Private Hire - City Of Salford Private Hire Association

Transcription

City of
Salford
1
Private Hire Edition
st
Association
CSPHA
Working on your behalf
to enhance the trade
www.cityofsalfordprivatehireassociation.co.uk
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We offer some of
the most competitive
prices available for
low risk
Taxi drivers
No claims in last 5 years (regardless of blame) No convictions in last 5 years
Full UK license held for at least 5 years Insured only to drive
If you can say YES to the above then we are confident
we can beat your existing Taxi insurance quote.
Call: 0844 557 4656
insurance services
www.freewayinsurance.co.uk
The Chairman’s remarks
Welcome to the first
edition of the CSPHA
magazine. On behalf
of the association, I
would like to thank
all advertisers and
everyone that has
supported the
publishing of this and
future magazines. A
special thanks goes to
Joe Cullen, a graduate
in Journalism, for
helping us get this
magazine out.
The CSPHA took a
decision to run this
magazine for several
reasons, firstly to:
• Make councillors
and the trade fully
aware of the trades
concerns.
• Enhance the trade.
• To make sure that
everyone in the trade
has a say on the
future of the trade.
The CSPHA has worked
hard on your behalf
to make sure your
views are passed onto
officers and councillors
and where possible,
negotiate changes for
the better. However at
times it has been hard
for the CSPHA to get
the message across
to councillors that we
are supposed to be
the customers, not the
other way round. The
CSPHA have bombarded
councillors on numerous
occasions to police
council officers as
sometimes, officers
views on the 1976
miscellaneous Act vary
from what it stands for
i.e Audit Commission
Report 4 compliance
tests.
I expect the fees to
go down after the
association brought in
the Audit Commissioner
and we expect radical
changes to be made
in the way we book
compliance tests and
virtually in everything
we do when reporting
changes and renewing
licences including
paying on line etc.
Whilst we appreciate
the “hot desking”
facility and the fact it
needs to be retained,
the charges levied for
that service is very
high and we must
look at ways to stop
unnecessary journeys
to Turnpike House. We
will continue to fight
to lower all licensing
fees, extend operators
licenses to include one,
three and five year
licenses and bring about
customer satisfaction
by all service providers.
What’s the good news?
Read the magazine and
see for yourself what
we have achieved and
what challenges lie
ahead. I would kindly
ask you to attend
the next association
meeting (16th October)
to discuss the contents
of this magazine, and
where possible, to
contact us beforehand
with information that
we have requested
in the magazine. We
are expecting a guest
speaker at that meeting
to discuss .............
Regards,
Tom Rook
Chair of the City of
Salford Private Hire
Association
2
Significant weaknesses in internal control
In response to a
communication from
the Salford Private
Hire Association,
I looked into the
council’s arrangements
to comply with the
requirements of the
Miscellaneous Provisions
Act 1976 (the Act) in
relation to costing and
charging for issue of
private hire licences.
I identified a number
of weaknesses in the
Council’s arrangements:
There had been no
separation of costs
between the issue of
licenses for drivers,
operators and vehicles
3
Consequently there
had been no clear link
between the costs and
fees charged for the
various types of private
hire licenses
There had been no
time records to show
how officers in the
licensing section had
divided their time
in practice between
private hire licensing
and other licensing
There were no clear
arrangements to
prevent the Council
from seeking to recover
enforcement costs
both for drivers’ and
operators’ licensing.
Drawing on legal advice
from elsewhere, I
understand this would
not be in accordance
with the Act which
allows recovery of
enforcement costs only
for vehicles.
The Council has agreed
to implement actions
to address these
issues to help ensure
it demonstrates full
compliance with the
Act. I will look at the
improvements made in
these areas as part of
my 2011/2012 audit
11/12
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Lice
Budget Description
Employees,
including management
£
143528
Transport:
Car User Allowances
862
Supplies and services:
Equipment Purchase
7026
Books and Periodicals
147
Food and Refreshment
551
Clothing and Uniforms
215
Printing6267
Stationery823
Cash in Transit
419
Other Professional fees
16936
Insurance101
Refunds2027
Market / Publicity
397
Bank Commission
307
Computer Equipment
336
Postage870
Telephony1050
Subscriptions108
Overheads57363
Testing Fees
103200
342533
Current Fees and Charges
Fee
Vehicles
£188
Drivers New
£251
Drivers Renewals £125
Operators
lVeh
2-4Veh
S-10Veh
11-20Veh
21+Veh
£209
£272
£458
£523
£679
No.s
Fee
36
6
5
1
12
£7.524
£1,632
£2,290
£523
£8,148
1005
42
396
£188,940
£10,542
£49,500
Percentage of total taxi business
Vehicles
Drivers
Operators
%
77.55
17.21
5.24
Percentage of each Licens Type
Vehicles - 77.55% of whitch:
Booking in
Plates
Renewals
Insurance
Vehicle Transfers
Accident Reports
Lost Plates
Cash in Transit
Drivers- 17.21% of which:
%
26.08
24.71
17.85
30.20
0.47
0.12
0.11
0.46
100.00
Preassessment
Application
CRB
Test
Badge
Renewals
Change of Address
NVQ Production
lost Property
1633
3.67
2.45
19.60
3.47
38.01
2.43
1.46
12.58
Operators - 5.24% of which:
Application I Renewals
100.00
100.00
100.00
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!!!
