Taxi drivers in Glasgow are claiming more drivers are leaving the trade faster than ever because they can't afford to keep up with the rules of the Low Emission Zone.
The heaviest polluting petrol and diesel cars have been banned from the city centre since June last year.
Planet Radio reports that dozens of people are expected to get together to demand the scheme is reversed.
Neil Schofield, a private hire driver, told Clyde 1: "I am questioning if there is a future for me in this industry.
"Fewer people are coming in and out of the city centre at night time too which is making it difficult to continue doing the job.
"I used to earn enough money to live comfortably, but now I feel I can only continue doing it part-time to top up my wages."
Emission standards are set nationally for Scotland and they are:
• Euro 4 for petrol vehicles
• Euro 6 for diesel vehicles
It generally means that petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards and diesel cars registered after September 2015 will meet the required standards.
Neil was forced to buy a new vehicle last year because his previous one did not meet the requirements.
He added: "I am paying hundreds of pounds extra every month which is an expense I would rather not have.
"The job is far more difficult than it was before and I am working seven days a week which is exhausting."
A council spokeswoman said: “Plans to extend Glasgow’s LEZ to all vehicle types were democratically agreed in 2018. Since then, the council has undertaken an extensive programme of communications and engagement to raise awareness of the scheme, its timescale for introduction and the availability of funding to ease compliance.
“There is no question the night-time economy is facing a considerable combined challenge of covid recovery and high inflation, but the city centre remains a popular destination for people seeking to enjoy themselves in Glasgow’s pubs and restaurants.
“The pandemic has led to changes in the way Glasgow city centre is used but the data we have shows that city centre footfall is higher in the evenings and at weekends than before the pandemic.
“Billions are now also being invested in developments that will help to boost the city centre population in the longer term and make the city centre far more resilient in future.”
Specific to taxis - a council spokeswoman said: “The LEZ Retrofit Fund has been available to eligible taxi operators since 2019.
"In the same year, the council amended licensing conditions to allow for a new licence or change of vehicle to be applied to taxis more than five years old.
"This was a direct intervention ahead of the LEZ coming into force to increase the options available to operators of vehicles unsuitable by reason of age for retrofit.
“Ahead of the LEZ coming into force in June, the council agreed a one-year exemption for all taxi operators who had made an application for funding, or who were ineligible for funding.
“The council will continue to provide further flexibilities where providers can evidence they are taking active steps to achieve compliance.”
Source: https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/glasgow-taxi-drivers-warn-more-quitting-start-lez/#
School transport costs in Dorset could be heading for a term-time cost of £1million a week – unless savings are found.
According to the Daily Echo, over two years the expense of running the service has risen by £12million and now exceeds £35million over a full year.
Many children with special education needs are transported to and from school daily by taxi with parents often fighting attempts to switch them to a cheaper option.
Former education portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Parry said the council was keen to offer training to children with special needs so that they could use public or school buses – but was often met with a challenge at tribunal level, or through the courts.
“Parental choice is a really significant issue… about 97 per cent of the findings go in favour of the families so any attempt to change puts us on the backfoot.
“Travel training will often be met with a push-back from families who would rather have a door to door taxi service and if they really push and went to a tribunal it would likely find in their favour,” he said.
Dorset Council is currently responsible for getting around 7,000 mainstream children to and from school daily with 1,200 children with special educational needs who are often unable to travel on regular buses, where they exist, or on school transport routes.
With wage and fuel inflation added in the costs of providing the school transport service has increased from £24.5m in 2021/22 to over £35m in 23/24, recently rising at the rate of more than 20 per cent a year.
Of the £35.02m budget for the current financial year just over £19m is spend on SEND transport (up from £9.2m in 2019/20) with mainstream school transport costing £10.83m; public transport £3.93m and ‘operational support’ £1.2m.
Around three hundred council staff are employed by Dorset Council to work on school transport.
Corporate director for economic growth and infrastructure, Matthew Piles, told councillors that the crux of the matter was where children lived and where they went to school – often involving lengthy daily journeys, including some being educated outside of the county boundaries.
He said the aim of Dorset Council was to provide more local facilities for SEND children to help reduce transport costs and keep the children within their local community.
The council currently has a £40m programme investing in adding special units at local schools and providing some purpose-built units, with a new bid for £14m currently awaiting a decision from the Department for Education.
Part of the initial £40m budget was used to buy the Coombe House School site near Shaftesbury when it closed as a private school.
Place and Resources Scrutiny committee chairman, Cllr Shane Bartlett, questioned whether Dorset Council was getting value for money from the £11m it had spent on the special school where, he said, only 70 pupils were currently being taught.
The committee is to ask the council’s Cabinet for a response to that question and to outline how the council proposes to speed up the provision of local, special need places, across Dorset.
* £1m per week in term time based on the following calculation - transport budget 24/25 £35.7m divided by 52 weeks = £686,539 weekly cost. However schools are only open a maximum of 39 weeks with breaks and inset days - giving a weekly, term time cost of £915, 384. If rates continue to rise at 20per cent, or more, £1m will be exceeded within 12 months.
