A former school bus driver, with a 42-year-old conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm, has been granted a taxi licence by Gwynedd Council's general licensing sub-committee. 

The applicant, who was 18 at the time of the offence, had since been employed as a school bus driver for ten years, a role requiring trust and responsibility.

During his application for a taxi/hackney private hire driver's licence, the representative for the applicant known only as Mr "A" challenged the council's licensing process. 

He had asked why a hearing had had to be held, and queried why the council's environment department did not have "delegated powers to approve the application" thus bypassing the need for a sub-committee, suggesting that it had meant "unnecessary costs to the taxpayer."

The applicant had been unemployed while waiting for a hearing and it was felt that the process was "unsuitable".

Responding, the council's licensing manager noted that the Gwynedd Delegated Rights Scheme had "arrangements in place" whereby an application with any offence appearing on the applicants' DBS would be presented to a sub-committee for a decision.

It was "in accordance with the council's constitution" that neither she nor the head of the environment department had the power to make a decision be that due to a historical conviction or otherwise". However, the procedure and process were being reviewed with discussions taking place with the legal department to consider cases where a decision could be delegated.

Any amendment to the Constitution would be presented to the Licensing Committee and to the Full Council.

Despite the past conviction, the sub-committee granted the application and determined that the applicant was "a fit and proper person" to hold a 12-month hackney and private hire vehicle driver's licence.

In addition to the former school bus driver, two other men, both former soldiers, with convictions for violent crimes in the past were also granted licences by the sub committee.

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it

Over half of the taxi and private hire drivers stopped during a recent enforcement operation in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse were found to be breaching their licence conditions.

The joint operation by the local authorities and Thames Valley Police took place on Saturday, September 28.

Thirty-four vehicles were stopped and inspected to ensure compliance with licence conditions and check roadworthiness.

A total of 18 of these were registered with South Oxfordshire District Council, 13 with Vale of White Horse District Council and three with Oxford City Council.

Of those, 19 were non-compliant with issues such as drivers not wearing their badge, roof signs not connected and fare charts not displayed.

A total of 156 penalty points were issued to drivers on their council-issued licences as a result.

Some of the licences will now be reviewed due to an excessive number of points accumulated.

Police also took action against five vehicles and issued fixed penalty notices.

Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, emphasised the importance of taxi safety, stating: “Passengers deserve to be able to ride in safe, comfortable and properly insured vehicles.”

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it

Uber could be coming to Plymouth – but it will be up to the Plymouth City Council’s taxi licensing committee to decide if they will or not. 

The company has applied to the council to operate services in the city, together with Smartzi, another app-based ride service. 

A taxi licensing committee will meet on Thursday 21 November to decide whether to issue a private hire vehicle operators’ licence to both operators. The decision will have to made based on the council’s taxi licensing policy and if they meet it. 

Papers have been published which set out what the committee is being asked to consider and that is whether the directors of both companies are considered a fit and proper person to be granted a private hire vehicle operator’s licence, and  

• if the licence is granted, the appropriate length of time the licence should be granted for, up to five years and 

• whether any conditions should be imposed on the licence. 

Earlier this year Uber Britannia Limited applied for a private hire vehicle operator licence for five years, with the intention of having 160 vehicles licenced per year. 

The report says: “Officers recognise that if this application is granted it will potentially affect other private hire operators in the city – the committee is reminded that this is not a factor to be considered when deciding the application.” 

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said: “We all know that people who enjoy our great night life here in Plymouth repeatedly struggle to get home and this has been going on for the last few years. Something has to change if our clubs, bars and venues are to survive in the long term.   

“We are also acutely aware that a decision to grant a private hire licence to these companies could have consequences for our existing trade, but the committee has to take a decision based on very clear legal guidelines. 

“This will be a very interesting debate.” 

The council will not grant a private hire operator’s licence to any person for an address or base of operations outside the city area, but Uber Britannia now have a Plymouth office where they will have a base of operations. 

The staff will be able to access and print records from this office if required and there is a 24-hour compliance team available which can access digital records at any time located outside of Plymouth.   

The council may apply any additional conditions it thinks appropriate on the operator licence, if it is granted. 

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it

Having been denied further bus lane access by Portsmouth City Council on 24th October, the Cabinet Member for Transport had his decision "called-in" for review by the Scrutiny Management Panel on Monday 11th November.

At the meeting in October - attended by over 100 Uber PHV drivers - the Cabinet Member was cautioned by numerous Councillors that there was a complete lack of data and financial reports to justify any decision, and that to proceed would inevitably result in any decision being "called-in" (a process that requires a Scrutiny Management Panel to question the decision in detail, and for the Cabinet Member to justify his decion).

A "call-in" requires the signatures of five Councillors, and a detailed report laying out the reasons.

The move (only the third time in 10 years) was led by Cllr. George Madgwick [Independent Leader), supported by four other Councillors and a highly detailed five page report, highlighting the numerous errors made by the Cabinet Member, Cllr. Candlish (LibDem), and the multiple contradictions in the officers' own reports, and clear lack of supporting evidence.

Having heard from all parties, and after much rigourous questioning of the Cabinet Member, the Scrutiny Management Panel voted by a majority to "refer back" the decision.

This means the matter should be referred back to the decision maker for reconsideration, the panel setting out in writing the nature of its concerns that are to be addressed in conjunction with the original matter.

Peter Sutherland [Uber Drivers' Trade Representative] declared the decision by the Panel to be a pleasing partial victory.

"It's not a totall success", said Sutherland, "but it's a significant victory for common sense.

"At the original meeting, Cllr. Candlish was cautioned numerous times by experienced Councillors - including a former Chair of Licensing and a former Cabinet Member for Transport - that there was no evidence to support such a decision, and that to proceed risked a call-in."

Peter Sutherland went on to say: "We'd heard, days before the meeting, that Cllr. Candlish had already taken his decision, and that became increasingly obvious during the Transport meeting. Absolutely no heed was taken of anything said by other Councillors or in depositions, which shows a disregard for the democratic process - and is rich coming from a Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member.

"Now the decision has been referred back for further consideration. Do I think the original decision will be reversed? I doubt it. It's obvious to a blind man that the decision was political and lacked supporting evidence.

"Opposition Councillors will again argue their points, and the onus is now on Transportation Officers to provide evidence - NOT HEARSAY.

"I have faith in the democratic process so live in hope that a compromise can be reached. If not, then the fight will go on."

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it

The National Association of Licensing and Enforcement Officers (NALEO) and the Institute of Licensing (IoL) have agreed in principle to unite to become a single professional body for licensing practitioners.

The decision to unite has the strong support of both organisations and will deliver the following benefits to their members:

Benefits of a Combined Organisation

1. Members will enjoy new benefits from a merger:

- One professional body

- One membership subscription

- Stronger core organisation bringing together all the assets from both organisations

- The management structure will strengthen the representation of specific interest groups (e.g. local authorities)

2. Existing member benefits will continue and be enhanced:

- Strengthened regional meetings

- Discounted training

- Weekly news updates

- Website resources including a member forum

- Regular publications

- Strengthened representation with government departments and external stakeholders

- Stronger consultation responses

- Free vacancy advertising

- Post nominals for Individual, Fellow and Companion members

Training and Qualifications

3. A strengthened training offer and greater potential development of training and professional qualifications.

The detailed arrangements of the merger will be the subject of further discussion and agreement. We look forward to confirming the final arrangements in the coming months.

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it