At present, private hire drivers can still renew their licences with Harrogate Council provided that their vehicles are no more than nine years old.

But now Ripon City Taxi Proprietors Association is calling an extension for saloon, hatchback and estate cars to stay in service for 10 years.

The Association says this will give the fleet an extra year’s life and also to allow a vehicle to be licensed as long as it is within the 10 years maximum age.

But council officials say maximum age limits have been set to ensure that the condition and appearance of licensed vehicles is maintained at a high standard.

Licensing manager Gareth Bentley said: “This has been a successful policy demonstrated by the standard of licensed vehicles in the Harrogate district.”

The response by the Taxi Liaison Group had also been mixed with concern about condition of older vehicles.

Councillors will consider the request on Thursday but research suggests that granting the extension would put Harrogate out of step with other local authorities.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Plea-for-older-taxis-expected.6511691.jp

Despite receiving 98 objection letters from Island taxi drivers, 97 of which were identical, the authority’s licensing committee this week agreed to increase the cost of granting a driver’s licence from £58 to £100 — a rise of 72.4 per cent.
Furthermore, a hackney carriage vehicle licence will rise from £228 to £270 and a private hire vehicle licence from £210 to £270.
Private hire operators David and Jane Blake objected to the increases, claiming the ‘outrageous’ new costs were a burden that should not be shouldered by struggling small businesses to fund a grossly inefficient council department.
Although the committee was assured the increases would only be used to cover costs rather than turn a profit, Cllr Paul Fuller admitted: “I think a lot of taxi drivers on the Island are just scraping by and that’s a concern to me.
“Perhaps we should get them together as a group and work with them.”

The committee also agreed to increase the cost of granting a zoo licence from £774 to £1,360 — a rise of 75.7 per cent. The cost of renewing a licence will rise from £900 to £950.
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/

Betta Cars owner Mohammed Shabir has lost the contract with Peterborough City Council after he and his driver Terence Maudlin were convicted of licensing offences at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on August 17.

The contract was for 19 home to school return journeys and two children’s social care routes.

Councillor Matthew Lee, city council cabinet member for culture, recreation and strategic commissions, took the decision urgently, as term starts on Thursday.

Cllr Lee said the council began considering all the Betta Cars contract routes after the convictions.

He said: “I was advised that terminating all Betta Cars contracts was the best course of action.

“Tenders had been sent out for the school travel contracts and these will be awarded imminently so they will be in place in time for the start of the school year on Thursday.”

The council said Betta Cars had breached clauses 18.5, 18.6 and 18.7 of its contract, which concern a contractor having the appropriate private hire or Hackney carriage licence and ensuring that all his drivers hold the appropriate private hire or Hackney carriage licence.

In court, Mr Shabir (40), of Harris Street, admitted operating a private hire vehicle (PHV) using an unlicensed driver.

He also pleaded guilty to his firm using a PHV without a licence.

Mr Maudlin (69), of London Road, Yaxley, admitted driving without a PHV licence.

Both received absolute discharges – a conviction with no punishment attached.

Mr Shabir’s first offence and Mr Maudlin’s offence came to light on March 1, when the council carried out checks at Arthur Mellows Village College, in Glinton, on firms it has school transport contracts with.

A Betta Cars taxi dropped off two children but officials noticed the driver, Mr Maudlin, did not have the correct licence for the PHV.

Mr Shabir’s other charge of operating a PHV without a current licence related to a vehicle modified to carry a wheelchair.

It broke down on November 20 last year, while transporting a disabled Peterborough youngster.

It was discovered that the vehicle’s licence had expired on October 31 last year and it was mechanically unsafe.

Following the court case, Cathy Summers, team manager for the council’s passenger transport contracts and planning, put forward proposals to axe the contracts.

A spokeswoman for Peterborough City Council reassured parents at the 20 schools across the city involved with contracts that three cab firms remain available to transport youngsters to and from school.

Mr Shabir, who has run Betta Cars for 20 years and employs 120 drivers, declined to comment on the school contract cancellation.

Peterborough City Council was unable to comment on whether the problems had any impact on Mr Shabir’s operator’s licence.

source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/local/

There were reports of a flash strike called by a taxi union floated by the Republican Party of India, but RTO officials said they had no information of the same.

“Following the attacks on the taxis, about 5,000 drivers chose to stay off roads out of fear. There were rumours of a strike, but there was no notice nor memorandum regarding it.

I heard that cabbies were protesting against Home Minister R R Patil’s decision to increase the fine for not wearing uniforms from Rs 100 to Rs 300,” said A L Quadros, leader of Mumbai Taximen’s Union.

