ROUND THE COUNCILS KIRKLEES:
OFFENCES HIDDEN/CSE TESTS FAILED
Shocking details of how some Kirklees cabbies attempted to hide offences when applying for their licence have been revealed. This comes as decisions made by Kirklees Council’s licensing department as a result of the Fitness and Suitability Policy were brought to a meeting of the Licensing and Safety Committee. The Fitness and Suitability Policy can lead to taxi drivers losing their licences if they accumulate more than six penalty points and has been branded as ‘racist’ and has led drivers to fear for their livelihoods. Fiona Goldsmith, the council’s Group Leader for Licensing delivered a presentation at the meeting, outlining the department’s activities. Much of this was focused around the licensing of hackney carriage and private hire drivers and saw some concerning and insightful statistics brought to light. In March last year, the committee had privately heard the details of decisions made as a result of the Fitness and Suitability policy that came into action in August 2019. Following a request from members, details of these cases have been made public. Drivers have the right to appeal and in October last year, a member of the West Yorkshire Drivers’ Association successfully appealed against the council’s decision to revoke their licence in line with the Fitness and Suitability Policy. The driver was awarded full costs of £1,800 and had their licence reinstated.
Ms Goldsmith also highlighted that between April 1 and September 30 last year, officers carried out 29 ‘proactive enforcement duties’ - this includes checks on licensed drivers, vehicles and licensed premises. Part of this saw the licensing service work with the police in an undercover test purchase operation relating to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). This saw two officers in plain clothes accompany a lone young girl to a hotel whilst engaging in discussions of a sexual nature. The three people used hackney carriage or private hire vehicles to travel to the hotel and made it clear that the female was underage. Four out of five of the drivers failed to report any concerns for the young female. Due to this, all four drivers have been required to undertake mandatory CSE training delivered by the licensing services and the police.
12
PORTSMOUTH: VEHICLE AGE RULES TO BE RELAXED
Rules around the age of taxis in Portsmouth are set to be relaxed in response to calls from drivers concerned over the cost of new cars. Under the current policy, vehicles must be under eight years old – a measure introduced to try and make sure the fleet is safer and less polluting. But plans were drawn up last year to extend this to 12 years for WAVs due to their cost which ‘far exceeds’ that of a standard taxi and to increase the number operating in the city. A consultation found most people supported the move, however dozens of people requested the extension be a blanket policy for all vehicles due to financial pressures facing the industry. Their position has now been backed by the council, with a report published ahead of a meeting of the licensing committee recommending the original proposal be extended. “The question which elicited most responses related to the proposed recommendation to extend the upper age limit for WAVs,” the report says. “Whilst the overall view was supportive of the proposal, many responses were received, presumably from licensed drivers and hackney vehicle proprietors, that the amendment to the policy should apply to all licensed vehicles. “Having due regard to the views expressed, the recommendation in relation to the upper age limit for licensed vehicles has now been amended to reflect an increase for all licensed vehicles.” It adds that the proposals would also provide ways for council licensing officers to better monitor the maintenance of taxis and to intervene when needed. Cllr Scott Payter-Harris, the committee’s chairman, said he hoped it would also discourage drivers from being licensed further afield, particularly in Wolverhampton, where older vehicles are allowed. “This is a sensible idea,” he said. “These changes would give us greater oversight locally making the trade safer while also making it easier for drivers.” The policy would also be updated to provide better monitoring of drivers, including the council joining a national register on licence
suspensions or
revocations. Certificates of good conduct required for anyone who has lived oversea at any point since the age of ten to check criminal records would also be required.
MARCH 2023 PHTM
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