ROUND THE COUNCILS DURHAM:
TOUGH NEW RULES PROPOSED BUT NO CCTV
Taxi and private hire drivers may have to “jump through hoops” to gain or keep licences under proposed new policy changes. According to the Northern Echo, senior council officers will have the power to revoke licences when dealing with “serious matters” under new rules put forward by Durham Council. Licensing manager Craig Rudman said this would happen in situations “of particular gravity” or “imminent risk”, but licences could be reinstated if drivers were exonerated. The proposed changes will mean drivers of hackney carriages and PHVs receiving disability awareness training - described in a council meeting as a “no-brainer” - as well as sexual exploitation and safeguarding training. Councillors also voted in favour of drug and alcohol testing of drivers, though this will be “intelligence-led”, not random. Mr Rudman said this already took place as the council passed on intelligence to police, and the policy merely made it explicit. Drivers who rack up minor motoring offences will go on “driver improvement courses”. Emissions were also considered by the general licensing and registration committee which took place on Monday 13 September. Under the proposals, licences will only be granted or renewed for vehicles meeting certain emissions standards, which may exclude older cars. Drivers of hackney carriages will still be tested on local knowledge. However councillors voted to drop such “locality testing” for PHV drivers, who vociferously opposed it amid a “national shortage” of drivers. Mr Rudman said he understood their concerns as PHV drivers could prepare routes in advance using satnavs. Councillors voted to keep the requirement for extinguishers and first aid kits. The full five-year proposed policy was presented by council officers in a 348-page document following consultation with the public, including the taxi trade. Mr Rudman said it aimed to strike a balance between protecting the public and not making people’s lives too difficult. “But we can make no apology that the policy does contain what some people might describe as hoops that they might have to jump through, either to gain a licence or even to keep a licence.” Compulsory CCTV in taxis was considered, but it was decided not to go ahead with this. Mr Rudman said: “The expense is too much. The fact of the matter is it’s hard to justify.” Reduced or zero fees for electric and hybrid vehicles were also considered, but this issue was deferred to a later date. The proposals will go to a full council meeting later in the year.
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HYNDBURN: SWIVEL SEATS FOR DISABLED DROPPED
Saloon car taxis and PHVs in Hyndburn will no longer have to fit swivel front seats after councillors found them difficult and dangerous to use. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Hyndburn Council’s Cabinet removed the require- ment for their installation which had been introduced for the convenience of disabled and elderly passengers. The senior councillors heard they were rarely used and had become awkward to get into after the fitting of protective screens between the front and back compartments to prevent the spread of coronavirus. A report from resources boss Cllr Joyce Plummer said: “During the Covid-19 Pandemic protective screens were provided for all hackney carriage and PHVs licensed in Hyndburn. “It quickly became apparent that the swivel seats would not operate with the protective screens in place. “A group of elected members visited the taxi rank on Union Street and attempted to get in and out of one of the HC vehicles using the swivel seat. All present found the seats to be cumbersome and appeared to be a health and safety risk. “Those attempting to get in the vehicle bumped their heads on the doorframe and would not have been able to turn the legs into the footwell without physical assistance. “All came to the conclusion that the swivel seats were not fit for purpose.”
EDINBURGH: WAVERLEY RANK ACCESS QUESTIONED
An Edinburgh taxi driver is pleading with the council to “see sense” over the placement of a taxi rank on Market Street. Davy Macpherson, who has been a black cab driver for over 30 years, said that the East Market Street taxi rank has been moved to the Jeffrey Street end which makes it difficult to reach for those with mobility issues and elderly people exiting Edinburgh Waverley station. He adds that taxi drivers had pointed out the “pitfalls and problems” that would arise if the council decided to move the rank. “The rank is barely visible and is not well sign posted. At times you see the private hires flouting the rules with zero repercussions and we ask for the authorities to be consistent in enforcing the rules. “The council consulted us and we told them that it would not work but they never listened. The past 18 months have been difficult on black cabbies, with many leaving the profession, so all we ask is that common sense is used.” Davy added that cab drivers have suffered from similar issues at Haymarket where their rank has been placed in a difficult to access location.
OCTOBER 2021
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