Plans to carry out drugs tests on Liverpool's taxi drivers have moved a step forward after councillors approved the latest stage of the proposals.

Members of the council's licensing committee voted to begin a compulsory consultation on the new testing rules, which would affect both new and existing drivers.

The new rules would see randomised testing of current taxi drivers , as well as the potential for new applicants, or taxi drivers renewing their licence, to be requested to take a test if they have a conviction or caution for drug-related offences in the past three years.

There would also be so-called 'intelligence-led' testing to allow the council to request a driver take a test if there are 'credible reasons' to suspect a driver may use illegal drugs.

Members of the committee praised the move but some said it would be necessary to push other boroughs in the region to adopt the policy as well because a large number of drivers licensing in other boroughs still operate i n Liverpool .

Councillor Roy Gladden said: "The reason we are looking at a policy for this is because of the drug problems we have with some drivers.


"Under our system there are drivers from other authorities driving in our area.

"I need something from this committee to go to the city region so that we can keep raising this with other boroughs."

Taxi team leader Yvonne Willcock said she sat on a panel with representatives from other regions and said that they would follow Liverpool's plans closely, but that it would be up to them if they wanted to introduce a testing policy of their own.

Drivers requested to take the tests due to previous drug offences will have to pay for the test, but for those chosen at random or due to intelligence-led testing the cost will be covered by the city council

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YORK

The city council should not change its taxi licensing policy towards out-of-town drivers working in York - under recommendations made to senior councillors.

City of York Council could face major risks - including significant costs and a legal fight in a national court - if it tries to stop Uber and other taxi companies registered outside the area operating in York, according to a report.

The council’s current legal position is that if a private hire vehicle’s three licences - operator, driver and vehicle - have all come from the same local authority then the driver can accept journeys anywhere in England and Wale, regardless of where the fare starts, passes through or ends.

Councillors will be asked not to change this policy because, according to the report, it could lead to thousands of pounds of legal costs because in other cases courts have not found out-of-town drivers to be acting unlawfully by picking up fares in other areas.

The report says: “This is national issue and the situation in York is similar to that in many other towns and cities in the country.

“For example, Medway Council have a statement on their website in relation to Uber which says ‘As the law stands, at present the Council do not believe that Uber is acting unlawfully within the council’s area’.

“Furthermore, Uber are not the only firm who work under the ‘triple licensing rule’ and it is said that other firms work to this model on race days in York for example.”

It adds that the council has sought legal advice on the issue and a lawyer found that a legal opinion by Gerald Gouriet QC for the York Private Hire Association is “untenable”.

The council’s executive will be recommended to make no changes to the taxi licensing policy.

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