Taxi drivers have been accused of "deliberately" registering their vehicles in Wolverhampton and then operating in Colchester because it costs half the price.
Colchester Council charges £225 to register a new private hire vehicle for three years - with there being further vehicle dependent costs.
According to the Daily Gazette, by comparison it is just £98 to do the same in Wolverhampton.
The news was revealed at a council meeting where licensing bosses admitted it was a "big ongoing issue" and has sparked concerns about safety.
A spokesman for Colchester City Council said: “We are aware that some Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles are operating in Colchester.
"These vehicles must display the required signage for Wolverhampton and have undergone all necessary training and checks in their own licensing area. They are required to follow the same subcontracting procedures as any other operator."
The spokesman added that "passengers must be informed in advance that they are being offered a non-Colchester licensed vehicle" and that they "have the right to decline the service".
At the Licencing Committee meeting this Wednesday 17 January, Christine Bell from Panther Cabs, Colchester’s biggest fleet with more than 220 vehicles, said: “As a business owner, mother of two daughters and a nan, I would like to think every taxi driver working in Colchester has been checked and verified to work here.”
In response to Christine’s statement, Paul Donaghy, licensing, community safety, and safeguarding manager, said: “Wolverhampton will be a big ongoing issue."
He added: “We have already started investigating because the answers we’ve got aren’t great but obviously there are certain legal restrictions on what we can do currently."
Mr Donaghy said unlike other councils in Essex, it was "new" for Colchester to have Wolverhampton-plated vehicles and that local authorities cannot stop drivers travelling to Wolverhampton for licences "until it is illegal".
Mr Donaghy revealed there were potential plans for a “London hub” of enforcement officers and that he would meet with the region's enforcement officer in the next few weeks.
Roger Buston, licencing committee member, said he would be writing to the national government about this "Wolverhampton effect".
Mr Buston added: “If a driver in Colchester is now deliberately choosing to try to transfer to a lesser public safety standard for their own convenience, reward, and benefit, then Colchester Council will need to consider, possibly, that they might not be a fit and proper person to hold a Colchester licence plate in the future.”
A Colchester Council's spokesman said the public should report complaints immediately on Colchester's online system but that any complaints against a Wolverhampton licensed vehicle must be made to Wolverhampton Taxi Licensing.
A Freedom of Information request by the BBC from October, 2023 showed more than a third of Greater Manchester’s taxi drivers were registered in Wolverhampton Council which earned £12.3m from licensing fees in the last three years.
A spokesman for City of Wolverhampton Council said: “While Wolverhampton Council has never actively encouraged applications from drivers outside the city, existing legislation requires that if an application is submitted and requirements are met, then the application must be granted.
"The council may not refuse an applicant simply because they live in a different area.
“Applicants are usually local to the area they drive in, but many have chosen to be licensed in Wolverhampton due to our efficient, yet rigorous, licensing process.?
“Public safety is of paramount importance to us. Partnership working with our licensing colleagues and other agencies shows our commitment to upholding our responsibilities; we expect drivers and vehicles licensed by us to always maintain the highest standards."
Two yobs who went on a violent crime spree in which a taxi driver was robbed and a student threatened with a knife have been jailed.
KentOnline reports that Luke Tudor (left) from Margate, even had his children with him when he and his accomplice Kieran Martin forcefully stole alcohol from a shopper's trolley as it was pushed along the street.
Canterbury Crown Court heard one of the youngsters urged the 36-year-old dad to leave the victims alone.
But within hours Tudor and Martin, 30, were targeting cabbie Burham Sinani, who was headbutted, chased and robbed of his takings, and his vehicle damaged and ransacked.
At the time, Martin was on court bail for robbing a schoolboy at knifepoint of his Nike jacket, trainers and iPhone.
The court heard he had accosted the student in a Broadstairs park at night, held a blade to his neck and, once his demands had been met, sinisterly ordered the terrified victim to "run for his life".
On March 17, 2022, the thugs had climbed into Mr Sinani's taxi and demanded he take them "to buy drugs".
The cab driver refused and said he was not working but that he would drive them to Central Pharmacy as he needed to collect a prescription.
Both Tudor and Martin were described as being argumentative and drunk and, once at their destination, reluctant to get out.
But having done so, Tudor then headbutted Mr Sinani as he stood at the rear of his Mercedes, causing what was described as "a nasty black eye".
Mr Sinani was so scared that he sought refuge in a nearby pharmacy, only for the threats to continue.
Employees at the pharmacy said they thought Tudor was 'going to murder' the taxi driver."
The thugs left the store and went back to the cab, pulling a door back so hard that it was damaged, and ransacked the vehicle, stealing his day's earnings.
They also continued to threaten Mr Sinani and left the car with its SatNav ripped out, a shoeprint on a window, and the cabbie's glasses broken.
Mr Sinani later told police that it was the third time he had been the victim of such crime in his six years driving.