Lets see what the audit commission
er says about this
5
Licensing updates
Advertising
Insurance only valid if
pre-booked” sticker on
the rear doors of the
The policy on
vehicle, or requirements
advertising has recently
to display the operators
been reviewed and
offensive, lewd, promote
name and phone number
changes have been
violence or be explicitly
on the front doors.
implemented which
suggestive.
Consideration to be
affect both Private Hire
given to allow adverts
All
remaining
and Hackney carriages.
on bonnets, front and
conditions with regard
In essence the changes
rear wings and boot
to advertising on and
are that advertising
areas with a specified
within
will not be permitted in
maximum size.
vehicles will remain in
relation to:So advertising is now
place.
Alcoholic beverages
allowed on Private Hire
But importantly in
vehicles, with some
Escort agencies,
relation to Private Hire
restrictions 10 on size,
massage parlors or
vehicles:
placement etc. As
services, licensed sex
always, approval needs
Limited advertising
establishments or similar on private hire
to be obtained from the
businesses
Licensing Unit before
vehicles in line with
any adverts are placed
the
amendments
to
Products containing
on vehicles.
the
existing
policy
tobacco
detailed in 1 above.
For guidance please
Political parties and
Any advertising should
contact the office on
associated pressure
not obscure the Council
0161 925 1080
groups
required “Private Hire,
5
All advertisements
must not contain
language or pictures
that are
9
NVQs
As you will be aware, a
condition of holding a
Private Hire or Hackney
drivers licence with
Salford City
Council, is that you
have completed
a level 2 NVQ in
Passenger Vehicle
Driving. Originally the
requirement was that
this needed to be
completed by August
2011.
After discussions with
the trade, this was put
back to August 2012.
It is important that
all drivers have at
least registered on
an approved course
prior to this date and
started the training.
All new drivers must
obtain the qualification
within 18 months of
their first licence being
issued.
providers who run the
course, and care should
be taken when enrolling
on the training. Issues
have occurred in the
past where training
companies have not
been quite what they
seem, and problems
with obtaining
certificates have been
encountered.
There are a number
of approved training
Approved training centre’s include
6
Panel decisions
The following cases have recently been heard by the licensing panel after
offences came to light.
PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER NOTICE OF A CONVICTION DURING TERMS OF LICENSE
A report was submitted on behalf of the Lead Member for Environment notifying the Panel that PHD number **** had received a conviction during the
terms of their License. Members were asked to make a decision on whether
the applicant was a fit and proper to hold a License.
RESOLVED: THAT PHD number **** continues to hold a License in the City.
PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER RECEIVING A CRIMINAL CONVICTION
A report was submitted on behalf of the Lead Member for Environment
notifying the Panel that PHD number **** had been convicted of a criminal
offence during the term of their current PHD License.
RESOLVED: THAT PHD number **** License be revoked.
PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FAILURE TO GIVE NOTIFCATION TO AUTHORITY OF
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
A report was submitted on behalf of the Lead Member for Environment for
the Licensing Panel to consider whether or not PHD number *** is a fit and
proper person to hold a PHD number *** after he failed to notify the Licensing Section of a criminal conviction.
RESOLVED: THAT the License be
suspended for four weeks on the
condition that PHD *** retakes the City
Councils conditions test.
As can be seen from the above
reports, the vast majority of drivers
who appear before panel are there
because they fail to notify the
licensing office of convictions
received during the life of their licence.
It’s important that all convictions and
cautions, including fixed penalty offences are
brought to the attention of the licensing office
immediately.
7
New applicants
All new applicants for licences have to declare previous convictions before
their application will be considered. The Taxi Licensing Policy explains in
what circumstances applicants will be asked to appear before panel to
decide if they are a fit and proper person to hold a drivers licence with the
city.
