Liverpool Council continued to clamp down on dodgy drivers at football matches in the final month of the Premier League season.

Across the month of May, one private hire driver was cautioned for illegally plying for hire outside one of the football grounds.

Elsewhere, two Hackney cab drivers were cautioned for failing to wear the correct badges while trying to pick up football fans.

And another Hackney driver from Manchester got into trouble, for failing to assist an officer around the time of a match in the city.
 
Operation Topaz is a campaign by the city council to improve the taxi and private hire trades during football matches in the city.

It was launched after a host of complaints about drivers charging exorbitant fares to fans upfront, cherrypicking certain fares and private hire drivers illegally plying for hire after full time.

Across the city, the council had a busy month in its bid to clean up both trades in general.

During May, a total of 40 cabs and taxis were either taken off the streets or served with serious defect notices for a string of faults.

Members of the city council’s Licensing Enforcement Team patrols the city at key times on a regular basis. And during May they snared 35 Liverpool drivers whose vehicles had a string of faults such as dangerous tyres, damaged bodywork, sharp edges and unclean and unhygienic interiors.
 

The team also took five cars off the road that belonged to taxi drivers from outside Liverpool. Any driver issued with a defect notice has seven days to make repairs or face further action.

Three Sefton-based private hire drivers were prosecuted for taking passengers who had not booked their journey in advance (plying for hire), whilst three black cab drivers were fined for being selective in what fares they took, rather than taking the nearest available passenger (cherry picking).

The Licensing Enforcement Team also works on behalf of the taxi trade and during May more than 150 fines were issued to private motorists who had illegally parked on taxi stands.
 
A further 53 taxi and private hire drivers were given written cautions for violations including failing to display their badges, not having valid insurance and failing to ensure the safety of their passengers.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr James Noakes, said:  “This is another successful month for the enforcement team and it is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved that they have been able to identify so many drivers who are not playing by the rules.

src=Liverpoolecho.co.uk
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NOTTINGHAM

Private hire drivers were fined for breaking taxi rules after a judge told one: "This was for a quick gain and ultimately greed."

Both picked up plain clothes police officers and drove without insurance cover because of the hackney carriage rules, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard.

Private hire drivers have to be booked - they can't pick people up from the streets.

Mustafa Nasserie was seen by a police officer at the reception area of the Queen's Medical Centre on February 22, said Ben Payne, prosecuting.

"He asked if he would take him into the city. The defendant asked him where he wanted to go and he said the Trinity Square area. The defendant agreed and both officers got in," said Mr Payne.

Uniformed officers were alerted and they stopped Nasserie, 29, of Springhead Court, Bulwell. He admitted plying for hire without being licensed as a hackney carriage and having no insurance.
 
He was fined £650 with £85 prosecution costs and a £45 government surcharge.

District Judge Leo Pyle told him: "You drove your Toyota straight through the licensing laws which are aimed at ensuring all persons are fit and proper, vehicles are safe and ultimately the public are safe.

"The only thing I am able to conclude is that this was for a quick gain and ultimately greed."
Nasserie told the court: "I can't say anything."

Later identical charges were admitted by Gurnam Taak, 43, of Highbury Close, Nuthall. He was fined £480 with £85 prosecution costs and a £38 surcharge.

The pair each had eight penalty points put on their licences. The judge ordered them to report their court appearances to the councils which issued their private hire licences.

In Taak's case, the court heard that he was seen on Friar Lane on the same night. When asked if he was free, he told the police officer that he was waiting for someone. But a few minutes later, Taak told the officer "I can take you," added Mr Payne.

Taak said: "At the time, I was very confused because I had some family issues."
The officer left after the first conversation but then stood in front of the car.

"I felt really intimidated when he came back to me," Taak added.

www.nottinghampost.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
BLACKBURN

Checks making it easier to uncover past criminal behaviour of prospective taxi drivers are set to be adopted in Blackburn with Darwen. 

Earlier this year, The Department for Transport (DfT) launched a consultation on new licensing guidelines for councils. 

The proposed measures consulted on included recommending every local authority ensures drivers have an enhanced criminal record and background check before they can operate. 

Currently when a driver who does not disclose information about a previous revocation or refusal of a licence there is often no way for a licensing authority to find out about it. 

This means vital information about a driver’s past behaviour is missed and a driver might be granted a licence in a new area despite having a licence revoked elsewhere. 

