ROUND THE COUNCILS COVENTRY:
SWINDON: MARSHALS BOOST SAFETY IN CITY
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency
for late-night revellers. The scheme,
launched by Coventry Business Improvement District (BID), sees marshals based at the Spon Street rank to ensure all vehicles are licensed and operating correctly. Black cabs are given priority, and marshals are monit- oring PHVs to make sure they stop in a safe location. Training for the marshals is provided by Coventry City Council taxi licensing, plus extra enforcement to sup- port the marshals and ensure they are following rules. Taxi drivers have welcomed the initiative, with one local cabbie saying it has helped to reduce chaos at the rank, improve customer safety and stopped private hire drivers blocking up the area. Joanne Glover, manager of Coventry BID, said: “The taxi marshal scheme is already proving successful in reducing congestion. “Our night patrol team has also intervened in a number of incidents to help people get home safely and de-escalate potentially challenging situations.”
EAST AYRSHIRE: SUSPENSIONS FOR MISSING TRAINING
Up to eleven taxi drivers could have their licences suspended after failing to attend mandatory disability awareness training, an East Ayrshire Council report has revealed. The drivers have been given at least three opportunities to complete the course, which is a licensing requirement for all cabbies in the area. Despite repeated attempts to contact them by letter, email, and phone, a number of drivers have failed to engage with the council’s licensing department. The report to be discussed at the Local Government Licensing Panel states that it’s accepted that some of the drivers may not still be using their licence, “but have neither engaged with the Licensing Unit nor surrendered their licences to allow record to be updated.” It was recommended that the panel considers the suspension of the drivers. Disability awareness training courses are held monthly at East Ayrshire Council headquarters, with the next session scheduled for Monday, 9 September.
34 WAV CLAUSE REMOVED FROM POLICY
At a planning committee meeting of the borough council, members have voted to remove a clause from the taxi policy that would see all hackney carriages be wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2034. The policy adopted said that drivers with saloon cars could keep them for 10 years from April 2024 – the council’s policy is that all taxis should not be older than 10 years – at which point they would have to get a wheelchair accessible vehicle The possibility of a legal challenge has seen that clause removed by a clause which means those who already have a licensed saloon car can keep it until it is 10 years old, and if they buy a new saloon within that time, it can also be operated until it is 10 years old.
BLACKPOOL FYLDE WYRE: BRIEFING ISSUED TO CABBIES
All taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area PHVs. The move comes as Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre councils work together to address concerns and answer questions raised by local operators about the increasing number of vehicles licensed in other areas, such as Wolverhampton, operating in the region. The rise of ride-hailing apps, such as Uber, has also contributed to the issue. The briefing note will provide clear information on cross-border working, DBS checks, operating licences, and enforcement action. It aims to
counter
misinformation circulating on social media. A spokesperson for the three councils said: “Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast have been contacting us on a regular basis regarding different aspects of legislation that govern PHVs. Although we have been providing this information, we are aware that many conversations are taking place on social media where the incorrect information is still being shared. “We have worked together to produce a note that counters the misinformation that is being shared online and clarifies the points they are raising. “It is really important that the taxi trade understands the legislation that is in place and the powers we have to support them.” The briefing note can be found here:
www.blackpool.gov.uk/taxibriefing
SEPTEMBER 2024 PHTM
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