Single Tier Licences

The subject of single tier Licences is starting to gather pace. This option is the favored position of Mr Button and the Institute of Licensing. (of which Manchester's Licensing staff are members).

Firstly this exchange of questions in the N. Ireland assembly :

All Northern Ireland Assembly debates on 9 Dec 2013

I thank Mr Weir for that supplementary question.  I am aware of the lobbying that is going on, particularly around the move to single-tier licensing in Belfast and the fears of the implications that that might have for the industry, particularly in Belfast and especially for public hire in Belfast.  That sector has been lobbying not only Mr Weir but parties right across the Chamber on this issue, and I have to say that I have a degree of sympathy with its fears.  However, I am doing my utmost to allay them. 

The demand for the services of Belfast public hire, or indeed any taxi firm, will be determined by the service that is being provided and the price at which it is provided.  Consumers will, and should, be able to exercise choice, and this is a matter for each consumer.  It is for my Department as a regulator to set minimum standards that all operators, vehicles and drivers must meet so that taxi users can receive the service that they expect and then to ensure compliance with those standards.  That is what I have relayed again and again to representatives of Belfast public hire. 

I have also undertaken to work with my counterpart the Minister for Regional Development around issues such as taxi ranks and, perhaps, access to bus lanes for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.  Currently, all Belfast public-hire vehicles are wheelchair accessible, so it is fair to assume that they will still use ranks and that they will still use the bus lanes.  I know that they are looking for some sort of guarantee that that might be for them alone.  I am keen not to alienate anyone —

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2013-12-09.3.12&s=taxi
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Secondly, news from Jersey.

Plans to overhaul Jersey's taxi service "could throw the industry into chaos" according to the head of the Taxi Drivers Association.

The island could have a single type of taxi service under plans by the transport minister Deputy Kevin Lewis.
Currently rank taxis and private hire cabs have different operating conditions and fare structures.
Mick Tostevin, president of the Taxi Drivers Association, says the plans are poorly thought out.

"This raises far more questions than it actually answers," he said.

"This report has no action plan whatsoever, it is just throwing the industry up in the air and saying 'you sort it out'."

In a white paper, Deputy Lewis outlines plans to restructure the taxi service, improve standards and increase the number of drivers.

"We have problems at the airport where cab drivers can't pick up unless there are no taxis there," he said.
"There have been instances in the past where people have come out to get a cab and you have two drivers, a cab and taxi driver, remonstrating with each other and demanding the other leaves."

He said he wanted a "better system" to benefit about 380 people who work in the industry.
In 2012 a survey by the Transport and Technical Services department found few people understood the current two-tier system.

It also found a lack of transparency in pricing and gaps in accessibility for disabled users.
Mr Tostevin said the current system worked well but could do with some "tweaking".

"The taxi service in Jersey is very reasonable and I think the minister is taking the easy route out here," he said.

What the minister should be doing is looking at the parts of the industry that need tweaking and easing."
In his white paper, the minister outlines a number of other recommendations including requirements for taxi drivers around fitness and customer care.

People have until February to share their thoughts on the plans ahead of the minister taking it to the States.

Comment; It is now only 15 weeks (April 1) until we hear news of our fate, here in the U.K. What will happen ? Who is doing anything ? Does anybody care ?

If I were you, I would start to be afraid, I know who my M.P. is, do you. Get some envelopes in quickly.