In response to this, the Local Government Association (LGA) has commissioned the development of a national register of all revoked and refused private hire and hackney carriage drivers licences. 

This will allow licensing authorities to record their refusals and revocations and check new applicants against the register. Guidance has been issued by the LGA on how to implement use of the register.

Authorities will need to update policies, provide historical data to the database and amend forms and information given to drivers.

 

In particular, all the drivers who have been refused or revoked in the past will need to be written to individually. 

Information about a previous revocation or refusal of a licence there is often no way for a licensing authority to find out about it.
This means vital information about a driver’s past behaviour is missed and a driver might be granted a licence in a new area despite having a licence revoked elsewhere. 

In response to this, the Local Government Association (LGA) has commissioned the development of a national register of all revoked and refused private hire and hackney carriage drivers licences. 

This will allow licensing authorities to record their refusals and revocations and check new applicants against the register. Guidance has been issued by the LGA on how to implement use of the register.

Authorities will need to update policies, provide historical data to the database and amend forms and information given to drivers. 

In particular, all the drivers who have been refused or revoked in the past will need to be written to individually and informed that their details will be entered onto the register. 

Last year, information released by the Disclosure and Barring Service under the Freedom of Information Act showed paedophiles and fraudsters were among the criminals whose convictions were revealed as part of the process of applying to be taxi drivers in Blackburn with Darwen. 

Figures showed 315 people with a total of 1,678 offences applied for a check as part of their bid to hold a licence to drive a taxi in the borough over the last three years. 

But it is not clear how many of those 315 people were successful in getting a licence. 

Executive member for environment, Cllr Jim Smith, said: “The simple objective is to ensure that all authorities are able to make properly informed decisions on whether an applicant is fit and proper, in the knowledge that another authority has reached a negative view on the same applicant.

“This will be achieved by providing a mechanism for allowing authorities to check.

“Whenever an authority receives an application for a licence they must check at an early stage if that driver is on the register. 

“Every decision must be made on its own merits; a previous refusal or revocation cannot fetter the Licensing Authority’s decision by relying on the previous decision. 

“The purpose of the register is not to mean that a person who has been refused a licence on one occasion should always be refused.

“However, it will always be relevant for an authority to consider the previous revocation or refusal and reasons for it.”

 

The register will be hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) through a dedicated secure portal. 

An officer will be designated to input and retrieve information from the register. 

Historic data will be migrated onto the register and details will be stored for up to 25 years.

www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------

ROYAL ASCOT

Royal borough residents are divided over plans to allow taxi drivers to charge up to fifty per cent more for journeys from Royal Ascot to elsewhere in the borough. 

This comes after drivers complained about the time it takes to get back to the racecourse’s taxi rank because of increased traffic around the venue.
In April, councillors at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) agreed to support drivers by allowing them to charge up to 50 per cent more if customers want to be taken to a destination closer to the event. 

Read more about the key decision here
Just days before the historic races get underway, residents have reacted to the news they could be paying more to get back from Royal Ascot.

Andrew Ford, from Ascot, said he thought the plans might lead to some customers arguing over the price of a journey with drivers.

 

He said: “It's a competitive market out there and if you're in no rush there's no arguing over the fare with Uber.” 

Another resident told the News: “I use local taxis all year but find it difficult to justify the increase during Royal Ascot. 

“Looks like I’ll have no choice this year instead of the one stop on the train.”

However, a number of residents got behind the proposals, which are going ahead under a trial basis this year. 

One stated: “I think it is justified given some of the people and behaviour they have to deal with!

“I use local Ascot taxi firms all year round and I don’t begrudge them at all.” 

Another added: “I think it is enterprising and actually they are dealing with traffic and possibly louder customers.

 

“I don't have a problem with it. Everyone else is benefitting by hiking their prices, why not the taxi drivers too?” 

The proposals were rubber stamped in April after a long discussion between RBWM councillors and taxi drivers. 

A spokeswoman from the RBWM said: “Ensuring that those attending Ascot races have a safe and convenient way to get home following the event is a key priority for us. However, as ever this needs to be balanced with the need to ensure that licensed taxi drivers are reasonably reimbursed for providing this important service.

“This will be a trial for this event and further consideration will be given following a report to the licensing panel in July.” 

