ROUND THE COUNCLS KIRKLEES: COMMON SENSE ON VEHICLE AGE LIMITS
Further to your enquiries, I’m writing to inform you that the decision has been taken to allow a further extension to the vehicle age limit for a further 12 months. However, those vehicles that have already received one or two additional years will not be permitted past the age of 12 years from first registration OR 14 years from first registration for wheelchair accessible vehicles and ultra low emission vehicles. Please can you notify the trade of this message. Kind regards Fiona Goldsmith Public Protection Group Leader - Kirklees Licensing
BEDFORD: ENGLISH SHOULD BE REQUIRED STANDARD
A report to Bedford BC has advised that cabbies in the borough should “bring their English up to the required standard”, if they wish to retain their licence, saying the test of a taxi/PHV driver’s proficiency should cover both oral and written English language skills. Presenting the report to the General Licensing Committee on 22 September, Lee Phanco, chief officer for assessment, application and business support, explained that taxi drivers should be supported so they didn’t lose their jobs should they fail the test. Current figures show that 49 drivers haven’t taken the English assessment test, this is made up of 19 hackney carriage drivers and 30 private hire drivers. The report stated that a lack of proficiency in English could impact a taxi or minicab driver’s ability to understand written policies and guidance. Oral proficiency in English could also help identify potential exploitation through communicating with passengers and their interaction with others. Proficiency in English for private hire drivers became a requirement for new drivers in 2006. Existing drivers were exempt because they have had a continuous licence for a “significant period of time”. “The recommendation to the committee is that these drivers should now be required to successfully complete the test,” Mr Phanco said. “The purpose of the test is identify anybody that may not be able to communicate effectively, to give them an opportunity to improve their [language skills].” The test will be provided free of charge to the drivers.
PHTM OCTOBER 2022 CHELTENHAM: CONSULTATION ON 100% WAV POLICY
Taxi drivers in Cheltenham fear plans to replace the town’s fleet with low emission and wheelchair accessible vehicles will put most of them out of business. Cheltenham BC decided last September to postpone its plans to implement a requirement to impose a 100% WAV fleet for licensed taxis. In March 2022, the council consulted on a draft licensed vehicle emission and wheelchair accessibility policy which set out the council’s approach to implementing a carbon neutral licensed fleet by 2030. But hackney drivers who responded to the con- sultation say it would put “90% or more of the trade on Universal Credit”. They fear it will cause financial hardship especially now with rising energy bills. “But in the name of carbon targets, you don’t care that you will be ruining decent people’s lives do you?,” one driver said. “This is an untenable idea from a council which is unfit for purpose. No cab driver can afford £30,000 to £40,000 or more for an electric taxi. “There’s no infrastructure for charging, especially on ranks let alone only a couple around the town, and if drivers live in a flat three stories up... are they going to run a 60ft extension lead out of the window!? “So it will be only a short time before the public suffer, because there will be next to no taxis left.” At cabinet meeting, on 13 September, cabinet member, Martin Horwood, said the policy consultation is part of the council’s ongoing process of getting a more accessible taxi fleet which is also on track to meet our carbon commitments for 2030. “We have been undertaking consultation to make sure we are listening to those who are affected or might benefit from this policy and to ensure the steps we are taking are deemed reasonable,” he said. “But steps must be taken to clarify some short term issues. They are to remove the most polluting vehicles on the schedule we envisaged, which is quite soon. “They are also to clarify a technical detail about what counts as exceptional circumstances when a like-for- like replacement of a vehicle can be allowed.” The council has launched a further, more focused, consultation to gain a clearer understanding of these issues. The further consultation is seeking views from people with disabilities and their experiences of using Cheltenham licensed vehicles. A further report will be brought to cabinet once the consultation is finished.
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