Hackney carriage and private hire licences fees are changing in the Stroud district.
Stroud News & Journal reports that notice is given in accordance with section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 that the council intends to vary the fees relating to hackney carriage and private hire licences within the District of Stroud from 1 April 2024 as set out below.
For new driver applications the fee for a year is remaining at £160 but rising for a three year application from £280 to £298.
To renew a one year application goes from £89 to £94 and to renew a three year application rises from £225 to £238.
It will cost £66 for Knowledge tests multiple choice - up from £65.
The cost of a DBS check remains the same at £54.40
To transfer the ownership of a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle also remains at £34 and to change vehicle costs £52 - up from £50.
To change the registration of a vehicle remains the same at £28.
The full list of proposed changes can be found under the Public Notices section of the website stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk
Any person wishing to object to the variations above should do so giving full grounds for the objection in writing to The Licensing Section, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Ebley Wharf, Stroud, Glos GL5 4UB or by email to licensing@stroud.gov.uk no later than 5.00 pm on 22 March 2024.
If no objections are received, or if any objections made are withdrawn, the variations will come into effect on 1 April 2024.
If any objections are made and not withdrawn the council will set a further date, not later than two months after 1 April 2024, when the varied licence fees will come into effect, with or without modification as decided by the council after consideration of the objections.
Source: https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/24147162.change-hackney-carriage-private-hire-vehicles/
A councillor says he wants “bold” action to encourage more taxi drivers to use electric or hybrid vehicles.
LichfieldLive reports that Cllr Paul Ray made his comments at a meeting of Lichfield District Council.
He told members in the chamber that the local authority should incentivise drivers to make the switch to greener travel options.
The Lib Dem group leader said: “The objective of encouraging more electric vehicles among the taxis in this district is one measure we can take to improve the environment.
“I’d like the council to go further and be bold like in London where all taxis have to be non-diesel or petrol by 2033. I’d like this council to have a policy like that.”
Current rules mean taxis must be changed once the vehicle reaches a certain age.
But Cllr Ray said incentives could be introduced to persuade drivers to go electric.
He added: “The other thing is to stress that the taxi drivers say they want the life of the vehicle to be extended from seven years to a longer period.
“In London it’s 12 years and I understand the direction is to push that further to 15 years. That means those drivers who invest in modern, clean vehicles can recoup their investment over a longer period of time.
“A good taxi service is good for our community and if we had more electric and hybrid vehicles then that is good for our environment too.
“I hope these considerations are taken forward and seriously considered."
North Lanarkshire Council has approved an increase in taxi fares within the local authority area.
The Glasgow times reports that following a consultation with North Lanarkshire Joint Taxi Trade Association, it was recommended that an increase from £2.60 to £3 for distances of up to 880 yards be granted.
Other charges affected by the review are for taxis called but not used between 5am and midnight where the rate was £2.40 but will become £3 while for those called between midnight and 5am the charge will increase from £3.40 to £4.
As the licensing authority the council reviews taxi fares every 18 months and recommended the uplift due to increased cost of living for taxi operators, rising fuel prices, the expense of replacing vehicles, increased insurance premiums and the need to attract new people to the trade.
The changes were unanimously approved by NLC’s Finance and Resources committee at a recent meeting.
A Norwich cabbie has been given a suspended jail sentence after admitting to being involved in drug dealing.
According to the Norwich Evening News, Khubayb Budeeb, 29, was found with a large bag of cannabis after being stopped by police on Earlham Road.
A search later saw officers discovering £13,545 in cash inside a safe at his home, Norwich Crown Court was told.
Analysis of his phone also found messages indicative of drug dealing with 25 people in his list of contacts with names using variations on the word ‘weed’.
Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said police responding to a blue lights emergency had been hampered by a taxi in May 2020 with the driver seen to be on his mobile phone.
When the taxi was stopped a pungent smell led officers to a blue plastic bag containing 163 grams of cannabis estimated by police to be worth £1,630.
Asked about this he said it had been a bulk purchase that he had intended to share with four others,” said Mr Haswell.
He also claimed the large amount of cash found at his home had been “legitimately earned” from his work as a taxi driver.
Budeeb, from Norwich, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
Matthew Edwards, mitigating, said: “He was a cannabis smoker and was facilitating its purchase for a friendship group.
“This was during the dark ages of Covid and he was using cannabis to self medicate.”
He has since had two children, no longer used drugs and was “trying to build a better future” despite having lost his taxi licence, he added.
Sentencing him to 40 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Nicola Fitches said the impact on his wife and three children had spared him immediate custody.
He must also complete 10 rehabilitation days and 150 hours unpaid work.
A proceeds of crime order means he will forfeit the value of the drugs from the total cash seized.
Source: https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24157125.norwich-taxi-driver-avoids-jail-cannabis-dealing/
A furious cabbie is calling for better security after his taxi was vandalised in a hospital car park while his baby was being treated in A&E.
TeessideLive reports that David Reidy said the last thing he expected while anxiously waiting for ten-month-old Hudson to be treated, was for security officials at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to approach him and say his car had been vandalised.
Not only have the yobs caused £2,000 worth of damage to the vehicle and stolen a £60 float, David has had to lose two days of work while the car is fixed.
David, from Middlesbrough, said his son Hudson was really poorly and medics advised his parents should take him to A&E at the Marton Road hospital.
He said they arrived at around 8pm on Tuesday 27 February and at around 1am on Wednesday security guards came to inform him his car had been vandalised.
The cabbie said: "They had used a screwdriver or something to try to open the doors and smashed a window and ransacked inside the car.
"At the same time a nurse finishing a 12-hour shift found her car had been broken into and windows smashed on both sides."
David said luckily Hudson was discharged from hospital with medication, but he had to drive the family home with glass in the car and windows missing because he didn't want to risk leaving the vehicle at the hospital.
"I was parked right in front on A&E where lots of people were passing," the Teesside dad added. "I have parked at the hospital loads of times and never once worried about leaving my car there. This is my livelihood and it has cost me a fortune.
"What if someone had been to see a dying relative and left the hospital distressed to come out and find this? And, a nurse tending to sick people for 12 hours having to deal with this. It's terrible."
David claims the CCTV footage at the hospital is "poor quality" and he says he has written to the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to complain about what happened and is appealing for better security.
He said: "No one goes to park at the hospital because they want to be there, they are there because someone is poorly. The parking charges are really expensive as well, so you expect your vehicle to be safe."
A spokesperson for the trust said: "We can confirm that security night patrols have been increased on The James Cook University Hospital site to help deter vandals."
Source: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/vandals-smash-window-ransack-taxi-28729111
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.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.