Royal Ascot runs from Tuesday, June 18 

www.bracknellnews.co.uk
------------------------------------------------

HULL

A taxi driver jailed for 16 years after stabbing and strangling his teenage wife to death because she refused to move to Hull.

Mohammad Qoraishi killed his wife Parwin, in Kent on Christmas Day 2018, when he hit her across the head with a frying pan, stabbed her 38 times in the head, face, chest and thighs, and finally strangled her.

Qoraishi, 27, was working as a black cab driver in Hull and it is believed most of his trade was outside Paragon Interchange, before he made the move to Maidstone in November to be with his new wife, who was 19.

Last week, Maidstone Crown Court heard the couple had had an arranged marriage in Afghanistan in August last year.

hulldailymail.co.uk

The next generation of ultra-fast electric car charging is coming to Britain’s filling stations with BP Chargemaster revealing the UK’s first 150kW charger network. 

Called the Ultracharge 150, the new unit will go live soon on BP Chargemaster’s Polar public charging network. It was launched to the public at the recent Fully Charged Live show at Silverstone. 

The target is to have 100 units live at 50 BP forecourts by the end of 2019 – with 400 chargers installed by the end of 2021.

Ultracharge units will deliver 100 miles of electric car range in just 10 minutes.
  
Both Polar pay-as-you-go and subscription customers will be able to use the new units, which will be fitted with both CCS (used by the BMW i3, Jaguar I-Pace and Kia e-Niro) and CHAdeMO (favoured by the Nissan Leaf) connectors.

https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/bp-chargemaster-bolsters-charging-range-with-new-150kw-unit-confirms-roll-out-plans 

Comment: are fast chargers a Cabbies Dream ?

Yes ! Think again, below is a chart of the Nissan NV200 charge indicator.
On a 40KWH fast charger.

The battery temperature reaches a massive 40 deg C, when charging at 40kwh. How hot would the battery get on a 150Kwh charge. ?

150kwh chargers would be a Cabbies Nightmare, epecially when the battery temp cause your nuts to fall off. 

----------------------------------------------

A HIGH-TECH eye in the sky has been deployed at Edinburgh Airport to crackdown on rogue taxi drivers.

Cameras will track any taxis or private hires that contravene bylaws by picking-up passengers in the wrong area.

Bosses at the airport have taken action after spotting a rise in touting, tailgating through the exit barriers and congestion.

Adrian Witherow, Chief Operating Officer at Edinburgh Airport said: “The safety of staff and passengers is always our number one priority and practices like touting and tailgating must be addressed to ensure the drop-off zone is a safe environment for everyone.

“It’s important that we provide a steady supply of taxis and private hire cars for passengers who land in Edinburgh but, unfortunately, a rise in these unsafe practices is impacting on our ability to do that. Touting is also denying our licenced taxis business and we have a responsibility to protect the integrity of that service, especially when that agreement ensures a supply of cars available for our passengers and customers at all hours of the day.

“We hope that these measures will encourage all operators to act in a responsible and safe manner and encourage them to adhere to the agreements that are in place to deliver a positive experience for passengers and drivers.”

Signage to make users aware of the new measures has been installed and any vehicles that pick-up passengers in the drop off zone will receive a parking charge notice of £100.

A private company will manage this for the airport.

Rival firms City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire currently both operate the ranks in a joint venture providing transfers to inbound passengers at the airport.

The Evening News reported in November how airport bosses had to step in to tell rival drivers on its ranks to stay in their cars to prevent them from squabbling in front of customers.

It was understood the airport intervened to ensure cabbies stay in their vehicles to prevent them from influencing customers' decision and reducing confrontations when rival drivers congregated at the head of their respective ranks.

City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire drivers grew frustrated at rival firms' illegally picking up passengers in the drop-off zone after transporting customers to the airport.

Les McVay, company secretary of City Cabs welcomed the latest technology to clampdown on rogue drivers.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/traffic-and-travel/edinburgh-airport-bosses-deploy-cameras-to-catch-rogue-taxi-drivers-1-4945599
---------------------------------

 SUNDERLAND

Taxi drivers could face more inspections coming in and out of Sunderland under new rules aimed at keeping their passengers safer.

Sunderland City Council is looking to sign-up to a taxi licensing agreement with the North East region's 11 other councils, which could mean the drivers could face more inspections once they leave the city.

