Last week we reported that a district judge, Malcolm Dodds, concluded at High Wycombe Magistrates Court that Skyline Taxis did not break the law when an automated booking system allocated a customer enquiry in Milton Keynes to a cab owned by the same firm but licensed by a neighbouring South Northamptonshire Council.
Milton Keynes had alleged that the iCabbi computerised system breached the law regarding subcontracting work to another licensed operator,.
Judge Dodds said it was now common to make commercial arrangements such as buying car insurance online without any human intervention and “applying what I consider to be a common sense approach I find that the iCabbi system does comply with the law”.
But in a statement to the Institute, Milton Keynes Council said: “On 25 May 2017 in the case of Milton Keynes Council v Skyline Taxis and Private Hire Ltd, and Gavin Sokhi, District Judge Dodds decided that the defendants had no case to answer.
“Milton Keynes Council does not believe the decision adequately clarified the legal position to assist it in carrying out its regulatory function. The Council needs to be confident that innovations in the industry are compliant with the law which is intended to safeguard customers.
Therefore, following receipt of further legal advice, the Council has applied to appeal by way of Case Stated to the High Court.”
Source: Local Government Lawyer
http://bit.ly/2rLi0ov
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Taxi drivers will have their say on the way the taxi trade is regulated in Stafford Borough.
The borough council has responsibility for ensuring taxi drivers are competent and that people can travel in safe, well maintained vehicles.
Now the local authority is asking for views on a draft policy which outlines licensing conditions to make sure this happens.
Letters have gone out asking taxi and private hire drivers to have their say as part of the six-week consultation, which launched last week.
The document also sets out rules governing drivers' dress code and the effect criminal convictions can have on holding a taxi licence.
Councillor Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said: "People rely on taxis especially when they have no other way to travel around Stafford Borough so we appreciate how vital the trade is for the community."
People can comment until July 24 at and email comments to ehlicensing@staffordbc.gov.uk. The consultation can be found on the council's website or in the civic centre.
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Taxi drivers in North Warwickshire may have to undertake an assessment to test their communication and language skills.
At the moment the the borough council only refers people applying for taxi licenses with poor English skills to a committee.
But now all drivers could undergo tests as the council says it is essential that cabbies have good English language skills “for the safety of passengers and their own safety.”
The council’s licensing committee will decide at a meeting on Wednesday whether to introduce mandatory taxi driver communication and language assessments for all new applicants for Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers licenses.
Members of the committee will hear the result of the public consultation into the proposal before they make their final decision.
Following a meeting in January, the council consulted with interested parties to find their views on the proposal.
There was only one response to the consultation, which was sent by Phil Wagstaff, director of Triple A Taxis.
In his letter response to the consultation Mr Wagstaff said: “As you are aware in the last few years the council has made the whole process of applying to become a taxi driver more expensive and the time period from start to finish is considerably longer.
“This is putting off many new applicants at the job interview stage, thus making the recruitment of new drivers very difficult.
Stephen Whiles, environmental health manager (commercial and licensing) at the council, responded to Mr Wagstaff’s letter.
He said: “The measures that have been brought forward by the council over the recent past are bringing us in line with almost every other authority in the country.
“We were far behind in our requirements and as you know this led to us attracting people who only applied to us because word got around that North Warwickshire was a place where it was easy to obtain a licence.
“Most of these people then used their licences to work in neighbouring areas where enforcement was very difficult for us, putting the public at risk.
“I understand your concerns and that the new measures do put you to some inconvenience. However when you weigh this up against the protection of the public and the reputation of the local taxi industry I think it is worth it.”
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