Andy Peters
Brighton & Hove Cab Trade Association
info@bhcta.co.uk www.bhcta.co.uk
It’s always a concern after every local election that for a while the trade is in limbo waiting for the information on which councillors will make up the new Licensing Committee. This was especially the case when, as I reported last month, the Greens were effectively obliterated in the city, which is a reflection on how the council has run the city. And just to make the point - I have nothing personal against any of the now gone Green councillors and the few who have remained.
Having been in limbo, I am extremely delighted that Labour Councillor, Emma H Daniel, was announced to be the new Licensing Chair. Emma was previously a local councillor, but after a break she has sprung back and we look forward to working with her on the basis that she is already quite reasonably au fait with local taxi matters. This certainly helps as it can sometimes take a while for the trade to ‘train’ a new Licensing Chair. And even more importantly to get to know all the different reps with their quirks, apart from me that is, because I am perfect, or so my mum used to tell me.
LEWES DISTRICT COUNCIL
I have dealt with a few councils over the years and I do have to say that Lewes has been the most difficult to communicate with. Just to put you in the picture, sleepy Lewes is next door and at one time didn’t really have much of a private hire fleet, but then the numbers exploded when Uber came to Brighton and told potential Uber drivers to not bother getting a licence in Brighton but to go straight to Lewes. And now we have at least five-hundred predominantly working in Brighton.
Anyway, one of the biggest contentions which I’ve previously mentioned is that Lewes DC allows PHVs to display the word ‘Taxi’ on them under its conditions of licensing, providing the word ‘Taxi’ is part of the company name. I did have battles with the then Lewes solicitor telling her that this is absolutely not correct but hit a brick wall. So now we have Lewes PHVs predominantly working in the city such as the ones shown here.
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So, being a real nerd, and knowing that there was a Lewes Licensing Committee meeting due, I checked the agenda and saw there was a revision of the Lewes conditions of licensing for taxis, PHVs and operators. So, I thought let’s have another bash at this issue and see if there’s now some common sense since the council’s solicitor has moved on.
I sent Lewes the details of Section 64(1) Transport Act 1980 which clearly states:
“There shall not in any part of England be displayed on or above any vehicle which is used for carrying passengers for hire or reward but which is not a taxi;
(a) any sign which consists of or includes the word ‘taxi’ or ‘cab’ whether singular or plural or ‘hire’ or any words of similar meaning or appearance to any of those words, whether alone or part of another word; or
(b) any sign, notice, mark, illumination or other feature which may suggest that the vehicle is a taxi.”
In this legislation, “taxi” means hackney carriage.
It really cannot be any clearer, can it. And no council has the right to rewrite the Transport Act. The irony of this is that Lewes DC has a Penalty Points system that has this as one of its penalties:
“Displaying/using a vehicle that displays any feature on a private hire vehicle that may suggest that it is a hackney carriage when it is not licensed as one using a vehicle, the appearance of which suggests that it is a taxi”
So, Lewes DC allows a PHV to have the word ‘Taxi’ on it, providing it’s part of the name of a company, and yet will dish out four penalty points if a private hire vehicle displays any feature which suggests it is a taxi. I certainly made a point of the blatantly obvious here!
JULY 2023 PHTM
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