Taxis not from Sunderland would also face inspections if they enter the city.

The new agreement is being introduced to help bring about more effective regulation of the trade across the North East region.

It follows councils expressing concerns about the increasing numbers of taxis licensed by other councils often operating in their areas.

These 'out of area' vehicles are not subject to the regulations of the council in the area they are working in.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet is looking at the regional agreement when it meets next Tuesday, June 18.

It is part of a wider on-going national review of taxi licensing arrangements.

Councillor Amy Wilson, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "As the report to cabinet sets out, there have been recent and national concerns relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.

"These are draft statutory guidance and haven’t yet been adopted by government but there is a will to adopt these as local policies

"This council, as are others up and down the country, is reviewing its taxi licensing functions to further reflect these guidelines and new powers.

“Our review is considering mandatory safeguarding training for drivers and further checks for if a driver is a 'fit and proper person'.

"This North East Memorandum of Understanding is very much a first stage of this licensing review process.

“It is all about ensuring more effective regulation of the taxi trade and protecting the public."

As of end of May 2019, there are 347 Hackney Carriages in Sunderland, 443 Private Hire vehicles and 1,165 drivers.

https://bit.ly/2WAIzMG
 

The BBC have rang me Tonight, they would like me to go on the Breakfast Show in the Morning, to comment on the forthcoming partial closure of GT Ancoats Street. I will not be doing so.

However if any member on here would wish to go, please contact us I will put your name forward.


----------------------------------------------------------

Here is the Proposal:

A major overhaul of one of Manchester's busiest city centre roads is underway and will involve spending £250,000 on trees, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.

Manchester council wants to turn Great Ancoats Street, on the edge of the Northern Quarter, into a 'European-style' boulevard with new and improved pedestrian crossings.

The plan is deliver twelve wider crossings with red chippings footways along a half-mile stretch of the inner ring-road, starting from Oldham Road at the junction of Marshall Street/Cornell Street and continuing until the Metrolink stop on Pollard Street.

Along the route, the council intends to plant up to 70 trees including maple and honeysuckle that it is hoped will live for up to 100 years.

Around £250,000 is being spent from money collected through a 'section 106' agreement with one of the developers to have built apartments on Great Ancoats Street.

Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons said the idea is for visitors to experience 'a European-style welcome to Manchester'.

"The work will be a bit of a headache," he conceded.

"But I think the result will be really nice."

In a leaflet being distributed in the area, the council says the aim is to make the area 'a natural extension' of Manchester city centre.

The works begin this month and will continue into 2020.

It is understood council officials intend for the most intensive work to take place in the evening, finishing at midnight, to cause as little impact as possible on commuter traffic.

Great Ancoats Street is one of the most-used in Manchester city centre, with an average of 37,200 journeys on a typical weekday.

The pedestrian crossings are used more than 15,000 times every 12 hours.

However, it is also one of the most dangerous, with a high number of road accidents.

Earlier this year we reported on a motorbike rider left with horrific injuries after a hit-and-run incident on the road.

The council says road resurfacing works using new materials will reduce noise from traffic by 40 per cent.

Landscaping works will also involve the planting of trees, new pavements, improved street furniture and making signage clearer and simpler to understand.

The first stage, taking place between June and November 2019, will involve cabling and piping installations for utilities and telecoms companies beneath the road and footway surfaces.

The council says this will 'make sure the work has the lowest impact possible on traffic flow.'

The second, and main part of the work, will start in January 2020 to avoid impacting the busy Christmas period.

The roadworks are the latest stage of the Manchester and Salford Inner Relief Route scheme which led to Regent Road being partially closed.

Outlining the plans, Manchester council said: "In recent years, the surrounding areas of the Northern Quarter and Ancoats/New Islington have undergone major transformations.

"As the city centre is expanding, Great Ancoats Street is not benefiting from the same exciting developments to housing and businesses as its neighbours. There are also a high number of road accidents along the route.

"The area is a prime location for residential and commercial development opportunities, and a plan of work has been put together to help the area realise its potential."

Source MEN
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MESSAGE FROM MANCHESTER LICENSING

taxis.noreply@manchester.gov.uk
   
15:08 (2 hours ago)  


Dear Hackney Licence holder,

We are holding a Hackney Trade Briefing on Monday 24 June at 5pm - 7pm to provide details of the GM Minimum Licensing Standards proposals, followed by a Q & A session. Councillor Ludford, (Chair), and Councillor Grimshaw
(Deputy Chair) of the Licensing and Appeals Committee will be in attendance, as well as Exec Member, Councillor Akbar.