The disruption in services, however, inconvenienced hundreds of commuters, including incoming passengers at Mumbai airport.

As a contingency plan, the airport authorities deployed buses to ferry passengers to nearby railway stations. “There was a problem regarding pre-paid cabs early morning, but later in the day services resumed,” an airport official said.

According to sources, another issue which may have fuelled the protest is RTO’s decision to scrap illegal taxis. In a recent drive RTO officials found over 1,000 taxis in which the chassis number had been replaced.

“Taxi owners welded chassis numbers of older Fiat taxis into relatively newer vehicles. The transport department took action against them,” a transport official said.

source; http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/

 Stoke-on-Trent City Council applied for permission to use surveillance techniques 147 times between 2007 and last year.

 And figures revealed under Freedom of Information laws show the authority had applied to use the tactics, normally used by police and intelligence services, eight times between January and July.

 The applications were made under the controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), which was introduced in 2000 with the aim of regulating how public bodies carried out surveillance and the interceptions of communications.

 But the legislation quickly became known as a ‘snooper’s charter’ as it emerged the law was being used by public bodies to tackle issues such as fly-tipping and dog fouling.

Earlier this month, the Home Office announced it was to examine the way local authorities were using RIPA.

The council has used surveillance, telephone traces and undercover investigations to, among other examples, catch shops selling alcohol or fireworks to underage youths.

Martin Brindley, head of the council’s regulatory services, said: “If we have reports of someone selling counterfeit pottery, we send an officer to buy an item, but also to have a conversation to find out more about what they are doing.

“Where we think taxi drivers are overcharging we can have officers posing as customers to find out.”

The figures show the council applied for permission to use surveillance techniques 37 times in 2007, 49 times in 2008 and 36 times in 2009.

The authority used communications, which generally means asking telephone companies to trace a number, eight times in 2007, 13 times in 2008, four times in 2009, and once up to July 2010.

The council said its number of RIPA applications was due to Trading Standards investigations.

In comparison, Staffordshire County Council made eight RIPA applications in 2007, five in 2008 and three in 2009.

Surveillance powers were used to investigate counterfeit goods, allegations of animals being kept in poor health, fraud and illegal disposal of industrial waste.

The one application made this year has been to investigate loan sharks.

County Councillor Ben Adams, pictured, said: “These are not petty matters – they are real crimes. We always ensure our use of RIPA is appropriate.

“RIPA is often described as ‘anti-terror legislation’ but this is misleading.”

Newcastle Borough Council made 15 applications in 2007/08, 21 in 2008/09 and two in 2009/10.

A spokesman said: “The council’s powers under RIPA are only used as a last resort.”

Taxi driver Steve Eden, chairman of Newcastle Private Hire Association, said: “I think the council are wasting their time.”

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/COUNCIL-SPYING/

In the first prosecution of its kind since the smoking ban was introduced, Huntingdonshire District Council brought criminal proceedings against cabbie Simon Meeke.

Meeke, who works for well-known local firm Steve’s Taxis, pleaded guilty to smoking in a smoke-free vehicle at Huntingdon Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 11.

The court heard how Meeke, of Bliss Close, was seen by an environmental health officer on January 7 smoking in his vehicle outside the HDC’s Pathfinder House headquarters in St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon. He was approached by the officer, who asked him to put out his cigarette. He was also asked to provide his name and address, which he refused to do.

Having obtained Meeke’s details from his employers, the council served him with a fixed penalty notice, which he failed to pay within the specified time despite being given an extension.

During the court hearing, Vicki Stevens, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said: “Simon Meeke was seen smoking in his taxi, in contravention of the Health Act 2006, whilst parked outside the council’s offices. He was approached by an environmental health officer and asked for his name and address, which he failed to provide.”

Miss Stevens added that he had already been given written warnings after smoking in his taxi on a previous occasion.

As well as pleading guilty to smoking in a smoke-free vehicle, Meeke pleaded guilty to obstruction for failing to provide his name and address. He was fined a total of £1,524.62, comprising £150 for each offence and the council’s costs.

