ROUND THE COUNCILS SUNDERLAND: WIDE-RANGING CONSULTATION HELD
Cabbies in Sunderland have been asked for their views on refreshed rules and regulations for taxi and private hire vehicles and operators. Sunderland City Council’s consultation on its proposals closed on Monday, October 10. The proposals include the introduction of an “improvement programme” for existing licensed drivers, a change in medical requirements for drivers and changes to arrangements for vehicle age limits and emissions standards. The plans also include a new requirement for private hire operators to assess the suitability of their booking and dispatch staff and a change to the existing policy on vehicle window tints. A new proposed dress code also aims to “enhance and promote the professional image of licensed drivers” as well as “ensuring that public and driver safety is not compromised in any way”. The dress code includes a minimum standard of “appropriate” footwear, long-legged trousers, knee- length shorts, skirt, or dress and T-shirts having a full body and short sleeves. It also sets out “unacceptable” clothing for licensed drivers, including sportswear (football or rugby tops, tracksuits and beachwear) as well as baseball caps, hoodies and clothing with “offensive” words or graphics. For executive or limousine hire, the proprietor must also ensure that the driver of the vehicle is “appropriately dressed in a chauffeur’s uniform, or’business type’ clothes when the vehicle is hired”. There are currently around 1,018 licensed drivers on Wearside who could be impacted by the proposed changes. Licensing bosses have confirmed they would respond to complaints from the public about alleged breaches of the wider rules and regulations, as well as making their own observations and considering further action. Cllr Jill Fletcher, chair of the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: “We are proposing changes to the way private hire vehicles and taxis are licensed and operated within the city. “We will do this by looking to introduce what will be known as the Statement of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy. This will set out in one place information about the licensing and regulation of private hire and taxis. “The primary objective is to ensure the safety and
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welfare of the public (with particular regard to children and vulnerable adults), environmental sustainability, and to ensure an efficient private hire and taxi service operates within the city.” The work is in line with the DfT’s statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and will consider matters raised through consultation with drivers and companies in Sunderland.
YORK: AGREEMENT TO SIGN TO NR3 REGISTER
City of York Council has agreed to sign up to the NR3 Register which allows the council to see if taxi and private hire drivers have had licence applications refused or revoked in other council areas. Using the national register of taxi and private hire licence revocations and refusals – or NR3 – will also allow the council to share when it has taken such action. Currently, potential drivers are asked to self- verify that they have not had a driver’s licence refused or revoked by another authority – but there are already checks in place to find out whether applicants have previous convictions or other warnings as part of the vetting process. The DfT currently recommends that councils use NR3, but its use is expected to become a legal requirement. Councillors on the licensing and regulatory committee were asked if they wanted to sign up to using the register straight away or to undertake a consultation process to gather views. Cllr John Galvin said: “This requirement is needed. I have no hesitation in saying ‘forget the consultation’ – it’s up to us to protect passengers.” Cllr Rachel Melley added: “It’s also important to share data for the protection of the public in other areas of the country as well. We need to work across borders and this in an important part of that. We need as much information as possible available to us when deciding whether someone is fit and proper.” According to the Local Government Association, which commissioned the National Anti-Fraud Network to develop the register, not having its capabilities means that “vital intelligence about an applicant’s past behaviour is being missed and an individual may get a new licence in another area, despite having their licence taken away elsewhere.” Council officers said that, if a licence had been refused or revoked elsewhere, it would not necessarily mean the same would happen in York.
NOVEMBER 2022 PHTM
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