West Northamptonshire Council’s Licensing Team and Northamptonshire Police Safer Roads Police Team worked in partnership to carry out spot checks on licensed drivers' focusing on vehicle safety.
On Friday, 8 December, they carried out an operation where several licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in West Northamptonshire had their licences suspended as they were deemed unsafe to carry passengers.
Four vehicles out of 23 inspected by officers and examiners were found to have immediate safety defects which included worn tyres and faulty lights.
One vehicle was found to have a tyre which was worn to the extent the cord was exposed. An additional vehicle was found to not be compliant with the law around smoking in vehicles.
Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Regulatory Services at WNC said: “By working with the police to carry out regular checks of the way that licensed vehicle drivers are working we can make sure that they’re adhering to the conditions of their licence and insurance and residents are travelling safely.
“Our officers will now take the appropriate steps in relation to the minority of licence holders whose vehicles were found to be unsafe.
"Officers are also working with other drivers to raise awareness of how they can keep their vehicles in tip top condition and keep users safe.”
Matt O’Connell, Safer Roads Team manager at Northamptonshire Police, added: “When people pay to take a taxi or private hire vehicle, they should be able to feel confident that it is in safe, roadworthy condition and is being driven by someone with the necessary licences and the checks that sit behind those.
“We’re committed to improving the safety of all road users and will continue to work with council partners across the county to achieve this aim.”
Bolt took on HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over whether it was liable to pay a 20% tax charge on its gross income from customers or its margin.
The company had argued it should be allowed to use a tax scheme originally designed for tour operators or travel agents, called the Tour Operators Margin Scheme (TOMS).
This meant Bolt would only pay value added tax (VAT) on its margin, an argument which was rejected by HMRC.
But a London tax tribunal ruled on Friday that the services supplied by Bolt are "services of a kind ... commonly provided by tour operators or travel agents", meaning Bolt only has to pay VAT on its margin.
Bolt declined to comment on the ruling.
An HMRC spokesperson said: "We are disappointed with the ruling and are carefully considering the tribunal's decision.
"Our view remains that the Tour Operators Margin Scheme does not apply to mini-cab businesses."
The tribunal's ruling did not state the difference in Bolt's tax liability, though it is likely to be significant.
The decision also raises the prospect of Uber being victorious in its similar battle with HMRC, which Uber's financial results from August state is worth around 386 million pounds
Jonathan Main, VAT partner at MHA Moore & Smally explains further:
“Since August 2022 Bolt, along with all private hire businesses in London, has been required to pay VAT on all taxi fares as a result of a change in licensing requirements issued by Transport for London. Prior to that date, the VAT liability would be with the driver who would not be registered, as their annual income would not exceed the VAT registration threshold of £85,000.
The VAT Tribunal agreed with Bolt that this new arrangement was unfair and that for indirect tax purposes Bolt should be treated the same as tour operators and travel agents – only paying VAT on gross profits it retains after paying its drivers rather than the full payment by the passenger. Unsurprisingly the VAT bill on Bolt’s gross profits is a substantial reduction from VAT on the full fare paid by the passenger.
While the case is likely to be appealed to the Upper Tribunal by HMRC, all London-based private hire businesses can in the meantime submit claims for overpaid VAT in the last 16 months. This is a significant win for all private hire businesses in London which will significantly reduce the financial pain across the sector.”
• Bolt’s business model for journeys in London underwent an enforced change in August 2022. From this date, all private hire businesses in London were required to operate as principal for all journeys. This arose from a change in licensing requirements issued by Transport for London (TFL). By acting as principal, Bolt is now required to pay VAT on all taxi fares from August 2022. Prior to that date, the liability would be with the driver who would not be registered for VAT, as their annual income would not exceed the VAT registration threshold of £85,000.
• The change in TFL’s licensing requirements resulted from two separate court cases lost by Uber in 2021 on worker status for its drivers and its own licensing requirements. Uber is challenging licensing requirements outside London. Uber recently succeeded in a test case in the High Court against Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, that all licensing requirements in England and Wales should follow the treatment imposed by TFL.
Why significant for Bolt
• In a landmark decision at the VAT Tribunal, Bolt has succeeded in its argument that although it is a principal, it should only pay VAT on the gross profit it retains after paying its drivers. A VAT bill on Bolt’s gross profits is a substantial reduction from VAT on the full fare paid by the passenger.
• The VAT Tribunal ruled that a VAT scheme, known as the Tour Operators Margin Scheme (TOMS), applied to the income earned by Bolt, as it provided transport services commonly provided by tour operators and travel agents. TOMS requires payment of VAT on gross profits, rather than the full payment by the passenger.
• HMRC argued that TOMS should not be extended beyond those businesses which market themselves as tour operators and travel agents. The VAT Tribunal firmly rejected HMRC’s arguments, as they “could prejudice the aim of TOMS, create distortion of competition between traders and lead to the inconsistent application of VAT to the same supplies.” The case is likely to be appealed to the Upper Tribunal by HMRC, but in the meantime London based private hire businesses may wish to submit claims for overpaid VAT.
