COUNCIL CONQUESTS
WAKEFIELD COUNCIL TO REMOVE WINDOW TINT RESTRICTIONS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Wakefield Council has agreed to remove window tint restrictions with immediate effect. Previously the council had 70% restrictions on rear windows, which was then dropped to 30% a few years ago. Now after much campaigning and council meetings, the condition has been reduced to “manu- facturer’s standard specifications.” It must be made clear, this does not allow for aftermarket tints, it means exactly what it says: “as manufactured”. Other councils, with similar conditions applied will now
hopefully follow suit and adopt common sense. Additionally, the authority has agreed to undertake an eight- week consultation on the IoL safety and suitability “guidance” to address the issues within it.
We see quite often “there is no legal definition of fit and proper” used by local authorities, in fact it is mentioned by the IoL, and this is true, but the term “safe and suitable” is not even a legal term to use, regardless of any perceived definition, so hopefully we can make changes to that too as we have seen in other regions. Congratulations to Yasar Ahmed chairman of Wakefield Drivers Association, all Wakefield licensed drivers and David Lawrie, Director of NPHTA, who have campaigned so hard to get this result.
LEEDS NEW SUITABILITY AND CONVICTIONS POLICY PASSED AFTER AMENDMENTS MADE
Leeds City Council's new suitability and convictions policy has been passed after amendments were made. There will be no automatic ban at nine points rather an option of further training, or a licensing subcommittee of Councillors to consider if revocation is neceasssry for public safety. Six councillors voted for the new policy, five councillors voted against. Conservative councillor Billy Flynn, who led the call-in, told the meeting: “The important thing to remember here is that we’re talking about guidance which is flexible and allows you to make alterations to policy in place. “You might ask yourself why we’re trying to change a very successful system which has been in place for nine years. Since the current policy came into force nine years ago,
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only six drivers have had their licence revoked because of an accummulation of points. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Cllr Flynn said that the taxi trade had been one of the “hardest hit” by the Covid-pandemic and the post-lockdown world. In response, the council’s deputy leader, Councillor Debra Coupar, said the measures were “not disproportionate”. She also insisted the local authority had listened to the trade, by adopting a more lenient policy than other councils. Many other local authorities are imposing a seven-point threshold on licences before they are potentially revoked. The council had planned to do the same, but upped the threshold to nine after a backlash from the drivers.
Cllr Coupar said: “Some of the the trade remain opposed, but I’d say now they’re in the minority and not the majority, because we’ve worked so hard to adapt the policy to ensure the trade is more comfortable with the approach we’re taking.”
Zahid Mahmood, chairman of LPHDO, told PHTM: “The fact that this was a split decision gives us hope that we can win this imminently. “This has been a divisive issue for so long and the fact that Leeds City Council does not impose this on their own bus drivers and council-elected members and officers is quite telling. “We will continue to fight this cause and we will bring the communities of Leeds and West Yorkshire with us.”
NOVEMBER 2022 PHTM
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