...ROUND THE COUNCILS... CHELMSFORD:
WARNING OVER DUMBED-DOWN DRIVING EXAM
A Chelmsford taxi boss fears the city could become “awash” with under- qualified cab drivers using sat navs if the city’s knowledge test is dumbed down. Chelmsford city coun- cillors were to discuss proposals from pri- vate hire firms to relax the test that all drivers have to take to oper- ate in the city.
The test can take three months to pass and costs around £300, with applicants asked to identify streets or landmarks in Baddow, Danbury, South Woodham Fer- rers and the city centre without refer- ring to a map, much the same as Lon- don’s famous knowledge exam. Ian Vernon, chairman of the Chelmsford Taxi Association that represents two-thirds of the hackney car- riage drivers in the city, says the city could be flooded with under-qualified driv- ers if the plans are approved. “We want to see stan- dards maintained, not reduced,” he told the Essex Chronicle. “The council decided to introduce the knowledge test, so it is slightly perverse to decide to cut back standards in 2015. “The CTA is about driving up standards and improving them to make the cus- tomer’s experience better, but this pro- posal is generated from commercial desire, on one side by private hire compa- nies looking to get
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more drivers and make more money. “The other side is the council which fears it will lose income if it doesn’t make the test easier as drivers come in from other boroughs.” Currently, dual li- cences are issued by the authority that allow drivers to oper- ate both PHVs and hackney carriages. The move was put forward following the Deregulation Act, which will allow taxi drivers to cross bor- ders and operate in other boroughs. Drivers argue that it means drivers could pass an easier test anywhere in the country, but still be licensed to operate in Chelmsford. The proposal has been put forward by Happicabs, Fareway and The Chauffeur Company. Umar Hus- sain, 26, and his brother Waqas Hus- sain, 24, have 12 PHVs and three taxis in their Happicabs fleet, based in Chelmsford. “We are all looking for more drivers, but it’s difficult to get people through the test,” said Umar. “Some councils across the UK have different standards, Chelms- ford’s test is harder than smaller places like Maldon and Uttlesford.
“I want to support the council, I’m from Chelmsford so I want to have Chelmsford drivers and keep everything local. “But drivers coming in from outside areas
would take money and business away from the city.
Mmmm... Let’s face it: thanks to some damaging judge- ments, we’re well and truly stuffed with the Stockton Syndrome (out of town hackneys operating on private hire circuits being deemed to be law- ful).But surely that is no signal to start dumbing down a local authority’s knowledge stan- dard. That’s how the Stockton Syndrome has spread in epi- demic proportions in the first place, from licence holders gravi- tating to areas with lower standards either for the driver or the vehicle.If the low- est common denom- inator is chosen, then everybody’s standards will slide. Expecting drivers to know where they’re going is hardly an unreasonable re- quirement - Ed.
“Also, if a customer has a complaint against the driver, they would need to go to the council that issued the licence and that council is less likely to do any- thing about it if the driver is from another district.” “We would like to see different licences for hackney carriages and private hire driv- ers because there is a shortage of drivers and the test is putting a lot of people off,” said the 55-year-old. “There would still be the same medicals and CRB checks, but a simpler knowledge test.”
EAST HAMPSHIRE: NEW STANDARD OF TAXI HIRE
East Hampshire DC has brought in new measures around taxi licences in order to protect the public and help the trade. New applicants will now have to pass a knowledge test to satisfy the council that they know the district and that they can speak English well enough.
The policy contains tougher sanctions for drivers who breach their licence, and a
new requirement for operators who sub- contract bookings to other firms, to notify customers which firm is fulfilling their journey. The new plan for the hackney carriage and private hire trade has been put together using feedback from the latest national guidance to ensure a safe and professional service.
Licensing committee chairman, Cllr Bob Ayer told the Ports-
ABERDEEN: CABBIES COULD BE SENT TO COLLEGE
Aberdeen taxi drivers could be sent to col- lege in a bid to improve their cus- tomer service. Aberdeen City Coun- cil’s licensing com- mittee has been rec- ommended to con- sult with taxi drivers about potential man- datory training in a bid to maintain cus- tomer service.
If the training is approved, it could mean drivers going to college to obtain a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). It comes after moves have been made to establish Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as a “world class” tourist destination by getting World Host Destination status. The initiative uses training programmes to improve visitor experience and set high standards for customer excellence. Members of the Taxi Consultation Group
have agreed the training should be mandatory, but con- sultation would have to be carried out with drivers across the city.
According to the Evening Express, in a report to be present- ed to the licensing committee, council solicitor Ruth O’Hare said: “Taxi drivers will often be the first service providers visi- tors to the city will come into contact with.
“The taxi trade has therefore been identi- fied as a crucial part of the World Host ini- tiative and there is a recognition that a taxi driving training pro- gramme will be required if the city of Aberdeen is to obtain World Host Destina- tion status from the World Host organisa- tion.”
However a union chief has branded the plans for compulsory
customer service training for cabbies “ridiculous”.
Unite also called on Aberdeen City Coun- cil to pick up the bill for any return visit to the classroom. Unite’s regional rep- resentative Tommy Campbell put the cost of training at “up to £800”. He said: “To expect drivers to pay that in times of austerity is ridiculous.”
Committee convener Cllr Scott Carle said: “This decision simply instructs council offi- cers to investigate the concept further, carry out consultation with the trade and report the outcomes back to the commit- tee.
“Any final decision on the matter would be taken by the commit- tee after this con- sultation was carried out with the trade and their representa- tives.”
OCTOBER 2015
mouth News: “It’s our duty to ensure taxis and PHVs provide a safe service.”
Mmmm... Basically local authorities are having to tighten up their own policies in the absence of any guid- ance from central Government (see front page). With reference the knowledge test, see the comment under Chelmsford. Use of English surely must be included in such requirements – Ed.
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