But the court heard when asked recently to make a further statement for the sentencing hearing, Mr Sinani declined, saying he felt proceedings had "gone on too long" and he did not wish "to dwell on it".
The victim of the knifepoint robbery however described how he "froze in terror", and still felt its impact almost three years later.
He told police: "I cannot get out of my head what could have happened. I constantly go over it in my mind and think about what I could have done differently.
"I also think about how close I came to being stabbed and ending up dead or seriously injured in hospital.
"It still plays on my mind and I keep going back to the point when I felt the blade at the back of my neck and remembering the terror I felt.
"I hope no one else is put in the same position as I was and the court will do everything in its power to ensure this man cannot hurt anyone else for as long as possible."
Martin, from Margate, admitted two offences of robbery, possessing a bladed article, theft, affray and criminal damage.
Tudor pleaded guilty to robbery, assault causing actual bodily harm, theft and criminal damage.
Sentencing Martin and Tudor on 17 January, Judge Simon James said only immediate imprisonment could be justified for the "gratuitous" robbery of the taxi driver and the "particularly cowardly" attack on the student.
Martin, who has previous convictions for assault, battery and criminal damage, was jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years.
Tudor, whose past offending has included burglary, theft, battery and assault, was locked up for two years and nine months, despite a judge acknowledging the adverse impact custody would have on Tudor's children.
Source: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/drunk-yobs-rob-taxi-and-threaten-student-with-blade-300366/
Although private and public hire are longstanding trades, in recent years, more and more people have opted for flexible work such as ridesharing and food delivery. This is referred to in the media as the ‘gig economy.’ So, governments have had to address tax challenges posed by this kind of work.
The UK government has introduced new legislation that requires ‘online platforms’ to directly report the income details of their sellers (drivers in this case) to HMRC. Let’s explore this legislation’s impact on drivers and the platforms they work for.
HMRC mandates that digital platforms operating in the UK must report income details of their sellers to HMRC. This information includes earnings, the number of journeys or deliveries completed and expenses incurred by the drivers.
This legislation aims to improve tax compliance in the gig economy, ensuring drivers pay the right amount of tax on their income. However, this is only for what’s called a digital platform, not necessarily private hire operators.
1. App earnings will be more evident to HMRC: before, it was easier for workers to earn money under the table. Now, because platform app companies must share earnings information with HMRC, it is harder for drivers to avoid paying the exact correct amount of tax.
Example: Sarah, a part-time Uber driver, now receives annual tax statements from Uber directly, outlining her earnings and deductions. This makes it easier for her to file her taxes accurately.
2. Clearer tax rules for drivers: the new law makes it easier for drivers to understand how much tax they need to pay. Now, drivers can easily determine how much they have earned and spent.
Example: John, a food delivery driver for Deliveroo, used to struggle with calculating his tax liability. With Deliveroo reporting his income to HMRC, John can now easily determine his tax liability and ensure he pays the correct amount.
3. Potential financial impact: while the change aims to make people better at paying taxes, it can also have financial implications for some drivers; those who previously underreported their income may now have to pay higher tax bills.
Example: David, a self-employed courier, used to underreport his earnings. With HMRC receiving detailed income reports from his platform, he may face a higher tax bill than he expected, impacting his disposable income.
More admin: platforms must collect and report income data to HMRC. This includes setting up systems to record and transmit this information.
More accountability: platforms are responsible for the tax ‘compliance.’ Failure to report income details accurately can result in penalties, forcing platforms to put proper reporting systems in place.
Increased education and training for their drivers: in response to the legislation, platforms are implementing measures to educate and support their drivers in meeting their tax obligations.
• The definition of a digital platform has yet to be made clear to us in the ground transport industry.
• One thing to understand is that operators and despatch software are not necessarily included in the legislation.
• The HMRC has stated that it is ‘already working’ with the relevant platforms. That means that if you haven’t heard from them, your business may not be covered under the ‘platform.’
• In April 2022, we saw the introduction of conditionality Tax Checks. This made every driver and operator obligated to declare their tax status. So, there are rules already in place.
• Most of the platforms covered by the new legislation are open marketplaces that match sellers to buyers. Examples are Booking.com, eBay, Etsy as well as ridesharing apps such Uber, Bolt, OLA and Freenow.
• Private hire tech exists in a different space because it pairs operators with drivers, who are already regulated through their relationship with the licensing authority.
The HMRC reporting legislation may represent a significant change for app drivers. However, HMRC insists that: “It brings greater transparency and clarity to the tax obligations of individual drivers while placing additional responsibilities on gig economy platforms.”
However, if you are an operator and if the HMRC has not approached you to sort out your reporting, the chances are you are not affected by it.
That means that if you are a driver working for a traditional style operator, you are also not affected by the new legislation.
I’ve heard of reports of operators gathering National Insurance numbers and drivers getting worried. My message is that you can rest easy for now.
If you have any questions or are worried about your situation, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Gary Jacobs, Eazitax
www.eazitax.co.uk
020 8529 2600
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
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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.
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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.
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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.