COTSWOLD taxi drivers are being consulted on proposed reforms to licensing procedures aimed at simplifying procedures and provide better protection for customers using licensed hire vehicles.
Cotswold District Council also wants to hear from members of the public who use taxi or private hire car services.
The council’s new draft policy brings together a range of diverse requirements in a single document and contains several new measures to increase the council’s ability to manage compliance while reducing the burden of bureaucracy.
Among the features included in the new policy are the introduction of a penalty points scheme for breaches of licensing conditions; an extension the duration of licences to avoid annual renewal; and more robust random inspections of vehicles to counter non-compliance Councillor Barry Gibbs, CDC cabinet member for licensing issues, commented: “This new policy is a huge step forward because it clarifies exactly what is required to conform with hackney carriage and private hire licences.
“Also, in keeping with our plans for more efficient working practices, we will propose extending the duration of licences – three years for drivers and five years for operators - to avoid the annual round of renewals which tends to clog up the system.”
CDC is seeking comments from the public and the police by September 20, in order for the policy to be approved and implemented by April next year.