Over the last year (April 2011 to March 2012), the following numbers have
appeared before panel after applying to be a licensed driver.
Granted 8 Deferred 11 Refused 12 Withdrawn 1
At the present time the City Council licences 1044 private hire drivers and
151 hackney carriage drivers.
RENEWALS
On renewal of their licences, the drivers below have appeared before the
panel:
Granted 10
Granted with conditions 3 Refused/ Revoked 4
8
A word from Cllr John Mullen
B io :
Cllr Mullen has been a Labour councillor for
the last 8 years and has just been elected
for a further term of 4 years. He has just
joined the cabinet as assistant mayor for
technology, a new role in the new may- oral
cabinet structure. He is a member of the
unite union and has been active in protestin
g
against cuts and attacks on pensions. He
holds a degree in computer science and is
a
chartered member of the British compute
r
society.
Aged 52, he has been married to Michelle
for 27 years with two grownup sons and one grandson. In his spare time
he enjoys gardening, computing and
collecting Sci-Fi memorabilia.
...I am honoured to write for your new trad
e magazine. As a councillor for Barton
ward I have served on the licensing panel
and I am sure that drivers respect that
work as it protects the people of Salford.
Salford City council has a vision to improve
the city and make life better for its
residents by increasing educational aspirati
on, improving the environment, housing
and encouraging employers to create jobs
here in Salford.
Around a growing city there are opportun
ities for the service industries which
include the Private Hire trade. We have mad
e policies to try and drive up
standards in the Private Hire trade, and thes
e were all made in good faith.
Over the years I have noticed that things
are not as cut and dried as they seem.
Having friends in the trade, I have found
there have been unforeseen side effects
to some of our policies and that legislation
have been misinterpreted and some
drivers unaware of their rights have been
treated harshly.
9
ere there has been
wh
,
so
s
en
tiz
ci
l
al
t
quired a
nsult and represen
lt of this I have ac with that as
su
re
a
It is my duty to co
As
t.
ac
no problem
lt compelled to
ade
injustice, I have fe on of the Private Hire trade. I have
thing, a thriving tr
pi
e
am
m
ch
sa
a
e
th
as
nt
n
wa
tio
y
ta
repu
s ultimatel
ty and the driver
I feel that this ci
limit as I
in a thriving city.
crease in the age
in
an
g
tin
ca
vo
them
ad
h to do, I am still
e, one that makes
ad
tr
e
th
on
en
rd
There is still muc
all
to see the trade
s put an unfair bu
e
ha
lik
is
d
th
ul
d
wo
I
ne
.
er
es
nc
am co
g authoriti
iver gets
an the surroundin
g so that every dr
in
nd
fu
e
is
ra
d
an
less competitive th
ion
rs of the associat
become the membe ey go before the panel.
en th
happy
a fair hearing wh
e trade, but I am
th
of
ct
pe
as
y
er
th ev
cate on
that I will agree wi
cil and be an advo
un
co
e
th
in
I cannot promise
e
ad
or
tr
a voice for the
inted assistant may
po
ap
en
be
st
ju
e
to continue to be
agree on. I have
renewal and vehicl
do
n,
io
we
at
ic
at
pl
th
ap
s
ie
e
lic
th
the po
in a
g to make
take them online or with
am already workin
to
nt
wa
I
.
le
ib
ss
for technology. I
po
we consult
s as automated as
ll make sure that
wi
I
.
le
ib
ss
appointment system
po
is
e drivers
ication as soon as
down costs for th
e
iv
dr
to
e
om
tc
mobile phone appl
ou
ogress. I want the
effectively.
the trade as we pr
ur business more
yo
e
ag
an
m
to
u
yo
low
and council and al
Mullen
deavours. Cllr John
en
ur
yo
in
st
be
I wish you all the
Cllr John Mullen (Right), meets Chairman
Tom Rook (Left)
10
SIMPLY CLEVER
FA
FINAILED
NO P NCE?
GIVE ROB
US A LEM
CALL !
!
16
Eccles Ward Councillors support!
Supportive: (Left to Right)
Cllr P. Wheeler, Secretary Ged
Hignett, Chairman Tom Rook, Cllr
Lisa Stone, Cllr Michael Wheeler
Cllr Wheeler showing his support
for the CSPHA on Twitter!
Tweet / Follow us @SalfordPHA
On Tuesday 15th of May, the association met with Councillors Wheeler
(Michael and Peter) and Councillor Stone to discuss matters regarding PHV
access in Eccles Town Centre. All three councillors were extremely supportive
of a need for changes to the ways Eccles restricts PHV drivers from entering
the pedestrianised zone to drop off elderly and disabled passengers. They
have agreed to bring this issue to the council’s attention, and are very
supportive of PHVs being allowed access to Eccles Town Centre.
