Uber is to continue operating in Birmingham for at least another year after being granted a renewal of its operator licence by the city council.

A licensing sub committee held a meeting behind closed doors at the end of January and unanimously agreed for the firm to carry on until January 31, 2020 when it will be reviewed again.

The minicab app stated it had been 'humbled' by the reaction in Birmingham since launching in the city in 2015.

A booklet, submitted as part of their application, provided a number of statistics about the operation revealing that more than 1,000 drivers licensed by Birmingham City Council are earning money through the app.

There have been more than 15 million trips since 2015 with an average pick-up time of four minutes.

Uber also highlighted a number of their safety features including cashless transactions, the fact that all trips are recorded on GPS and a feature which requires drivers to take a six hour break if they have been 'on trip' for ten hours.

The firm stated it was looking to 'strengthen' working relationships with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council licensing enforcement.

Uber also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the West Midlands Combined Authority to make transport data available to assist in infrastructure planning decisions in the city.

Fred Jones, director at Uber UK, said: "Since our launch in February 2015, we have been humbled by Birmingham's response to Uber.

"From carrying over a million passengers and helping over 1,000 drivers earn money via the app, we are proud to have had a positive impact on the lives of so many Brummies.

"For the next stage of our journey we are excited about better partnering with the city to help solve some of the urban transport challenges that Birmingham faces, including congestion, air quality, and providing safe, affordable and reliable transport to every corner of the city."

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 LOCAL GOVT ASSOCIATION

LGA responds to new DFT taxi licensing guidance and reforms

“Councils have long-called for existing outdated taxi laws to be updated and strengthened so we are very pleased that so many of our recommendations have been supported in this consultation."

Responding to new guidance on taxi and minicab licensing published by the Department for Transport, Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:

“Councils have long-called for existing outdated taxi laws to be updated and strengthened so we are very pleased that so many of our recommendations have been supported in this consultation.

“Proposals to improve safeguarding, establish national minimum standards and create national enforcement powers are essential to provide safer journeys for passengers and fairer business for drivers. The need for legislative reform to taxi laws which date back to the 19th century is now urgent.

“Councils have been doing what they can to strengthen licensing processes, such as signing up to the voluntary LGA-commissioned National Register of Revocations and Refusals. We are delighted that government recognises the value in mandating our initiatives and we look forward to working with government to develop them, including the issue of cross-border restrictions.

“However, given significant funding pressures on councils, government needs to ensure that licensing authorities can recover the costs of proportionate compliance and enforcement activity linked to these recommendations and other work, from driver and operator fees.”

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GLASGOW taxi drivers are calling for tougher laws against pirating to be introduced in the city.

They believe pirating, where private hire car drivers pick someone up off the street who hasn’t pre-booked a lift, should be made a criminal offence leading to court action instead of appearing at the council’s licensing committee.

Taxi drivers are asking the City Council to look at measures taken in England, including Birmingham, where an enforcement officer works with police to catch cab drivers committing offences.

Representatives from the local authority will attend the Taxi and PHV Licensing Policy Updates and Best Practices conference in London at the end of the month to discuss how situations like these can be prevented.

Speaking about the issue Steven Grant, secretary of the Glasgow CAB Section of Unite the Union, said: “In Glasgow there is a lot of potential for crime. Drivers who pirate ask people for ridiculous sums of money.

“When you see them in front of the licensing committee for pirating, they are not even being charged with a criminal offence.

“We don’t believe a four-week suspension is enough and does not act as a deterrent. But if someone gets six penalty points on their licence for pirating they are less likely to do it again.”

Calum Anderson, chairman of the Glasgow CAB Section, added: “These people are willing to break the law and the council know this is a problem.

“This is something which needs addressed. We believe taking those who pirate to court is the way forward.

“Most motorists have three penalty points on their licence. If private hire drivers are caught pirating and given six more penalty points as a result, they won’t be able to get insurance to allow them to drive.

“We don’t think we will stamp it out completely but tougher punishments may act as a deterrent.”

Councillor Alex Wilson will attend a conference in London which looks at the latest changes to licensing policy as well as discussing public safety and what other measures can be taken to improve this.

Mr Wilson said: “It is not our job to limit the number of private hires, it is our job to protect public health and safety. I am attending the conference in London this month.

“We will be looking to see what is and isn’t working. “

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