As this is a significant piece of work, with potential wide ranging impacts for the trade and the industry within GM, we want to engage with as many of the trade as possible prior to formal consultation in the Summer, however we are unable to hold a fully open meeting and have to limit places both due to the venue and to allow a meaningful session.

How to register your interest in attending:

If you are a member of a recognised Trade Association or group - then please speak to your Trade Rep to register your interest in attending before Weds 19 June 2019.
Trade Associations will be allowed up to 15 Members to attend.


If you are not a member of a Trade Association or Group - and you would like to attend the meeting, then please email

taxi.licensing@manchester.gov.uk

and put 'Trade Briefing Interest' in the subject heading to register your interest by Wednesday 19 June 2019.

Limited places will be allocated on a first come; first served basis.

**Please do not register your interest directly with the Unit if you are a member of a group, speak to your rep instead.

Those allocated a place, will receive a further email with instructions.

We cannot guarantee being able to allow anyone into the venue that hasn't registered, so please do not attend if you have not been allocated a place.

Kind regards

Danielle 

Taxi companies appear to be thriving in the West Midlands, despite the advent of disruptive smartphone app Uber.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 445 taxi businesses operating in this region in 2018.

The figure includes cab hire, taxi cab services and private hire cars as well as chauffeur-driven services and car rental that comes with a driver.

It is not a count of individual drivers - just the companies they work for - and therefore excludes black cabs and Uber drivers.

The number is up from 435 such businesses in 2015 - the year that Uber first came to Birmingham.

Nationally, Uber appears to have made little impact on the number of taxi companies in operation - although experts warn the figures don't tell the full story.

There were 7,885 taxi companies in businesses across the UK in 2018 - down slightly from 7,950 in 2017, but up from 6,720 in 2012.

Donna Short, director of the National Private Hire Association, said: "Uber has made a considerable impact on the taxi trade.

"Their business model is very attractive, particularly to younger people, which has meant that existing companies have had to up their game.

"Collectively, taxi companies have had to develop their own apps, start using social media, invest in technology and give more consideration to training.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/west-midlands-taxi-companies-thriving-16396856
-----------------------------------

 Toyota finally decided to go all-electric from 2020 on with a new BEV platform and six global BEV models including crossovers, SUVs and more.

Toyota, after years of neglecting of all-electric cars, announced today a huge offensive with a new platform, global models of various type as well as ultra-compact and walking area BEVs.

The new plan envisions rollout of all-electric vehicles from 2020 (starting with Toyota C-HR BEV and Toyota IZOA BEV twins in China) and Toyota says that by 2025, all models to have electrified version (at least hybrid).

In the early 2020s, Toyota would like to introduce 10 BEV models worldwide, including six global models, based on e-TNGA platform.

If we look at the general plan, you can notice however that expected BEV sales are low compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrid share. Interestingly, Toyota doesn't see much market share for hydrogen fuel cell cars by 2050 either.

    "Much work lies ahead to achieve the popularization of BEVs. Specifically, we will be focusing on vehicle development and the stable supply, improved durability, and reuse of batteries.

    We are steadily preparing a framework to respond thoroughly to the challenge, putting all the pieces in place, including the creation of new business models.

    Working in an extensive and open manner, we are collaborating with partners as we strive to contribute to a better society."

https://insideevs.com/news/353600/toyota-six-global-bevs/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
-----------------------------------



 

 SHEFFIELD

Taxi drivers say they have been left in limbo after plans for a Clear Air Zone were announced eight months ago with no further information.

Last November, Sheffield Council said it was looking at creating a zone around the city centre after the Government said it must cut nitrous oxide emissions.

Taxis and buses would have to pay a daily £10 charge to enter the zone and the council is also looking at charging light goods vehicles such as vans.

But Uber drivers say since the announcement, they have struggled to find further information despite repeated requests.

Council chiefs say they have met with taxi driver representatives as they “move towards” a full consultation. There are 3,000 private hire and 850 black cabs in the city.

Lee Herriott, Virginia Halstead and Dean Higgins say drivers can’t buy new vehicles because they don’t know what “green” level will be required.

