ROUND THE COUNCILS GLASGOW:
LIVERPOOL: FIRST SCOTTISH COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE CAP
Glasgow City Coun- cil has become the first local authority in Scotland to intro- duce a cap on PHV and taxi licences. The Evening Times reports that a 2008 -2013 survey found the number of the city’s PHVs reduced from 2,805 to 2,638 but had risen to 3,759 by 2018. The number of taxis was already limited to 1,420. The study also showed that during weekdays only 60 per cent of PHVs were in use but 90 per cent were need- ed at the weekend. Throughout the con- sultation research- ers engaged with
PH and taxi firms, Glasgow Associa- tion of Mental Health and the gen- eral public. Over- all taxi companies seemed to have a better reputation. Despite concerns that people may wait longer for a cab during peak times, members of
the
licensing committee agreed to restrict the number of taxis on the road. For taxis: they have introduced an upper limit of 1,420 and a lower limit of 1,278. For PHVs: they ag- reed an upper limit of 3,759 and lower limit of 3,383. There are still 228 PHV licence applica-
tions pending consid- eration. Both PHV and HC companies backed the move. John Cassidy of Network said: “We are pushing for this. Our drivers need to be able to make a living. This will help.” Steven Grant, secre- tary of Glasgow Cab Section, said: “Mem- bers made the right decision today. This is what’s best for our trade and our city. It will help tackle air pollution and con- gestion in the city. The main concern is public safety and this will hopefully cut down pirating where private hires pick up off the street illegally.”
CABBIES HALT CARD PAYMENTS PLANS
Plans to introduce mandatory card pay- ments in black cabs across
Liverpool
have been halted following backlash from drivers. The Echo reports that a decision was deferred by the council’s licensing committee
after
members from Unite argued strongly ag- ainst one particular aspect of the pro- posal at a meeting which saw tensions bubble. The new laws would require all hackney drivers to mount a card payment facili- ty to the back of the cab - costing them between £100 and £280 depending on whether they chose to buy a printer with the machine. The city council say this would allow passengers to have “complete control” over their card - pre- venting taxi drivers from being accused of taking incorrect or extra payments. But taxi drivers pre- sent at the meeting said this argument was offensive as it suggested cabbies were “robbers”. They argued that they would always hand the
card
machine to the pas- senger if kept in the front, but that the expensive machin- ery would be vul- nerable to damage and vandalism from kids or drunk pas- sengers if they were forced to install it in the back. Tom Mcintyre, a Unite officer, said: “We see
14
card payments as a positive. It’s some- thing that should have been coming for a long time. Everybody knows kids don’t carry cash these days, we have a major
challenge.
Where we have a problem is having it in the back of the cab. “In Liverpool we carry a lot of young girls with prams, lit- tle kids sitting in the back, touching the buttons. We want this to work. We can implement this in six months, most of the trade are willing to do this. The biggest bugbear is putting the unit in the back.” Licensing officers have been asked to prepare a report on the implications of the card payment facility being kept in the front following the meeting. It is the second time they have been forced to make changes fol- lowing
backlash
from drivers. Under the city coun- cil’s initial proposals, all hackney carriage drivers faced having to fork out £280 for a card payment facility and printer within six months of being asked. Licensing officers amended this pro- posal after a con- sultation received “unfavourable” res- ponses from drivers who
complained
about being “bul- lied” into making costly decisions. Proposals up for debate required all hackney carriages
to introduce a card payment
facility
without a printer within 12 months, which would cost between £100 and £150. A council officer explained: “What we don’t want is the drivers to be ac- cused of
taking
money from the cards, double pay- ments, or more money off the card.” But taxi driver and Unite member Paul James hit back and said: “With all due respect
I take
offence at the impli- cation all taxi drivers are robbers. It’s not happening in Lon- don.” He said allowing the card facility to be kept in the front would be cheaper as it could allow drivers to purchase smaller equipment in the region of £35-£50. He added: “We are the cab drivers, I can see the council’s point of view but they are not the ones paying for it.” Chair of the licens- ing committee Mal- colm Kennedy de- nied the council was accusing taxi drivers of being robbers but said the only way forward was
to
agree to the propos- als or ask for a new report considering the implications of allowing the card machine to be kept in the front. Committee mem- bers agreed to the latter option, ex- pressing sympathy with cab drivers over their concerns.
MAY 2019
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