Derby (and Gedling.)

NEW rules aimed at dissuading Derby taxi firms from using hackney carriages licensed outside the city have been ironed out after a legal dispute.

Derby City Council's taxis chief, Councillor Barbara Jackson, says there are "public safety" concerns over companies doing this as the authority does not have powers to check that the out-of-city cabs are working properly.

She says customers could also find themselves over-charged because some drivers licensed elsewhere do not know the best routes.

The council has now introduced new licence conditions.

It means firms will have to keep a record of the out-of-city hackney carriages and drivers they use to make it easier for council staff to follow up any complaints.

And city private hire firms must inform customers if they may be picked up by a hackney carriage not licensed in the city so that the customer can decide whether or not to proceed with the booking.

That latter rule was finalised in court by District Judge Ian Strongman after the original wording was challenged.

The council said he "provided a form of words [for the rule] that he felt more clearly set out the council's aim."

Mrs Jackson is chairwoman of the authority's licensing and appeals committee.

She said: "The decision vindicates the council's original decision to introduce the additional conditions to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to the city."

Drivers licensed by Derby City Council have to pass a tricky knowledge test about routes through Derby.

Mrs Jackson said: "Some of the taxi drivers that come from outside the city don't know their way around which, of course, can add to the cost.

"One thing about drivers [licensed in the city] is that they know their way around.

"They ask 'Which way do you want to go?'."

She added: "Whilst we carry out regular vehicle safety checks on our licensed vehicles and drivers, we have no powers to do so on vehicles or drivers licensed by another authority, even if they are working within our city.''

The use of hackney carriages not licensed in the city by Derby taxi firms is not illegal.

Only hackney carriages can operate as private hire taxis in areas where they are not licensed.

The challenge to the wording of the condition which the judge had to revise was from Albatross Cars and Chads Cars.

The council spokeswoman said: "The end result remains the same as the council originally intended.

"This is that users of private hire vehicles are made aware that a vehicle other than one licensed by the council may be sent to pick them up, so they can exercise a choice over whether or not to carry on with the booking."

An Albatross and Chads Cars spokesman said the result of their challenge represented a success for the firms.

But he would not elaborate further.

He said: "The appeal related to technical matters regarding conditions attached to their private hire operator licence.

"While they were successful in their action, they do not wish to comment on the outcome of the appeal."

The owner of Derby's 75 Taxis, Mohammed Yasin, said his firm had only used one taxi driver licensed outside Derby in the past year and that he had just taken his test to be licensed in Derby.

Mr Yasin said: "That was a one-off after he had promised to get his licence here.

"I think the new rules are a good idea, a good thing.

"On a Friday and Saturday night, maybe around 40 per cent of taxis in Derby city centre are not licensed here.

"It should be that if you want to work in Derby you go through the process that the city council has to do so."

 http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/TAXIS-CLAMPDOWN-New-rules-Derby-cabbies-judge-s/story-24082219-detail/story.html#ixzz3IE3puXCN