Mr Higgins said: “The cheapest electric car is £28,000 but they are too small to use as a taxi. The range of cars just isn’t good enough, especially for wheelchair access. The most suitable car is a Tesla but they are £40,000 which is a mortgage for some people.

“There’s also not enough charging points. You have to break during your shift to charge them and if you have an airport run it’s a real problem. Electric black cabs also struggle with the hills in Sheffield.”

Ms Halstead says there’s also an issue with LPG and hybrid vehicles. “There are only 31 hackney cabs out of 850 which are suitable for LPG because you need a tank but by law it can’t be near where passengers sit so it’s very difficult to fit one in a taxi. These tanks are ok with saloon cars but not estate or hackney cabs.”

Taxi drivers say they also feel penalised because private motorists won’t be charged.

Mr Herriott said: “They will still allow cars and lorries which is what is annoying private hire drivers. We are only four per cent of the pollution in Sheffield.

“We are all self employed, but why aren’t other small businesses, such as delivery companies, not being charged?”

Coun Bob Johnson, cabinet member for transport and development, said the aim was to have the entire taxi fleet in Sheffield made up of ultra-low emissions vehicles by 2021.  
   
         
Coun Johnson, a new cabinet member, said: “Our ambitious clean air plans are now my responsibility and I thank these drivers for the concerns they’ve shown – it’s encouraging that they are already taking steps to get cleaner vehicles.

“Air pollution is a serious problem and taxi drivers are one of the groups who are most at risk from the damage caused by nitrogen dioxide emissions.

“My officers have held several initial meetings with representatives of Sheffield’s taxi associations about these proposals and will continue to do so as we move towards a full city-wide consultation.

“These meetings have been positive but it’s vital we keep working with taxi drivers to design the support packages that will reduce air pollution in the city.

“The consultation will be available to every taxi driver. We are launching a website and will hold some targeted discussions and events in the weeks ahead. We want to support drivers to enable them to get cleaner vehicles while thinking about the long-term needs of the city.”

https://bit.ly/2MzVlWY
-------------------------------------------

Uber has axed plans to come to Aberdeen almost two years after it was granted an operating licence.

The cashless car hire firm was awarded its office booking licence in 2017 – required to let it run a service in the Granite City.

However the company has now U-turned on its commitment and has said it has no plans to come to the north-east.

The city council has confirmed the American organisation has handed its licence back.

Uber has declined to elaborate on the reasons for its decision but a north-east tourism expert has speculated that the changing local economy could have been the death knell for the move.

Andrew Martin, tourism lecturer at Aberdeen University, said: “I know that taxi drivers have been having a really difficult time since 2015.

“Trading has been difficult. There have been less people coming through the airport and less wanting to use hotels and accommodation in the city.

“You only have to take a look around Union Street on a Friday and Saturday night to see how quiet it is.

“I would reckon that the business case for Uber just wasn’t as strong as it might once have been.”

The controversial service is already operating in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but the Aberdeen branch would have been the furthest north the multinational firm has ventured in the UK.

Under the cashless service, patrons pay through a smartphone app and are given information on their driver, including the make of car, before pick-up.
It is understood that if the Silicon Valley company had recruited drivers in Aberdeen they would have had to undergo the same training and tests as ordinary taxi drivers, which has not been the case in other cities.

There was mixed reaction to the news Uber had pulled out among traditional taxi drivers.

Derek Davidson, who is self-employed, has been a cab driver in the city for 20 years.

He said: “I’m probably in the minority but I don’t think Uber are as bad as others make out.

“The big taxi firms take a radio fee if you work for them, no matter how many jobs you do. At least Uber only takes a cut of the trips you actually make.”

But Alex McIntosh, who has been a driver for 10 years, said he was pleased at the news.

“I think it’s a good thing they’re not coming,” he said.
“But as far as I could gather they would have had to go through the same licensing process as other drivers, which would take away their end of the market.”

The city council confirmed Uber had “surrendered the booking office licence that was granted in 2017”.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk
-----------------------------------------

BURY

Hackney private hire cabbies say their complaints are being ignored by the council.

Bury cabbies say they are being unfairly treated

Discontent is “bubbling” among taxi drivers in Bury, according to a trade representative.

Charles Oakes, chairman of the Hackney Drivers’ Association, was joined by four private hire drivers who slated staff at the town hall last night.

