Issues relating to the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles

Written evidence from Mr & Mrs Hufton (TPH 04)

1. Legalisation of cross border bookings

2. Prohibit unlicensed airport and ferry transport services

3. Standardise taxi & private hire legislation at national level

4. Wheelchair accessibility percentages of taxi & private hire fleets should reflect the local need

5. Regulate charity funded Community Transport schemes to prevent unfair competition with the hire and reward trade

6. Allow smaller eco friendly vehicles to be used for hire & reward

1. Legalisation of cross border bookings

Cross border private hire bookings should be allowed to continue.

Example: We operate on the border of 4 counties: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Malvern and Shropshire.

We have regular customers in each county.

We are geographically further from our licensing office than we are from the other three county borders.

School contracts are also often cross border.

Banning these bookings will put many hire & reward firms in similar geographical locations out of business.

2. Prohibit unlicensed airport and ferry transport services.

These services should be licensed and regulated as all hire & reward services are.

3. Standardise all taxi & private hire legislation at national level:

Prevent local licensing authorities from enforcing their own interpretations of National and European guidelines.

Standardisation would offer clarity & improved safety for trade & public and would make enforcement easier.

4. Wheelchair accessibility percentages of taxi & private hire fleets should reflect the local need:

The percentage of wheelchair accessible hire & reward vehicles should be assessed per area.

Some areas have very few wheelchair users and need fewer wheelchair accessible vehicles. This would keep the costs down for the trade.

5. Regulate charity funded Community Transport schemes to prevent unfair competition with the hire and reward trade:

Charity based Community Transport schemes are not regulated by the Local Licensing Authorities. Many of these schemes are competing unfairly with the licensed trade.

They are charging close to taxi rates and have no restrictions to the services they offer.

They have vehicles donated, cheap vehicle insurance, no vehicle and driver licenses, no CRB checks, and inexperienced drivers. Volunteer drivers put passenger safety at risk. These drivers are often over 60 years old and their driving skills should be assessed. The volunteer drivers should undergo the same medical checks as the hire & reward trade drivers.

How much longer will it be before they put the licensed hire & reward trade out of business?

6. Allow smaller eco friendly vehicles to be used for hire & reward

Allow smaller eco friendly/low emission vehicles to be used nationally without the necessity of paying to approach the local authorities committee to deviate from the standard. More flexibility is needed at national level.

December 2010