ROUND THE COUNCILS MIDDLESBROUGH: OLDER CABS ALLOWED TO BE LICENSED
A taxi driver is angry at the council’s decision to allow older vehicles to be licensed. TeessideLive reports that Mohammed, 37, who drives a hackney carriage is worried about an increase in taxi drivers on the roads due to the move. Previously, Middlesbrough Council would only license vehicles for the first time if they were less than three years old and they could remain on the road until they were up to eight years old, or ten years if it was wheelchair accessible. However, a recent change means that vehicles can now be licensed for the first time up to five years old and can stay on the road up until they are ten years of age, or 12 if it is wheelchair accessible. Mohammed said: “We have lost out during Covid, things were just starting to pick up and now this policy is in place. “Our jobs are on the line aren’t they, that’s why a lot of drivers are angry, some lads are thinking about packing in and going elsewhere. There’s no money left in the game.” Middlesbrough Council made the change after it found that a number of vehicles were travelling to Wolverhampton to take advantage of the licensing policy there which allows vehicles to be licensed for the first time up to 12 years of age and remain licensed up to 17 years of age. Mohammed admitted to knowing four drivers who had taken the 340-mile round trip to get their older vehicles licensed, which they can then drive in Middlesbrough. However, if taxis are travelling to Wolverhampton, it means that the council doesn’t receive any income from licensing. Middlesbrough Council charges between £216 to £268 to license a vehicle depending on the age and whether it’s a PHV or hackney carriage. Mohammed believes that the move goes against the council’s green agenda. He added: “Middlesbrough wants to be a city with greener vehicles, but the older the vehicle the more emissions it’s going to cause.” Mohammed arranged a petition to oppose the plans which received more than 90 signatures from people who did not want the vehicle age to change. He added: “There will be more taxis, there’s not even enough space on the taxi ranks at the moment.” However, not all taxi drivers are against the change and the council’s decision was in response to some members of the trade suggesting an amendment so that vehicles could be licensed later and allowed on the road for longer. It will also mean that taxi drivers are able to make "signifi- cant savings" by purchasing ex-lease vehicles, many of which are not on the market until they are older than three years old, meaning under the previous rules they couldn’t then be licensed.
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Boro Cars, which operates around 475 private taxis, was in favour of the plans. A council document states: “Whilst the company [Boro Cars] would generally not support extending vehicle age limits, would wholeheartedly do so in view of the impact of the pandemic on drivers and because vehicles standards are, in any event, better than they were in the past. “Some drivers left the trade during the pandemic and, as a result, their vehicles may have had very little use during that time, but they have now returned to the trade. “Those drivers who worked during the pandemic generally suffered a reduction in their earnings, because of the reduction in work, but as a result, their vehicles also covered fewer miles than usual. “As a result of reduced earnings during the pandemic, drivers cannot now afford to buy a new car, especially as prices have gone up by about £3,000 - £4,000 for a second- hand car that would be suitable for licensing and there is very limited supply of brand new cars.” During the Covid pandemic, a temporary extension to the previous eight-year age limit was introduced to support drivers. Stockton Council has also changed its policy recently and will now license new vehicles up to five years of age and they can remain on the road until they are 12 years of age or 15 for wheelchair accessible vehicles.
KIRKLEES: CONSULTATION ON LICENSING POLICY CHANGES
Following publication of the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards from the DfT, Kirklees Council is consulting on proposed changes to its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The proposed changes, detailed on the council website, are now open for consultation. Residents are invited to comment alongside licensed trade, responsible authorities and ward councillors. Similar consultations will be taking place with local authorities across the country. Details of the consultation, including links to the DfT Statutory Standards, the council’s current policy and the proposed changes to Kirklees Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy can be found on the Kirklees Council website:
www.kirklees.gov.uk/taxis Results will be collated and presented to the panel for consideration, following the end of the consultation period in March 2022. Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate said: “It’s important those who use these services have an opportunity to have their thoughts and opinions heard alongside those who provide the service.” The consultation period will run until Monday 31 March 2022.
MARCH 2022
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