… and the industry
• This is a significant win for all private hire businesses in London. Although the decision may be appealed by HMRC, it is a well reasoned decision, and is consistent with other recent VAT Tribunal decisions in the travel sector. The Sefton Council decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeal but if Uber finally succeeds in levelling the licensing playing field across England and Wales, the Bolt decision may substantially reduce the financial pain across the private hire sector.
Amber Cars, Leeds’ biggest taxi and private hire vehicle operator, has donated £1,000 to Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas campaign for the second year.
LeedsLive reports that Cash for Kids is a grant-giving charity that helps improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people affected by poverty, illness, neglect or additional needs.
Mission Christmas is a campaign to ensure children in poverty aren’t left out at Christmas. They collect gift donations and fundraise to purchase gifts to give to children who would otherwise not receive a present on Christmas morning.
Amber Cars, a regional brand of Veezu, stepped in to donate to the worthy cause through the new community support programme ‘Funded by Veezu’.
The programme is a way in which local not-for-profit initiatives can apply for grants between £500 and £1,000.
Chris Neary, Regional Director of Amber Cars, said: “Every child deserves a spark of joy during the holidays. We’re honoured to play a role in ensuring that no child is left without a gift this Christmas.
“Our £1,000 donation to the Mission Christmas campaign reflects our commitment to spreading warmth and happiness to those who need it the most.”
Lisa Sullivan, Charity Manager at Pulse 1 Cash for Kids, said: “To make our Mission Christmas campaign viable, we rely on support from our local communities across the country to bring gifts to our drop-off points and donate to the cause.
“The support from Amber Cars is greatly appreciated and will help fund many children’s Christmas this year.
“On behalf of the charity and the children, I would like to say a big thank you.”
Source: https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/special-features/amber-cars-donates-1000-mission-28271055
A council row has broken out over calls for blackout glass in the back windows of taxis.
StokeonTrentLive reports that Newcastle Borough Council rules mean taxis must be no more than seven years old and most newer vehicles now have tinted windows in the rear passenger seats.
It leaves cabbies having to replace the tinted windows to comply with their council licence.
The situation has led council officers to recommend the use of blackout glass in the back windows.
But one councillor has condemned the idea. Councillor Gill Williams said: “Our taxi drivers carry vulnerable children around and we’ve all been on here long enough to know that we’ve had cases where things have happened in the back of cars.
"We’ve got people who carry drugs around in taxis. I will never agree to blacked-out windows in a taxi.”
The current rule means taxi drivers must have windows with 35 per cent transmission of light. But cabbies are struggling to comply with the rule.
It comes as Stoke-on-Trent City Council and City of Wolverhampton Council have taxi drivers operating in Newcastle-under-Lyme and neither of those local authorities has the same rule.
Councillor Joan Whieldon added: “We are requiring our taxi drivers to have a car that is no more than seven years old yet the majority of new cars have tinted windows.
"We’re almost at odds with the manufacturers' benchmark for tinted windows and that seems a tad unfair or unjust.”
A cabbie was caught with a kilo of high purity cocaine with a potential street value in excess of £200,000 in the glove compartment of his vehicle when he was stopped by police.
According to EdinburghLive, Ibrahim Oguz told uniformed officers: "The key opens the glovebox. I don't know what's in there. The glovebox might have been interfered with in London."
Oguz, 43, was stopped driving his Mercedes Vito on the A1, near Haddington in East Lothian, in the early hours of September 28 in 2021 as he returned to Edinburgh from London.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Police Scotland received intelligence the previous day that the driver of the vehicle had met another individual and a drugs offence transaction took place.
Oguz, from Edinburgh, admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug, when he appeared at the High Court in the city.
Advocate depute John Macpherson told the court on Monday 18 December that on September 26 Oguz drove from Edinburgh to London.
The prosecutor said: "He took what he thought was cash in the sum of either £19,500 or £20,000 to an address there."
Oguz later told police that he was asked by a man to collect a bag from an unknown male in Edinburgh and when he turned up at the address a bag was placed in the vehicle.
He was told to drive the bag to London and was provided with an address. When he arrived in London he was met by men he did not know who took the bag.
Mr Macpherson said: "He went for a cigarette and on his return was informed that there was a package in the glove box.
"He said that he thought the package was something valuable, duly locked the glove box and drove back towards Edinburgh."
He told police that he was due to deliver the package to the same area of Edinburgh where he previously collected the cash.
The prosecutor said that the cocaine recovered was a recognised kilo deal with a value of £40,000 but with the potential to be worth pounds £201,000 if it was adulterated to street level purity for sale as one gram deals.
The judge, John Morris KC, deferred sentence on Oguz until February 1.
Source: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-taxi-driver-caught-200k-28310298
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.