They claimed that vehicles are unfairly failing tests for cosmetic issues such as scratches which is putting drivers out of work.

Further frustrations were expressed about the need for drivers to travel outside of the borough to be tested.

Mr Oakes told councillors on the licensing and safety panel drivers’ complaints are being ignored.
He said: “There is a backlog of complaints that have not been answered. What’s going on? 

Because members who are aggrieved in whatever way have a right to be heard.”

Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.

She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
 
However, Shaf Mahmood, a Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association representative, said the department was “deliberately” not answering complaints.

Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.

She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
 

However, Shaf Mahmood, a Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association representative, said the department was “deliberately” not answering complaints.

Vehicle failed MOT for having tinted windows
He told the panel about an incident on Tuesday in which a vehicle failed its MOT for having tinted windows despite passing the previous year.

Licensing unit manager Michael Bridges said he had already seen a complaint about this incident and would respond in due course.

But the disgruntled drivers said that testers examine vehicles with a “fine-tooth comb” and fail them “for anything”, resulting in additional charges.

Mohammad Sajad, secretary of Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association told the panel that having one licensed MOT station in the borough is not enough given the rising number of taxi drivers.

The taxi drivers claim they are failing tests for unfair reasons.

A fire at Bradley Fold station earlier this year means that vehicle testing has been relocated to Bolton for the time being.

Mrs Lomax praised the “marvellous” staff for being up and running within 48 hours at the station which is four miles away.
 
A total of 50 vehicles are tested every week by the Bradley Fold staff who have to deal with 1,000 drivers throughout the year.

Mr Bridges also claimed that drivers often fail to give the station enough notice before turning up for tests.

He said: “Drivers come in two days before their licence expires. It’s never their fault, it’s always the council’s fault.”

Drivers can't afford extra fees

Mr Oakes said that there is “discontent bubbling” throughout the hackney and private hire trade.
He raised concerns about the proposals which could result in taxi drivers who use certain vehicles paying a daily fee for travelling on highly-polluted roads.

New industry standards are also on the horizon affecting all drivers across the region.

He said: “Drivers can’t afford all these things and every bit of money that goes into this. I’ve been complaining about the refusal of the council to allow the trade a second testing station in Bury. The fire at Bradley Fold clearly shows there’s a need for another testing station. Drivers are not going to be happy having to go to Bolton to get their vehicles tested.”

A public consultation on the common minimum standards for taxis and private hire vehicles in Greater Manchester and the Clean Air Plan is expected to take place later this year.

M.E.N.

Daniel Zeichner Labour, Cambridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2019 to Question 240585 on Taxis: Licensing, what progress he has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to restrict cross border hiring by private hire drivers.

• (Citation: HC Deb, 4 June 2019, cW)

Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)

Government continues to carefully consider how any restriction of out-of-area journeys by taxis and private hire vehicles proposed by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group might work in practice, with a view to legislating when time allows.

LEICESTER

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences after a taxi driver became concerned for the welfare of two young passengers he had dropped off at a flat in Leicester.

The driver had collected the girls, whom he believed to be 15 or 16, from an address in the city on Sunday evening and took them to their destination - a flat where they were greeted by a man, Leicestershire Police said.

The driver had been concerned by the nature of the girls' conversation during the journey, when they discussed "alcohol, sex and drugs", the force said in a statement today.

"The driver dropped off the girls at the agreed address where they were met by a man who walked them inside," the statement continued.

"Fearing that the girls were being sexually exploited, the driver called police.

"Officers attended the flat and forced entry after entry was refused.

"Four men were arrested on suspicion of arranging or facilitating a commission of a child sex act and have been released under investigation.

"The girls were found at the address and have been spoken to by officers."

Last year, the force ran a campaign to help taxi drivers and hotel and bar owners learn how to spot the signs of the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.

Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, from the force’s child sexual exploitation (CSE) team, said: “People who work in these industries are in a unique position to spot the signs of CSE whether it's a taxi driver who notices all may not be right with passengers in their vehicle, hotel reception staff looking out for unusual bookings or bar staff being alert to a number of indicators and raising the alarm if necessary.

“Reports such as this help us build the bigger picture around CSE and I would like to praise the driver for contacting police.

"He noticed something which didn’t seem right with him and he made the right decision by reporting his concerns.