Councillor Michael Wheeler also stated that:
“I think it’s incredibly important that people have proper access to all of the
facilities in Eccles town centre.
Part of improving access to places like the Post Office and banks for our
elderly and disabled residents includes allowing private hire vehicles access to
the town centre. People should be able choose their mode of transport and
not have to walk further than necessary when this puts them at risk of an
accident.
I support the PHA’s efforts to get this done and will help in any way I can.”
12
VRQ / NVQ Level 2
PASSENGER
TRANSPORT
Delivered BY Taxi Drivers
FOR Taxi Drivers
We work with the Learning Skills Council,
Go Skills, TUC, Local Colleges and
Trade Union Education. Our awarding
body is EDI (Education Development
International).
Assessors and Tutors are experienced Taxi
and Private Hire Drivers.
Assessors and tutors are trained to a level
2 in defensive driving.
Applicants will gain VRQ/NVQ or both in
Road Passenger Transport depending on
council requirements. This hopefully will
expand your customer base. There will be
no cost incurred by Taxi and Private Hire
Drivers.
Who Are We?
We are delivering the NVQ level 2 in Road
Passenger Transport to existing drivers.
Delivering a VRQ to new badge applicants
who will later complete the full NVQ. It is
the Government’s belief that the entire
of the UK’s workforce needs to be up
skilled.
For the first time the Government
is offering funding for training selfemployed people.
About Us
We are delivering the NVQ level 2 in
Road Passenger Transport to existing
drivers and the VRQ Introduction to the
Role of the Professional Taxi and Private
Hire Drivers to ne Drivers. We are
based in Northwest England and deliver
Nationwide.
For the first time the government
is offering funding for training selfemployed people (you may be eligible).
We have our own purpose built Taxi
to use on each course for practical
training.
• Taxi drivers are self employed
• Taxis are part of our every day life
• Training Taxi and Private Hire
Drivers can help them and more
importantly help the people that they
serve (the public)
The course is part of the Government’s
Skills for Life Initiative Including a
Numeracy and Literacy assessment.
Drivers will be offered further assistance
via Skills for life or Functional Skills.
The team consists of more than 30 NVQ
Tutors and Assessors with over 200 years
of combined experience! The following
qualifications are held by our team:
V1-Internal Verifier
City and Guilds 9297
(supporting learners).
NVQ Level 2 – Road Passenger Transport.
A1 Assessors.
VRQ – Road Passenger Transport.
PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the lifelong
Learning Sector)
Defensive Driving Level 2 for Observations.
We offer night and day course and try
to work around drivers instead of them
working around us. On-site training is
given to each and every driver whether
Hackney or Private Hire.
Training given is on:
• Loading and unloading wheelchair
customers.
• Loading and unloading customers with
mobility problems using the swivel seat.
• Using the low step to allow customers
with mobility problems to enter and
exit the vehicle unaided.
Contact Info
We undertake courses in your area. For further
information on the courses available please
contact us:
Unite the Union Taxi Education, W.E.C.C
Bute Street, Liverpool L5 3LA
Tel: 0151 207 7522 - 0151 207 7655
What do the courses
involve?
The NVQ and VRQ courses
are broken down into the
following modules:
Law Commission report
INTRODUCTION TO THE
PROJECT
Taxis and private hire
vehicles are governed
by law which is
fragmented, complex
and out of touch with
21st century life. In
July 2011, the Law
Commission agreed to
review this body of law.
We have now published
our provisional proposals
and are consulting on
them. It is of primary
importance that the
views expressed in our
consultation documents
are only provisional and
intended to provide the
basis of a discussion.
We are open to other
views, and it is likely
that our final report will
be quite different.
TWO-TIER SYSTEM AND
“PLYING FOR HIRE”
We recognise that
there are important
differences between
taxis and private hire
vehicles, and think that
these are worth keeping.
We suggest keeping the
dividing line between
taxis and private hire
15
services by reference to
“plying for hire” but with
a statutory definition
so that it is easier to
understand. Private hire
drivers would still need
an operator, and could
only do pre-booked
work. Taxis would retain
the exclusive right to
take passengers off the
street at ranks and by
hailing.
ENGLAND, WALES AND
LONDON
national standards for
private hire vehicles and
drivers. These would
apply nationally, and
local authorities would
have no powers to
impose extra conditions.
