A LARGE variety of Harlow taxi drivers attended at a gathering of the council on Thursday evening and tabled a variety of questions.
The questions and solutions are beneath.
The chair of Licensing, Cllr Nick Churchill was not current on the assembly.
Stuart Bolwerk to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
In Harlow councils personal rent operator licence circumstances it states that:“The Proprietor of a Non-public Rent enterprise is not going to use any commercial in respect of the enterprise, or the automobiles used for personal rent work, which embrace the phrases ‘taxi’ or ‘cab’ whether or not within the singular or plural, or phrases of comparable that means or look whether or not alone or a part of one other phrase.”We because the hackney carriage commerce have complained on many events over a few years about the usage of the phrase taxi by one of many personal rent operators. They use phrase TAXI of their ads, on their web site on their enterprise playing cards and even on the stickers they place on the aspect of their automobiles.
Can the chair please clarify why this has not been stopped or are you able to clarify to us why licencing is permitting them to make use of the phrase taxi in there ads towards their licencing situation?
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Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Chief of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
This has not been enforced effectively sufficient thus far and the council is now taking proactive enforcement motion for such a breach of the operator licence.
Leonard Wernham to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
What are the Council doing in regard to the Wolverhampton Council licensed personal rent automobiles and Uber drivers working within the city that may uphold the responsibility of care for each Harlow resident?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Chief of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
I completely share the priority on these issues which have been raised by the Secretary of State for Transport, TfL (who licence Uber) and Wolverhampton Council. I commit to making sure the council does all the pieces doable to deal with this concern as a result of at current, each situations are working inside the legislation, if not inside the spirit of it.I’ve dedicated to satisfy with drivers once more in October which I’ll do to replace them on progress however I do completely share their considerations and can do all I can to deal with it.
Lee Dangerfield to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of Licensing Committee):
On the 21/7/2021 the LGA printed a doc in relation to Taxis and Non-public rent automobiles.Inside this doc (The widespread framework) it states that councils can work collectively so as be capable of examine any automobiles from one other space, this may solely be accomplished with the consent of different councils. Are you able to inform me if this has ever been visited in Harlow?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Chief of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
The council had not beforehand accomplished this, however given the latest campaigning from drivers, the council will now actively pursue this and I’ll monitor progress and report again to drivers.
Tony Irish to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of Licencing Committee):
Within the Native Authorities Affiliation Councillors Handbook and below the title ‘Council position in taxi and PHV licensing in England and Wales’ it states…
‘Taxi and PHV licensing is undertaken by licensing authorities, which have the duty for guaranteeing the general public journey in protected, well-maintained automobiles pushed by competent drivers, in addition to offering a good and affordable service for the taxi and PHV commerce’.
How can this licensing authority guarantee the general public of Harlow journey in protected, well-maintained automobiles pushed by competent drivers when it’s estimated that there are round 400 mini cabs or Taxis which are licensed elsewhere, from as far-off as London and even Wolverhampton, who work completely on this city, and which are unknown to this licensing authority, out of its management and utterly past scrutiny or enforcement regionally?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Chief of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
I completely share the priority on these issues which have been raised by the Secretary of State for Transport, TfL (who licence Uber) and Wolverhampton Council. I commit to making sure the council does all the pieces doable to deal with this concern as a result of at current, each situations are working inside the legislation, if not inside the spirit of it.
I’ve dedicated to satisfy with drivers once more in October which I’ll do to replace them on progress however I do completely share their considerations and can do all I can to deal with it.