The soaring cost of providing cabs to school children could be slashed by Kent County Council (KCC) taking the services in-house.
KentOnline reports that authority leaders are facing suggestions KCC could operate its own pupil taxi service to make financial efficiencies.
In January, KCC reported in budget papers that the net cost of supporting Home to School Transport (HST) was £68.8 million but the costs look set to rise.
More than 6,000 children with special educational needs (SEN) in Kent are given free taxis to classes.
KCC, as a result of squeezed budgets and spiralling costs, faces having to find tens of millions of pounds in savings in the next financial year over and above those being sought this year.
Cllr Antony Hook (Lib Dem) asked if KCC should look at bringing the cab and minibus provision in-house.
But cabinet member for education, Cllr Rory Love (Con), said that it was “highly unlikely”.
In recent years, cab firms have reported difficulties in recruiting drivers, especially after the pandemic, and problems in would-be cabbies obtaining licences.
He told Wednesday’s (Nov 1) scrutiny committee at County Hall: “We don’t want to get into running taxi companies and, if we did, we would be looking for the same drivers.
“The other opportunity is for schools to run their own transport services and where that has been trialled it has been quite beneficial. Scaling it up is always going to be one of the difficulties.”
KCC has reported HST costs for SEN pupils between July 2022-23 rocketed by £15m. That spend was driven by a near 11% (668) rise in the number of SEN children being carried by cab.
KCC documents add: “Given the limited number of school days per year, this means that the increase in the average cost per day drives 67% of the total spend increase compared to 33% from the increase in the number of clients.”
The papers add: “Also, there is a significant requirement to improve our commissioning and procurement practice for SEN transport, better scaling contracts so that they benefit from greater resilience and reduced costs.”
Cllr Hook said in-house drivers could be used not just for school runs but for other KCC services too.
He said: “The cost of HST is huge and it is right that we should look for ways of bringing this in-house. There is no reason why we cannot have our own team of drivers who could be deployed doing other things. It must be worth looking at, surely.”
Earlier this year, KCC faced fury from families over plans to end no-cost travel to SEN children over the age of 16 and with educational health care plans (EHCPs) in a bid to shave £700,000 off budgets.
Parents criticised the proposals, saying they faced having to shell out £500 for taxis their children had been taking to attend class.
Source: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/call-for-kcc-to-run-in-house-school-taxi-service-296243/
A "suspicious" passenger who left an air-powered revolver and ammunition in the back of a PHV has appeared in court.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Kyle Simm, 39, from Dingle, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the possession of a firearm, and two charges relating to the possession of ammunition at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 2 November.
The firearm, an ME38 Magnum self-contained gas cartridge revolver, was discovered when Merseyside police officers pulled over a private hire vehicle, on Eaton Road, West Derby, at around 8.15pm on Friday, September 29.
Officers believed the passenger was "behaving suspiciously" and when speaking to them police noticed a bag in the taxi.
The man then ran away from the scene before police could stop him.
Officers looked inside the bag and found the revolver, along with four rounds of Remington brand .22 rimfire cartridges and over £100 in cash.
Judge David Potter warned Simm: "The sentence in this case is inevitable. It must be an immediate custodial sentence."
Simm will be sentenced at the court on November 17.
Inspector Michael McEvoy said: "Merseyside Police pro-actively investigates serious organised crime including the use of guns in our cities and is relentless in its pursuit to remove any dangerous weapons from our streets.
"If you know anything about the storage, movement or use of such weapons, you can pass on any information via DM @MerPolCC, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress."
Uber and Lyft have agreed to pay New York drivers a $328 million settlement after the state attorney general investigated a wage-theft complaint charging that the companies systematically cheated drivers out of pay and benefits, collecting certain taxes and fees from drivers rather than passengers.
Uber will pay $290 million and Lyft will provide $38 million into two funds that will payout claims that roughly 100,000 current and former drivers in New York State are eligible to file.
The ride-hailing companies did not admit fault in the settlement.