Local authorities
would continue to
administer licences. We
provisionally propose
that all drivers should be
required to undertake
disability awareness
training.
CROSS-BORDER
We provisionally propose
regulating London and
Private hire vehicles
the rest of England and
already have the legal
right to pick up and
Wales within the
drop off anywhere in the
same framework.
country. We think this
We recognise that
is correct, and wish to
there are significant
remove other
differences within
the London markets,
restrictions on crossbut we think that our
border hire, in order
proposed framework
to allow businesses to
is sufficiently flexible to operate 21 efficiently
account for this.
and expand when they
wish to.
MANDATORY NATIONAL
STANDARDS FOR
PRIVATE HIRE
We are proposing
that there should be
We are proposing that
it should no longer be
necessary for the driver,
vehicle and operator
to be licensed in the
same area. We also
provisionally propose
that sub-contracting
between licensing
districts should be
allowed as is already the
case in London.
National standards
would make crossborder work fairer, as
all vehicles and drivers
would meet the same
minimum standards. As
taxis would be subject
to atleast the same
standards as private hire
vehicles, there would be
no incentive to seek a
taxi licence in one area,
only to work as a private
hire vehicle elsewhere.
The location where a
booking is accepted
would no longer
be critical, which
would fit better with
developments in mobile
technology and the
internet.
ENFORCEMENT
We recognise that
there are currently
significant problems
with enforcement
against vehicles from
other licensing areas.
We suggest giving
enforcement
officers the power to
enforce against these
vehicles. This will be
made easier by the
application of uniform
national standards.
We also provisionally
propose stronger
enforcement powers for
licensing officers. These
could include issuing
fixed penalty notices
or giving enforcement
officers the power
to stop and impound
vehicles.
like
to understand the
challenges affecting
your every-day working
life and see where
the law can make a
difference, so please get
in touch.
NEXT STEPS
Once the consultation
period has ended on 10
September 2012, we
will review and revise
our provisional proposals
based on the feedback
which we receive. We
will then start drafting
PLEASE RESPOND TO
OUR CONSULTATION BY our final report, which
will set out our final
10 SEPTEMBER 2012
recommendations for
Our review covers many how the law should be
more aspects than we
changed. We aim to
can cover in this leaflet. publish our final report
Some only affect private and draft Bill in late
hire services directly
2013.
(like the suggestion
• Please Read
to no longer restrict
and complete
operators to only using
the survey
drivers or vehicles
licensed in the same
licensing authority);
others affect both sides
of the trades. We would
16
Record keeping
(self-employed)
If you’re self-employed
you must keep business
records such as your
accounts, evidence of
tax that’s been paid
and other records
relating to your income
and outgoings. You’ll
need these to help
you complete your tax
return or to answer
any questions from HM
Revenue & Customs
(HMRC) about a return
you’ve completed.
Basic records you must
keep
You must keep records
so that you can fill in
the return fully and
accurately. Your basic
business records must
include:
You must normally keep
your business records
for five more years
after the normal filing
deadline of 31 January.
This date applies even
if you’ve sent in a paper
tax return.
For example, for a
2011-12 tax return filed
on or before 31 January
2013, you must keep
your records until 31
January 2018
you pay Class 2 and
Class 4 National
Insurance contributions.
The rates are:
Class 2 National
Insurance contributions
are paid at a flat rate of
£2.65 a week
contributions payments
are due on 31 January
and 31 July, the same
as a Self Assessment
tax bill. You pay Class
2 National Insurance
contributions either
monthly or six monthly
by Direct Debit
You pay Class 4 National
when you pay your
Income Tax.
Direct Debit payment
for taxes
HMRC recommends
that you pay your
Self Assessment,
Corporation Tax, PAYE
and Construction
Industry Scheme
payments online by
Direct Debit.
Only the amount you
request to pay will be
Class 4 National
a record of all your sales
collected by Direct
and takings
Debit. HMRC won’t
are paid as a percentage
collect any other
a record of all your
of your annual taxable
outstanding amounts in
purchases and expenses profits - 9 per cent on
this way.
profits between £7,605
You or your accountant
and £42,475, and a
can, if you wish, use
further 2 per cent
these records to
on profits over that
create a profit and loss
amount.
account. It shows the
sales income you’ve
If your profits are
received and the
expected to be less
expenses you’ve paid,
than £5,595 you may
and what profit/loss
not have to pay Class
you’ve actually made.
2 National Insurance
contributions.
How long must you keep
your records?
