LESSONS FROM LEEDS AT LAST SOME COMMON SENSE AS
LEEDS CITY COUNCIL EASES OFF SIX-POINT BAN
Leeds Licensing Committee met on 9th August in the long-running contentious debate over the intro- duction of a harsher penalty points scheme on drivers indicating that a licence may be revoked on 6 or 7 points or not renewed.
At the heart of this issue was quite a hard line policy promoted to the council which had little sympathy in terms of considering other options - it was a straight cut off point. There has to be an element of understanding built into every policy and moving from a 12 point maximum, which had been the council’s policy for 20 years, certainly lit the fuse paper with some elements of the trade and the Councillors, having been presented with a licensing report, were caught right in the line of fire through no fault of their own.
It seems so easy to cast a shadow over the taxi and private hire trade and it was a folly not to appreciate the consequences. Despite the many consultations you run, how many volumes you write or talk about, there still needs to be the question: “What is the necessity for this change?” Was it was evidenced that there had been significant and repeated incidents of concern? Not that I saw. The fact that the council didn’t disclose what happens to its own staff, responsible for transporting children in such circumstances, throughout the consultation just made people angrier. It is not a credible argument for change to quote that a small percentage of other councils are doing it - this is Leeds, and it has a long record of good policy work that many followed.
An unusual turn of events saw the Leeds taxi trade, Mike Utting, Leeds hackney carriage Joint Trade Council Chair, confronting the issues and collaborating with the private hire trade and Amber Cars to rationalise the issues and present a united front for the benefit of all drivers. The minutes of the council’s Licensing Committee decision are reproduced below and on any reading (you would hope!) the Councillors of the Licensing Committee have resolved a way forward which many would think acceptable. Of course much of the trade would have liked it to be diluted more by
taking up a further option for more consultation. 26
I understand it can be difficult for trade representatives to sell policy change to members of their individual groups - but just let the dust settle and see the licence saving options for that exceptionally low percentage of drivers who could be affected in the future - and for my part I don’t see 9 points as being the cut off point in many circumstances.
The final decision rests with the Executive Board and I would imagine that they will support the decision of the Councillors - from the very difficult position in which they found themselves.
“The proposed criterion is amended having regard to the consultation responses, as set out in paragraph 39 of the report, and detailed below:-
•Applications for a new taxi or private hire driver licence will not be granted when an applicant has 7 or more points for minor motoring convictions showing on their driving licence.
• Existing licence holders reaching 7 or more points for minor motoring convictions will receive a warning and will only be required to attend appropriate training.
• Existing licence holders reaching 9 points or more for minor motoring convictions and who have previously attended training under this policy may have their licence refused or revoked dependent on the individual circumstances of the driver concerned and offences committed. In considering such action, the intention of the policy will be to only refuse or revoke a licence where there are very clear concerns for public safety.
• For a pilot period of 12 months any licences subject to potential revocation relating to minor motoring offences, be referred to the Licensing Committee or one of its sub committees for determination, to be reviewed by the Licensing Committee after 12 months.”
Article by Des Broster, NPHTA Board Member Veezu National Director – Safeguarding & Licensing
SEPTEMBER 2022 PHTM
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