The investigation by the office of the attorney general, Letitia James, also looked into whether the companies failed to provide drivers with paid sick leave available to employees in the state.
“We thank Attorney General James and her team for their hard work in delivering a resolution that balances accountability and innovation while addressing the true needs of these hard working drivers in New York,” said Tony West, chief legal officer for Uber, in a statement.
Jeremy Bird, Lyft’s chief policy officer said in a statement: “This is a win for drivers, and one we are proud to have achieved with the New York Attorney General’s Office.”
Under the settlement, drivers will earn one hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours per year.
Uber and Lyft will make updates to their apps to allow drivers to request sick leave through the apps. They will also be given notices and in-app chat support to address their questions about earnings and other working conditions.
"This settlement will ensure drivers finally get what they have rightfully earned and are owed under the law," James said in a statement.
She called the accord with the San Francisco-based companies the largest wage theft settlement in her office's history.
Uber and Lyft have long defended against claims nationwide that they shortchange drivers, many of whom are immigrants, out of pay and benefits, sometimes by classifying them as independent contractors instead of employees.
James accused the app-based companies of improperly deducting sales taxes and fees for a workers compensation fund from drivers' payments, though passengers should have paid those amounts.
Uber's alleged violations occurred from 2014 to 2017, and Lyft's from 2015 to 2017.
James said both companies also denied drivers sick leave that state and New York City employees are legally entitled to receive.
The probe arose from concerns from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which says it represents about 21,000 yellow taxi, green cab, app-based, livery and corporate car drivers.
Under the settlement, drivers outside the city will also be entitled to guaranteed minimum pay of $26 per hour, though that figure only counts the time between dispatch and completion of a ride, as well as sick leave, adjusted annually for inflation.
Drivers in New York City already receive minimum pay and some paid time off, as required by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission in 2019. James said Uber and Lyft drivers there will receive $17 per hour for sick leave, with inflation adjustments.
A taxi firm says a car involved in a fatal crash had been "stolen" from them.
The accident involved a white Hyundai on the eastbound A55 near Dwygyfylchi, Conwy
Police previously confirmed a "single occupant" of the vehicle died close to Penmaenbach tunnel following the crash in the early-hours of Saturday morning, 28 October.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident which caused huge tailbacks.
Premier Cars Llandudno, which is part of the Bangor-based Premier Group, later confirmed one of its vehicles had been involved in the crash, with a spokesman saying they were helping police with their investigation.
The firm has now said that the vehicle had been "stolen" prior to the fatal crash.
In a post on Facebook, they said: "Accident Update: Whilst we offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life, we wish to be clear that our vehicle involved in this incident was stolen from us.
"The Premier Group is committed to the safety and well being of our customers and staff, and we are all deeply saddened by this heartbreaking incident that occurred over the weekend."
In another statement, The Premier Group said on the Facebook page: "No employee of our company was hurt or injured in the incident on the A55 that occurred on Saturday Morning."
They thanked members of the public for messages received and said they "would appreciate that no speculation is made regarding the incident".
The Welsh Ambulance Service sent three vehicles to the crash site, while two appliances were initially dispatched by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
A section of the eastbound carriageway was closed off by police from the junction 16 Puffin roundabout.
Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/taxi-firm-says-car-involved-28029796
A taxi driver was robbed and injured by a 'man with scissors' in a terrifying attack on a street in Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday morning, 1 November.
StokeonTrentLive reports that the thug made off with a 'quantity of cash' after subjecting the driver to the ordeal on Smallthorne's Robert Heath Street.
Officers - who were called out at 6.40am - say the cabbie suffered cuts to his shoulder along with his ear and above his eye.
Police have also issued a description of the suspect as the force has appealed for witnesses to come forward.
He is described as white, 6ft tall and wearing a light-coloured hoodie and a face mask.
A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was robbed and injured in Stoke-on-Trent.
He was treated by paramedics but did not require hospital treatment.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
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.