Your Class 2
National Insurance
17
LOWE BOOKKEEPING
www.lowebookkeeping.co.uk
21 Arthur Avenue, Worsley, Manchester M28 3QF
Phone: 07976 079898 Email: [email protected]
CSPHA WANTS
INFORMATION
DRIVERS,
OPERATORS AND
VEHICLE OWNERS
Acts of Parliament
gives everyone a right
to be treated fairly and
everyone should be
entitled to an appeal
before being suspended
but before that happens
everyone is entitled to
be treated fairly in each
step the council takes to
bring a person in front of
the licensing panel.
of the points in the first
instance, however we
don’t know if others have
been treated the same,
so to clear the air we
wish you to tell us your
story and if you permit
we will put the best
examples of your stories
in the next copy of the
magazine for all to see,
hopefully we will all gain
from your experience.
For those that have
received points on there
badges for not having
the shortened version of
the rules and regulations
in the vehicle.
Since April 2010 the
cspha feel no one
should have been given
For those that have
points because no one
been suspended in the
received the shortened
past did anyone take
version of the rules and
account of your financial regulations through the
circumstances? Did they post with the full version.
ask you questions on are At the AGM we asked
you married? Does your
for a showing of hands
wife work? Do you have
who received the new
children? Is their any
shortened version only
other income coming into one out of 45 received
the family? Yes or No.
the new shortened
version when asked why
If the answer is
he was the only one
NO Contact us on
he replied because one
07505255204 or email
officer gave him points
[email protected]
on his badge for not
asap
having the rules, we got
So even though you
those points removed..
may think a few points
Those points remain on
on your license may
your license so let’s start
seem nothing it could
afresh and try and get
well lead to you being
them off your license.
suspended or used
against you in the future. Contact us on
07505255204 or email
The cspha takes this
[email protected]
very seriously and on a
asap
number of occasions we
have managed to put
Most of you will be aware
things right with officers that the cspha have
agreeing the correct way sorted several issues out
forward is to erase some including the 21 day rule
19
which stops drivers being
suspended the same
day for trivial offences
that the magistrates
may have already dealt
with. . . if you have been
suspended the same day
or before 21 days have
passed after attending
the licensing panel or by
an officer
Contact us on
07505255204 or email
[email protected]
asap
Have you been told to
take a knowledge test
by the licensing panel
and then been told you
have to wait a period of
time to take the test and
during that time you are
suspended?
Contact us on
07505255204 or email
[email protected]
asap
Ever had an interview
under caution for a
telephone complaint
made against you? Or
thought something’s
not right when being
questioned? Or haven’t
had a letter of invitation
informing you of your
rights to have a solicitor
present before the taped
interview.
Contact us on
07505255204 or email
[email protected]
asap
If you have any cause
for concern over your
rights please contact
us [email protected]
asap
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Your survey results...
This survey was handed into licencing at the last consultation that was in
June 2010 it was suppose to be handed over to the then lead member Joe
Murphy, Since then the council seems to have done nothing to enhance the
trade or rectify the issues we have raised time after time. They seem to
have ignored our requests to look at the views of 184 drivers and as these
184 drivers are customers of the council we feel the council should at least
have the courtesy to give a full account of why so many issues remain
unanswered.
Here are the final results of the survey, each question raised was from the
membership, all 184 drivers that took time out to attend the association
meeting completed the survey, a pity that after two years so many past
councillors didn’t wish to act on behalf of the council to act upon those
concerns that so many drivers have.
1. Do you think there
should be a private hire
vehicle age Restriction?
Result
68 YES or NO 116
2. Do you think a 7 year
age restriction PHV or
ten year Hackney is the
correct age restriction?
Result
11 YES or NO 173
3. What maximum
vehicle age would you
expect to have?
Result
6 years
7 years
8 years
9 years
=
=
=
=
5
5
2
8,
10 + years = 145
2 years = 1
No age = 4
Other = 6
No comment = 8
4. When first registering
a vehicle for plating do
you agree with a 4 year
rule?
Result
23 YES or NO 160
No Comment = 1
5. When first registering
a vehicle for plating
what age restriction
would you feel is right
to make the purchase
viable you to you?
Result
3 years = 3
4 years = 14
5 years = 35
6 years = 49
6 to 10 = 9
10 years plus = 9
No age = 4
Other = 58,
No Comment = 4
6. Are you happy with
Turnpike garage at the
moment?
Result
47 YES or NO 122 No
Comment 15
7. Do you agree with
an extra 2 compliance
tests a year for older
vehicles?
Result
14 YES or NO 168 No
Comment 2
8. Do you agree with 1
extra compliance test
for older vehicles?
