ROUND THE COUNCILS
WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD: LIVERY FOR TAXIS SET TO CHANGE
The unique branding for taxis in Windsor and Maidenhead is set to change in recognition of the substantial costs of hybrid and electric cab vehicles. Since 2012, all new taxis in the area have been required to be white with a purple bonnet and boot and the RBWM coat of arms. This has created a distinctive look for hackney carriages in Windsor and Maidenhead for over a decade. But this policy is expensive for drivers. The Royal Borough’s licensing panel has been consid- ering changing the livery in recognition of these costs, which was discussed at a meeting on February 13. In a recent consultation, the public was presented with three options: 1. Change the livery for electric and hybrid cabs, acknowledging the additional expense
2. Replacing livery with magnetic signage 3. Removing livery altogether Of the 320 responses to the consultation, 89% said they recognised the livery, with 87% of people who are not cab drivers calling for the livery to remain. Speaking at the panel meeting, cab driver Mr Sabir noted that RBWM is the only council in the area to have a defined livery. Mr Sabir said: “We feel that those councils actually listen to their drivers, but our council doesn’t seem interested, we are always thinking about the public, but we have to put our drivers first as well when their views actually matter.” Fellow cab driver Mr Yasin pointed out that a ‘tiny proportion’ of the borough’s 155,000-strong population responded to the consultation, arguing that the small amount of people who support liveries should not be allowed to dictate policy. He presented a possible design for a magnetic sign which could be used as a replacement to the livery. However, councillors on the panel generally agreed that the liveries should remain albeit with modernisation. Ultimately, the licensing panel chose to delegate authority to the council’s assistant director of housing and public protection to change the livery. These changes will be undertaken in consultation with Cllr Werner the cabinet member for public protection and Cllr Mandy Brar, the chair of the licensing panel. In a vote, seven councillors voted for the change, with two voting against.
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A “radical change’ to implement six-monthly criminal background checks on taxi and private hire drivers was also approved at the licensing meeting on 13 February. Councillors voted by a majority in favour of all licensed drivers having their DBS checked for new information every six months. The incurred charges will be covered by individual drivers and penalty points will also be introduced for non-compliance. A public consultation over the proposed DBS changes showed that 81.9% of respondents agreed with the new six-monthly checks, and a third-party ‘DBS Update Service Status Checks’ facility is the preferred option. However, taxi drivers’ representative Mr Jaffri told the panel that the 68% of people who said hackney drivers should bear the costs were ‘highly’ misled by the question. He suggested if the cost to the driver was mentioned, it would have been ‘overturned’ and said switching from a three-year to a six-month DBS check is ‘too radical a change for us to bear’. Mr Jaffri added: “At the last licensing meeting, we were under the impression this would be cheaper than doing the current three-year DBS check. “The payment is too much. A lot of drivers are struggling, and it is hard to make a living. We’ve been advocating in the past to lessen the burden on taxi drivers. When is the council going to do something for the drivers? “Why is that whatever the licensing council introduces, the drivers are always made to pay, like delivery of a new car, safeguarding and so on? He suggested the council should foot the bill to ‘ensure how seriously they are willing to help drivers’. The DBS costs would be an initial £59 fee to sign up for the online service, £13 per year for the DBS Update Service, and £7.20 per year for the ‘DBS Update Service Status Checks’ facility. The £7.20 would be waived for the first year and recharged to the borough. The council would recover this cost by increasing hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licence fees in April next year. Drivers will pay £72 in the first year of the scheme and £20.20 in subsequent years. Trading standards and licensing manager Greg Nelson said it would take time for drivers to get used to the new system and some leeway would be given for innocent non-compliance. However, it was proposed that penalty points be introduced for drivers who did not comply after advice and assistance were given. If 12 points are accumulated in a year, a decision would be made on whether the driver is still fit to hold a licence.
MARCH 2024 PHTM
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