..ROUND THE COUNCILS
BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE: NO FEE HIKE AFTER DIFFICULT YEAR
There will be no increase in fees and charges for licensed taxi and PHV drivers in the Basingstoke borough this year, the council has revealed, despite the loss of income for the authority. Councillors approved the move - although concerns were raised, including that the decision shows ‘inconsistency’ in addressing the economic impacts of the pandemic. Discussing the fees and charges report for the coming year, council officer Robert Draper told members of the licensing committee on Monday, 22 February that the overall increase in licence fees will be approximately 3 per cent from April. This has been decided to reflect the council’s costs and budget strategy. However, he added that the decision had been taken to exclude hackney carriage and private hire operators from this hike, due to the ‘difficult year’ they have had and ‘great concern’ that many have left the trade. Mr Draper said: “There is no change in the fees for hackney carriage or private hire vehicles. This will have a budgetary impact on the council. We will be losing an income of £4,100.” However, Mr Draper justified the move by explaining that the past year has seen a significant drop-out of taxi drivers in the trade - with the numbers of hackney carriage drivers falling to almost the numbers seen before the council’s cap on numbers was scrapped. He added: “But of greater concern is we are aware of a number of drivers and operators who have withdrawn for the trade in the last year for so, so we are predicting a budgetary pressure of £10,000 in reduction in income. “Our key concern is much more towards those drivers and operators.”
SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE: HAVE YOUR SAY ON FUTURE POLICY CHANGES
Residents are being asked to respond to a survey on proposed changes to taxi and private hire licensing rules in South Oxfordshire. The district council is considering some new ideas designed to improve safety for passengers as well as introduce measures to benefit the environment. Councillor David Rouane, cabinet member for environment, said: “Even relatively small measures, such as ensuring the suitability of licensed vehicles to help reduce emissions, can make a noticeable difference and help improve air quality around the ranks. “Whether you are a taxi user, driver or operator, it is important we hear from you.” Visit:
southoxon.gov.uk/taxipolicyconsultation
MARCH 2021 WAKEFIELD: UNIONS CALL FOR LICENSING CHANGES
Taxi drivers are calling for changes to the licensing system, claiming the current rules are too bureaucratic and bad for the environment. Cabbies with vehicles over five years old are only given a licence from Wakefield Council for six months at a time, which costs them £120 per renewal. According to the Wakefield Express, drivers want the licences to be extended to a full year, in a move they say would cut costs for them and the taxpayer, and bring Wakefield into line with other West Yorkshire councils. Cars over five years old also have to be tested every six months at a cost of £54 per time. Both the Wakefield Drivers Association (WDA) and the Wakefield District Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Association (WDHCPHA) have called for the changes, with one local driver having started an online petition. WDA spokesman, Wajid Ali, said: “This is something drivers have been calling for, for a number of years. The council has always said their policy is about maintaining public safety. “We don’t want to risk public safety at all. We don’t have any issue carrying on with the tests every six months. Mr Ali said the petition was “About cutting bureaucracy and cutting plastic waste”, because the local authority currently issues “around 3,200 plastic licensing plates a year”. “You can divide that by half if they extend licences to a year,” Mr Ali added. “It’s taxpayers who are losing out here too. We hope common sense prevails and we want to work hand-in-hand with the council.” The WDA said that continuing with the policy risked forcing cabbies to get their licence from another authority elsewhere in the UK while still trading in Wakefield. WDHCPHA chairman Abdul Rehman said his union had first raised the issue in December 2018 and that the council was already considering the issue. He added that the association was expecting a decision on the matter by the council’s licensing committee at the end of March. Mr Rehman said: “Whilst a matter for the council’s licensing committee, WDHCPHA hopes this requested change to policy will be made, as the benefits have now been clarified and reassurance given that such a change would not compromise public safety in any way. He added: “WDHCPHA welcomes the support from other associations and the trade generally in relation to this request.” In response, the council’s service director for communities, Antony Sadler, said: “It is too early to comment on the specific points raised, but we can confirm that we have received a petition, it will be considered in the usual way and we will be responding in due course.”
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