Result
89 YES or NO 92
No Comment 3
the 5 faults policy on
older vehicles?
Result
23 YES or NO 159
no Comment 2
22
...Your survey results
10. Do you agree the
consultation process
over the new rules was
sufficient?
Result
11 YES or NO 171
No Comment 2
11. Do you think the
whole consultation
should be done all over
again?
Result
163 YES or NO 18
No Comment 3
Result
79 YES or NO 98
No Comment 6
13b. What should be
the extra life span for a
mini bus compared to a
private hire car?
Result
1 year extra = 6
2 years extra = 17
3 years extra = 39
4 years extra = 1
No Age = 20
Other = 64
No Comment = 37
12. In Manchester
14. Would you agree,
disabled private hire
taking into consideration
vehicles have a life
the current recession
span of 10 years even
and the changing of
though normal private
political parties that the
hire vehicles have only 7
18 months is sufficient
year life span.
time to bring these
Do you think disabled
changes into effect?
access private hire
vehicles should have
Result
a greater length of
18 YES or NO 162
time on the circuit
No Comment 4
considering the extra
16. Would you like
outlay these vehicles
another garage to
cost?
complement Turnpike
Result
garage?
128 YES or NO 51
Result
No Comment 5
160 YES or NO 15
13a. Should Mini Buses
No Comment 9
have a longer life span
17. The normal working
than a normal private
hours of Turnpike
hire vehicle?
garage is 7.45hrs to
15.30 hrs, do you think
23
compliance testing or
re tests should be done
outside these normal
working hours?
Result
134 YES or NO 49
No Comment 1
doing compliance tests
on a Saturday Morning?
Result
139 YES or NO 43
No Comment 2
19. Would you like to
see Turnpike garage
make minor repairs such
as replace light bulbs at
a reasonable price?
Result
162 YES or NO 19
No Comment 3
20. Do you think that
the garage should offer
a choice of appointment
dates?
Result
176 YES or NO 8
21. Non-attendance at a
compliance test, should
a valid reason be given
should not incur any
expense other than a
nominal fee of £10
Result
143 YES or NO 37
No Comment 4
...Your survey results
22. Do you think
the C.S.P.H.A. has
conducted this survey
in a correct and proper
manner?
Result
155 YES or NO 23
No Comment 6
agree that Recorded
Delivery would be most
advantageous to drivers
and vehicle owners?
rather than face a
£50 penalty charge or
temporary loss of your
license
Result
23. Did you receive your
160 YES or NO 18
consultation paper from
No Comment 6
Councillor Murphy dated
22nd June 10?
25c. Would you consider
an extra 50 pence on
Result
top of your license
99 YES or NO 78
for Recorded Delivery
No Comment 7
on reminders for your
badge and compliance
24a. Are you happy
test?
with the present
communication with
Result
such issues as your
155 YES or NO 26
badge and compliance
No Comment 3
test reminders etc?
26a. Close circuit
Result
television in private hire
78 YES or NO 100 No
vehicles has proved a
Comment 6
success as a deterrent
25a. Modern Technology against crime, would
you consider installing
could provide us with
CCTV in your private
a texting facility at low
hire vehicle? or Hackney
as 2p per text, would
Cab?
you consider allowing
the council to text you
Result
162 YES or NO 20
in regards to renewing
No Comment 2
your badge and
Compliance test?
26b. Would you be
Result
167YES or No 15
No Comment 2
25b. Considering
question 23 would you
the costs incurred in the
purchasing and installing
the equipment?
Please Note – the reply
to this question is
merely to see if you as a
driver would consider
the option, it doesn’t
mean you are agreeing
to have the equipment
purchased or installed.
Result 149 YES or
No 31 No Comment 4
27. Would you consider
taking industrial action
against the council?
Result
158 YES or NO 16
No Comment 10
On behalf the
association, we would
like to thank you for
taking part in this
survey and being part
of the structure that
will hopefully pursue
councillors and officers in
charge of the new policy,
which needs addressing.
By completing this small
questionnaire you are
informing those people
that we don’t wish to
accept any of this new
policy, and as a matter
of urgency we would ask
willing to pay something the council to continue
towards the supply and
talks with our
association and where
installation of CCTV if
the association and third necessary with the
party partnerships were drivers and operators
alike.
willing to meet most of
29
Reporting crime
The association has
made contact with
Salford police to improve
driver safety across
Greater Manchester.
We all know too well
that in most cases,
runners get away scot
free and when some
police arrive they say
it’s a civil matter when
we all know its clearly
not.