Councillor Andrew Hansard, whose executive responsibilities include environmental health, said: “The council is committed to protecting the health of the local community and persistent and flagrant breaches of public health legislation will not be tolerated. By smoking in his taxi, Mr Meeke chose not only to break the law but denied his customers their rights to travel in a smoke-free vehicle. Unfortunately, in this case, earlier written warnings did not have the desired effect and his refusal to pay a fixed penalty notice meant that the council had no choice other than to take the matter before the court.”

http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/latest-news/huntingdon_cabbie_fined_1_500_for_smoking_in_taxi_1_601347

Company Number 3384756

 2010 Annual General Meeting & Conference

Marriott Hotel, Queens Parade, Sunderland, SR6 8DB

Conference Partners and Sponsors

 Sunderland City Council

And Commercial Members

Autocab : LTI Ltd : MJS Claims Ltd

Event Timetable

Monday 25^th October 2010: (approx)1500hrs – 1800hrs :

Directors Meeting      (Directors & Officials Only)

Tuesday 26^th October 2010:

1400hrs (1330hrs Registration) :

Annual General Meeting          

(Beverages on Arrival)        

£55-00 per member (incl. Open Session)           (Members Only)

Tuesday 26^th October 2010:

1900hrs for 1930hrs          Chairman’s Dinner

Dinner £27.50 pp         (Open to  Everyone)                 

Glass of Red or White Wine on arrival

Councillor T Martin, the Mayor & his Mayoress of Sunderland City Council will attend the Dinner

 Seasonal Melon with Sorbet and Fruit Coulis :: Pan Fried Chicken, Shallot, Bacon and Mushroom Jus

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce :: Freshly Brewed Coffee with Mints :: Red & White Wine

 CABARET :-

“JOHN GARRIMORE” (Top NE Comedy Entertainer) & Vocalist “TRACEY”

 Wednesday 27^th October 2010:

1000hrs (0930hrs Registration) :

Conference Open Session

 £55-00 per delegate       

(Beverages on Arrival + Hot & Cold Buffet Lunch)               

(Open to Everyone)                                                     

Grand Raffle Draw (tickets [£1-00] available at the Agm; Dinner; & Open

(Nominated Charity > McMillan Nurses) >

3 Prizes > £500 / £300 / £200.

Speakers and/or Q & A Panel Members

(Subject to alteration or addition, depending upon availability);-

Councillor T Martin, Mayor of Sunderland City Council will officially open the session

Tbc. Norman Baker.MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport.

Rachael Watson Head of Buses & Taxis, DfT.

Dai Powell Chair Dptac.

Stephen Savage Director of Regulatory Services & Public Protection (Ncle CC).

Tbc. Neil Stokell  CEO -Go Skills.

Tbc. Speaker  Naleo.

Tbc. Speaker Institute of Licensing.

Hotel Accommodation [limited] if required:- Single £70 pn/Dble £75 pn incl Breakfast

Booking Forms Are available to download on the NTA web Site:-

Nta 2010 Conf booking form Final

NTA 2010 Conf Timetable 

 Or From:-  

Wayne Casey,

National Taxi Association,

60 Chesterholm, Sandsfield Park, Carlisle, CA2 7XX

Tlph/Fax:- (01228) 598 740 :

Email:- secretary@national-taxi-association.co.uk

Or Book Via:-

Conference Director,

Kenny Porter,

Tlph 07768 958 336,

Email:-  kennyjp@tiscali.co.uk

A total of 68 private hire vehicles, some carrying passengers, were stopped in an operation involving special constables from West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council enforcement officers.

A police spokesman said five drivers were suspended immediately and a further three were issued with advisory notices.

Gerry Slade, acting senior section officer of Special Constables in Bradford, said it was vital members of the public were not put at risk by travelling in illegal minicabs.

He said: “We focused on the Westgate, Kirkgate, Manningham Lane and Rawson Square areas of Bradford.

“Although the results are obviously a cause for some concern, the police working with our partners will continue to ensure drivers are properly licensed and their vehicles are roadworthy.”

A police spokesman said of the five drivers suspended immediately, one was for having bald tyres while the other four were suspended for issues surrounding documentation, such as not carrying insurance documents or their private hire badges.

The three advisory notices were handed out for repairs to the vehicles which needed to be done.

Mr Slade said: “It is illegal for private hire vehicles to pick up fares that are not pre-booked and it should be remembered by anyone who does get into a vehicle that if it is not pre-booked then it is not insured.”

Mr Slade said the operation, which took place on Saturday, also involved checking whether vehicles were roadworthy.

He said: “Bradford Council has worked closely with the police to carry out these operations and we are happy to support them in ensuring that the drivers are licensed, the vehicle are safe and they operate within the law.

“We would also like to remind people to be alert to the risks of using illegal ‘taxis’ when out and about and only to use legitimate cars from established ranks or booked in advance from reputable firms.

“Further to the work around taxis, the special constables also issued tickets to other motorists on the road.

“Three fixed penalty notices were given out for having no seat belt, two for using a mobile at the wheel and one for displaying illegal number plates.”

