another area and received a licence there by failing to disclose their previ- ous history. “This undermines public safety and damages confidence in the licensing regime and trade. “This is why the ini- tiative has been widely supported by drivers and firms, as it will provide a mechanism
for
ensuring information about refusals and revocations can be shared in a safely and securely.”
RANK MOVED TO HELPWITH SOCIAL DISTANCING
The taxi rank at the top of Yorkshire Street in Oldham is to be moved by the council in order to help people to social distancewhile enjoy- ing the town centre. Officers are hoping to reposition it on Greaves Street, run- ning alongside the Old Town Hall, instead, so there's more space for pedestrians
and
people visiting the nearby businesses
and disabled access to
vehicles is
improved. The work is part of wider plans
to
ensure Oldhamtown centre, district cen- tres and public spaces are safe and welcoming as lock- down eases. It also ties in with the #SafeStreetsSave- Lives
initiated
campaign within
Greater Manchester. Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet
BABERGH: WARNING OF CONFUSION OVER NEWFARES
Proposed changes to HC fares in Babergh, which are meant to simplify the tariffs, will actu- ally cause more confusion for cab- bies and customers alike, drivers have warned. Cab companies are concerned that a recent consultation on the revised fare structure will result in reducing their income per journey due to increased costs in fuel and insurance. Theproposals in question are a £3.20 starting rate for day journeys – a 20p increase on the cur- rent starting rate, while initial charges for night
rates
would start at £4.60 or £6.20 for Christ- mas and New Year. All
three tariffs
would have 10p added to the fare for every 110 yards trav- elled.
22
However cabbies highlighted the fact that
the starting
rates for the night and Christmas/New Year rates would be less than that which they can currently charge, which allow- ed a 50% increase on the day rate for evenings, and the Christmas/New Year rate to be double the day rate. Following the feed- back,
amended
rates were agreed by Babergh District Council’s licensing committee on Fri- day 12 June, and will now be £3.20 day rate for the first 588 yards, increasing by 10p for every 98 yards thereafter. The night rate will be £4.60 for the first 544 yards and a 20p increase for every subsequent
136
yards, while the spe- cial Christmas/New Year rate will be £6.20 initial charge
for the first 416 yards with a 20p charge every 104 yards thereafter. But cab companies are still unclear as to the new pay struc- ture claiming the new rates are incon- sistent. Stuart Armstrong, from AAA Cabs Ltd in Sudbury, said: “To my mind it was sim- ple how it was. This has created more confusion than there has already been. Therewas also noth- ing put
forward
about larger vehi- cles. This will also lead to more confu- sion for the public.” A date of July 27 has been set for the introduction of the new fares, providing it gets cabinet. Fares will then be reviewed in a year’s time. Hackney carriage fares
had JULY 2020 not
increased in the dis- trict since 2016.
Member for Neigh- bourhoods
and
Culture, said: “We want people to come into Oldham town centre so they can support local businesses and the economy and we are trying to make it as easy as possible to do this while social distancing. “Small changes, like moving the taxi rank, can make a big dif- ference as it offers extra space.”
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