TAXI REFORM CONFERENCE

1
TAXI REFORM CONFERENCE

• Home Counties Region
• 10 January 2008
• Chairman Peter Jones

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PROGRAMME

• 10 am  Introduction
• 10.15 am     Taxi Marshals and Taxi Ranks - Codes
  of Practise
• 10.45 am Coffee break
• 11 am     Contract Exemption Debate
• 11.45 pm Qualifications for Licensed Drivers

• 12.30 pm    The Local Transport Bill 2007
• 1 pm Lunch
• 1.45 pm A New Taxi Licensing Bill
• 3 pm Open Forum
• 3.30 pm Close

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TAXI REFORM SURVEY

• Conducted during last quarter of 2007
• Online poll
• Open to all licensing practitioners in the field
• 61 local authorities responded
• 84 Institute of Licensing Members

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How many HCVS do you licence?

• Less than 50 6.76
• Between 51 and 99 - 32.43
• Between 100 and 199 - 32.43
• Between 200 and 299 14.86
• Between 300 and 399 - 56.76
• Between 400 and 499 - 1.35
• Between 500 and 599 - 00.00 
• Over 600 - 5.41

5
How many PHVs do you licence?
of respondents
6
How many drivers do you licence?
of respondents
7
Is a review of HC/PH legislation necessary?
8
Should HCVs and PHVs be licensed separately?
9
Please indicate any significant problems within
your area

• Vehicles cherry picking fares (both hc and ph)
• Differing standards between licensing authorities
  in requirements for drivers - the entry
  qualifications should be standardised.
• Tension between Hack and PH drivers, a two class
  system?
• Many individual drivers applying for PH op
  licences in order to take direct bookings. Queue
  at PH ops bases with no pre booking. Use of
  mobile phones
• Demand control after de-limitation. Major problem
  in rural area with market towns. Trade only want
  to operate in few locations.
• The removal of sect 75(1)b is a great help.
  Working from legislation from 1847 and 1976 where
  technology has changed. This requires an to it.
• Inconsistent approach to fares, standards, fees
  etc. with neighbouring LA's leads to unnecessary
  significant argument with drivers
• Due to having a large rural area we do have on
  occassion vehicles operating, hanging around at
  key points in the District.
• Delimitation would not solve this problem.
  Hackneys from local areas are main offenders in
  plying for hire
• Unlicensed cars/drivers operating for hire and
  reward
• Our vehicles operating in an adjoining area
• Constant bickering between Hackney Carriages and
  Private Hire about who can do what.
• Agree cross-border hiring is an issue, but
  wouldn't describe it as a 'problem'. We are
  licensing HCs that are operating exclusively in
  other districts
• Various relating to vehicle conditions etc
• Limiting of Hackney Carriage licenses encourages
  black market where licenses are traded illegally
  for thousands of pounds
• HC's cherry picking fares

10
Next steps

• Other comments
• Pressure for reform
• Call for volunteers
• Start after lunch!

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TAXI MARSHALS CODE OF PRACTISE

• Jeffrey Leib
• Licensing Manager
• Watford Borough Council

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TAXI MARSHALS

• Role
• History
• Distribution
• Employment models
• Funding

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TAXI MARSHALS

• Bath, Lincoln, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bromley,
  Croydon, Ealing, Ayr, Bristol, Hastings,
  Havering, Angus, Wakefield, Swansea, Chorley,
  Chichester, Birmingham, Camberley, Worthing,
  Belfast, Poole

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CODE OF PRACTISE

• No national code
• Contractual obligations
• supplier marshal drivers

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CoP FOR SUPPLIERS

• Marshals are SIA compliant
• Arrive promptly on duty
• Provide a named contact
• Provide same marshal to particular rank

• Attend local Pubwatch etc
• Have access to local Pubwatch radio etc
• Marshals have relevant communication and language
  skills for the location

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CoP FOR MARSHALS

• Fare tariff knowledge
• Queue management
• Non-favouritism
• Awareness of transport alternatives
• Complaints and record keeping

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TAXI RANKS

• What is a taxi rank?
• Section 63 and 64, LG(MP)A 1976
• Restrictions on appointing ranks
• Effect of Public Health Act 1925

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TAXI RANKS

• No other definition
• No national standard
• No mention in 2005 DfT Best Practise Guide

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PURPOSE OF CoP

• Comfort
• Convenience
• Safety
• Accessibility
• Each rank is unique

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CONTENTS

• Rank location
• Rank design, safety and accessibility
• Security
• Signage
• General

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WHAT NOW?

• Both Codes posted on Institute of Licensing
  website
• Comments welcome on both
• Jeffrey.leib_at_watford.gov.uk