Raja Sakhawat Hussain, chairman of the Bradford Private Hire Association, said: “I personally think the police check-ups are a good thing, although we already go through so many check-ups on these matters.

“But at the end of the day it’s for the safety of the community.

“I don’t think five out of 68 is bad but obviously I think we could do a lot better – there’s no harm in trying to be 100 per cent perfect.”

source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/

Joel Heggie, 21, was fed up after an evening of ‘where’s your horse?’ taunts when he got in John Mullholland’s taxi outside a city centre bar.

Mr Mullholland made a similar joke and Heggie, of Deer Park Road, Belah, reacted badly so Mr Mullholland kept quiet for the rest of the journey.

When they reached Deer Park Road, Heggie handed over the fare then hit Mr Mullholland in the face.

Mr Mullholland said the blow was unprovoked but Heggie claims it was the result of another comment about horses.

After the assault Mr Mullholland got out of the cab, leaving the engine running.

When Heggie came towards him Mr Mullholland ran away.

Heggie then drove off in the taxi, later leaving it parked in the city centre.

Heggie admitted charges of assault, taking a vehicle without consent and driving without insurance when he appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The incident happened on May 8.

The next day Heggie was told police were looking for him and then handed himself in to police.

John Smith, defending, said it was a serious but isolated incident.

He said that Heggie had only taken the taxi in order to search for the driver and apologise. The vehicle was not damaged and no items were stolen.

But District Judge Gerald Chalk decided the matter was so serious that Heggie had to go to prison.

He said: “The combination of offences takes this past the custody threshold.

“It was a vulnerable victim who serves the community who you assaulted.

“Then you removed his means of livelihood by taking his motor vehicle, driving while I suspect you were heavily intoxicated.”

Heggie was sentenced to 70 days and banned from driving for a year.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/

Stephen Allen

Stephen Allen, 47, of Norwich Road in Mulbarton, appeared yesterday before Norwich Magistrates Court to appeal against a city council decision not to renew his private hire driving licence after he racked up 14 points on his driving licence as a result of various speeding offences.

Although drivers are automatically disqualified when a total of 12 or more points is received, Mr Allen was allowed to keep his driving licence by a court in Ipswich because of his pleas of exceptional hardship.

But magistrates dismissed his appeal against Norwich City Council’s decision not to renew his private hire driving licence after hearing how he had deliberately driven over the speed limit because of pressure from his customers and the companies he worked for.

Mr Allen said that the last of the seven speeding incidents, which had happened in February this year in Mildenhall, had been an “obvious mistake”, but added: “All the others I was flippant, I was pushing my luck, yes that’s it – pushing the boundaries. But this particular one was just a mistake.”

However, he said that now he knew he was “on a knife edge” and that he could not afford to speed again because otherwise he would lose his licence. He admitted to having driven at 45mph in the 30mph limits on both Aylsham Road and Earlham Road, and said he once sped on Koblenz Avenue in the city because he felt threatened by his customers.

He said: “I had two passengers in my car who were obviously drug addicts – you never know who you are going to pick up – and I found it quite threatening.

“There’s no way it excuses my behaviour but I wanted to get the job over and done with. I thought I would speed to get rid of them, in all honesty. But I’m trying my best to be a better driver.”

The 47-year-old, who is separated from his wife, told the magistrates that he would lose his job and be unable to pay his mortgage if he could not get his private hire driving licence renewed.

David Foulkes, representing Mr Allen, said: “The court may take the view that there has been a significant decrease in his rate of offending. Since February he has had to ensure he drives within the law.

“He is a full-time private hire driver who drives 80,000 miles a year, and it is his only form of income. That doesn’t excuse his speeding convictions, but he knows he has a responsibility to other road users and passengers.”

But Yvonne Blake, on behalf of Norwich City Council, said personal circumstances were irrelevant in a case like this and that the council needed to ensure members of the public in Norwich using licensed vehicles were driven by people who were “fit and proper” to drive people safely.

She added: “He has seven convictions in six years, all for speeding.”

Although Mr Allen said that he had only had passengers in his car on two of the occasions, chair of the bench Helen Copperthwaite dismissed his appeal and said she found the city council’s actions had been “reasonable” because of his “prolific” speeding and the fact that the majority of the offences had taken place on residential and city centre streets.

He was ordered to pay the city council £250 in costs.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: “We’re really pleased that, in this instance, the court decided to uphold the decision of the city council’s regulatory committee to revoke a private hire licence.

“One of our aims as a licensing authority is to try and make sure that any individuals who work as private hire drivers in the city are fit and proper to carry out their duties

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/