A private hire driver involved in a road collision which injured a pedestrian will be free to resume his job after a 12-week suspension.

The panel of councillors looked into alleged ‘misconduct’ by a private hire driver.

Published minutes of the Bolton Council licensing panel meeting said: “The committee believes that the driver did collide with a pedestrian in his vehicle based on the information from the passenger witness, the injured party and the police.

“The injured party sustained a fracture which the committee felt was consistent with a vehicle collision and the committee was most concerned with the driver’s honesty and the level to which he had gone to cover up the incident.

“The driver provided false information when interviewed and failed to comply with the conditions of his licence.

“The driver failed to inform the council of the incident within the initial 72 hours.”

The driver and two representatives attended the meeting. The panel was told of the driver’s incident free 20 years of driving.

A motion to revoke the taxi driver’s licence completely was defeated by a majority of six to three councillors. The report, added: “The committee therefore did not wish to revoke the driver’s licences entirely but rather sanction for the collision, dishonesty and failure to notify.

“There is therefore reasonable cause to suspend the private hire driver’s licence and the private hire vehicle licence for a period of 12 weeks.”

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Worcestershire Regulator Services reports carrying out spot checks on taxi and private hire vehicles in Redditch late last night, Saturday 16 November.

Supported by colleagues from West Mercia Police and the taxi engineer at Redditch Borough Council - three licences were suspended due to the vehicles having defects that made them unsafe.

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Leeds City Council Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service wish to consult the hackney carriage trade on a proposal to require all hackney carriage vehicles have a functioning cashless payment facility available for customers.

With the growth and popularity of customers now choosing cashless payments in the UK, it is reasonable to ensure that hackney carriage vehicles have facilities to offer cashless payments if requested by the customer.

The majority of hackney carriage drivers currently offer a cashless payment option. By introducing the option to allow customers to pay using cashless payment facilities in all hackney carriage vehicles, this will offer the travelling public added safety and convenience as they will not need to carry cash or worry about not having enough money on them for the fare, or being stranded with no means of getting to their destination.

For drivers this will also be a decreased security risk, reducing the need for drivers to carry around large amounts of cash.

To be clear, cash payments will still be accepted. This consultation is regarding offering customers the option to use a cashless payment option if required.

To assist with this consultation process, please click the link below to complete this survey:

https://surveys.leeds.gov.uk/s/6SBQY0/

It should take you about two to three minutes to answer all the questions. The last day that you can respond is Saturday 30th November 2024.

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A proposed increase in taxi fares in the Fenland district has sparked a debate among local cab drivers. While some support the move, others fear it could cripple the already struggling hackney carriage trade.

Fenland District Council is considering revising its table of fares for the first time since 2022.

Under the proposals, Tariff One (7am - 11pm Mon to Sat) would be reduced to between 7am and 8pm, with the more expensive Tariff Two in place between 8pm and 7am and on Sundays.

At present people whose journeys are under one mile or one mile and 1,609 metres (the best part of a mile) on Tariff 1) pay a fare of £4.00 - with an extra 20p for every 1/11th of a mile - a total of £2.20 a mile.

Under the new proposals, they would pay £4.20 for journeys of under a mile and 33p for each 10th of a mile after that (£3.30 a mile).

Tariff 2 currently stands at £6.00 for journeys of under a mile or between a mile and the next 1,609 metres (about a mile). They also pay 30p for 'each subsequent '146.2m (1/11mile) or part thereof' (£3.30 a mile).

Under the proposed new tariffs, they would pay £6.20. And 44p for a 10th of every extra mile (£4.40 per mile).

One driver expressed concerns that the higher fares could deter customers, especially those on fixed incomes: "A four-mile trip for an OAP to go shopping is going to cost them £14+. I think it is crazy I'm not out to rob people.

"When my taxi licence runs out in December, I am not going to renew it."

Another driver echoed these sentiments, stating: "Putting the prices up to the proposed rates would kill the trade. Business is hard enough without losing the regular customers we already have.

"It certainly would not encourage new drivers and the public already complain about the lack of taxis. The problem isn't the fares it is that people looking into getting into the trade cannot afford it and the number of hoops they have to jump though are unrealistic to the job."

However, some drivers believe the fare increase is necessary to offset rising costs and improve their livelihoods.

One driver in favour of the changes noted: "If the council can implement it to relieve stress from the drivers, I support this proposal."

Another added: "I do think that this would've been a good opportunity to add a fair 6/8seater tariff, as that does need to be looked at."

The council's decision on the proposed fare hike will be made at a cabinet meeting on Friday, 15 November.

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Ride-hailing giant Uber has been given the green light to operate in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen.

The decision has sparked concerns among local taxi and private hire drivers who fear it could significantly impact their business.

Earlier this year, drivers expressed worry about out-of-town Uber drivers undercutting their prices and operating ‘on their patch’.

Additionally, hundreds of drivers based in the borough but licensed by Wolverhampton Council, many of whom work for Uber, have been operating in the Blackburn with Darwen area, further adding to the competition.

Despite these concerns, Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted Uber a five-year operating licence, effective from 12 November.

Martin Eden, Strategic Director of Environment and Communities at the council, confirmed the approval, stating that the application was fully considered before the decision was made.

Local taxi drivers have voiced their fears, suggesting that the move could lead to the closure of smaller firms and potential issues for passengers, such as higher charges for short journeys or difficulties accommodating guide dogs.

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