Latest advice from the NSPCC

“This latest report shows that our message is being listened to and people are helping the police and other agencies in the fight against eradicating CSE but this something that we must all continue to work together on.

"I would encourage everyone to know the risks around CSE, spot the signs and speak out to help us safeguard victims and bring their abusers to justice.”

https://bit.ly/2Mvf4Y3
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 TXE 

Lookers has joined the London EV Company’s (LEVC) taxi retail network with the opening of a new dealership in Stockport.

The Geely-owned hybrid electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer followed-up its appointment of Endeavour Automotive in Chiswick and Taggarts Motor Group in Glasgow during April with the announcement that fellow AM100 group Lookers would operate a franchise on St Mary’s way, Stockport.

All three facilities have been aligned with nearby Volvo dealerships in their respective city's, allowing the retail groups to offer aftersales support with technicians trained across the two brands, which share many components.

Lookers' new premises in Stockport will provide full sales and aftersales support to hackney carriage taxi drivers in the area.

A two-day ‘TX Discovery Event’ is being hosted by Lookers today and tomorrow (June 5 and 6) to mark the new business’s official opening, encouraging taxi drivers to learn all about the TX Electric Taxi and speak to experts from LEVC.

LEVC’s TX taxi is a plug-in hybrid range-extender electric vehicle originally designed to comply with Transport for London’s Taxi Private Hire regulations, which, from January 1 this year, meant that any taxi driver applying for licence has to have a zero emissions capable vehicle.

This will eventually lead to the phasing out of all diesel taxis in London.

In February, GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) announced plans to introduce a clean air zone across all 10 of Manchester’s local authorities by 2021.

Under current plans, vans and taxis are set to be charged £7.50 per day when operating within the clean air zone.

The TX has a zero emissions range of 80.6 miles and a total range of 377 miles.

LEVC believes that taxi drivers can save up to £110 per week in fuel savings alone by moving into a hybrid-powered TX taxi.

https://bit.ly/317hVK1

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Uber is under examination by US and foreign tax authorities, the company confirmed on Tuesday, saying it could face charges in key markets including the UK.

The news, contained in a regulatory filing and first reported by Bloomberg, is a new blow to the company.

Uber has lost about $12bn or 9% in value since its first day of trading as a public company on 10 May, a major disappointment.

In its first earnings report as a listed company, the company last week reported losses of $1bn for the first quarter of 2019, among the largest of any public company.

In its filing to US regulators submitted in April, Uber said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was examining tax years 2013 and 2014. It also confirmed it is under examination by other state and foreign tax authorities, and that its tax advantages are to be cut due to its “transfer pricing positions”.

Transfer pricing concerns normally refer to how a company books the transactions of goods and services among corporate subsidiaries, often as a way to shift reported income to low-tax jurisdictions, as in the infamous “double-Irish” manoeuvre deployed by big companies to avoid billions in tax exposure.

News of Uber’s tax audit comes one day after it was leaked that regulators are preparing investigations into anti-competitive practices at Google, Facebook and Amazon. An IRS investigation into Uber will probably reinforce the impression that political and regulatory winds are turning against big tech.

Uber said tax years from 2010 to 2019 could be at issue in a number of its key markets, including the US, UK, the Netherlands and India. The company said it has adequate cash reserves to meet its exposure.

Banks have begun research coverage of the company, at the end of a regulatory “quiet period”. Most analysts seemed to ride over Uber’s disastrous IPO, which was initially guide-priced at a whopping $120bn. The company ultimately went public at $80bn. Its current market value is $69bn.

Revenues are projected to climb 24% this year to $14bn but the company is on track to lose $4.4bn. According to Refinitiv data, three analysts from banks uninvolved in the Uber IPO recommend buying the stock, five have neutral ratings and none recommend selling.

The IPO has also brought the probability of higher prices for customers.

“We expect to deploy fewer consumer promotions,” the chief financial officer, Nelson Chai, said last week.

By some estimates, Uber’s fares must double if the company is to break even.

Writing at nakedcapitalism.com in 2016, industry expert Hubert Horan calculated that riders were paying only 41% of the cost of their trips.

“Uber’s growth to date is entirely explained by its willingness to engage in predatory competition funded by Silicon Valley billionaires pursuing industry dominance,” Horan wrote.

https://bit.ly/2HZP6aV