After viewing these
stats from the Salford
South - Eccles, Winton,
Barton, Irlam and
Cadishead areas over
the past 12 months:
• 6 ASSAULTS
• 8 DRIVE OFFS
• 3 CASES OF DAMAGE
TO VEHICLES
We can see that these
figures don’t really
show the true extent
of crimes committed
against private hire
drivers. We all know it’s
sometimes better to
leave and not report
crime; it’s too much
time and effort
to report it
at the police
station.
25
To state 8 drive
offs (runners) in any
twelve month period
truly shows that
there is a problem in
reporting crime and
the association are
teaming up with
Salford Police to
see if there’s
another way of
reporting crime.
So in the first
instance we
would like
all drivers
to report
crime
against
them
to the
Police
directly.
To combat
crime we want
you to participate
in reducing crime
by reporting
crime by either
texting or emailing us.
Text 07505255204 or
Email
cspha@hotmail co.uk
Give as much
information as possible.
Message from the Police!
“Salford Partnership
Team are keen to liaise
with you and discuss a
way forward for your
association.
Our intention is to
attend the meetings
held with the Local
Authority and
Regards
members of Salford
Partnership Team
Private Hire Association.
Swinton Police Station
It will also be possible
Chorley Rd
to provide you with
Swinton M27
information for
6BA Salford.
inclusion in your future
partnershipteam@gmp.
magazines.
police.uk”
Reporting a crime or emergency
Dial 999 in an emergency when:
• a crime is being committed
• there’s a risk of injury
• there’s a risk of serious damage to property
For non-emergencies dial 101
Use this number to report a non-emergency incident, give
information or make a general enquiry.
26
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Protection from false claims and accusations
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16
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City of
Salford
Private Hire
Association
The City of
Salford Private
Hire Association
For the first time, the
CSPHA has launched the
“Emergency Membership
Scheme”. All we ask you
to do today is text or
e-mail the following
information:
Your Name
Your Badge Number
Your Mobile Number
E-mail Address
To:
Mobile : 07505255344
OR Email :
[email protected]
and one of the
association committee
will be in contact with
you.
Normally, to join
the association the
membership fee is
£1.00, but by joining
today we will allow you
to join subject to paying
at one of the future
association meetings.
In the meanwhile, you
will receive updates and
invites to any future
meetings and be able to
get assistance from the
association.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
We can no longer
help those that are
not members. We
have in the region of
450 members and it’s
important that we have
as many members as
possible. You have now
seen the views of 184
drivers in the survey
results. Do you agree
with those findings?
Would you agree that
184 drivers views are
better than none?
When the first
consultation took place
on vehicle age, only a
handful of drivers turned
up. Since then we have
been dealt a huge blow
financially.
It is for that reason why
we must stay united
together and give the
views of the majority.
30
Travel vouchers explained
Taxi drivers in Greater
Manchester are being
encouraged to play an
even bigger role in helping
disabled people make
essential journeys.
Transport for Greater
Manchester (TfGM) is
urging more private hire
and hackney carriage
drivers across the county
to start accepting travel
vouchers.
The vouchers are an
alternative to the
concessionary bus pass
and are for people who
are not able to use buses
because they have serious
walking difficulties or are
registered blind.
They are issued along
with photographic identity
cards and can be used to
pay for journeys - but
only with drivers and
companies that are
registered to accept
them. In return, the
driver or firm is reimbursed Hackney
by TfGM for the cost of
carriage drivers can also
each trip.
present their vouchers
at the Taxi Owners and
The user should complete
Drivers Association
each voucher with their
(TODA), which will
name, the date of travel
reimburse them. Contact
and the membership
George Simms on 0161
number on their
834 3372 for further
photocard. When the
information.
vouchers are accepted as
payment, the driver must
Travel vouchers are issued
also complete his or her
anually and are valid from
name and company, if
1 April to 31 March. They
applicable.
are a different colour
each year and are security
Reimbursement will only
protected. Full details of
be made to registered
the scheme are available
drivers or companies, a
by calling TfGM Travel
list of which is sent to
Concessions on
voucher users every year.
0161 244 1050.
diagnostics • mot • services • brakes
collection and recovery
[email protected]
argyle auto services
07961 577792
13
The loss of perfectly good
vehicles in Salford is alarming!
TO
N
W
O
D
T
O
N
AND IT’S
FS
E
I
H
T
L
A
C
O
L
THE
If the CSPHA had lost the fight for an
extra two years we would have had
over 401 vehicles come off the road
in one year.
Salford Council went above
Manchester council policy by not
giving disabled vehicles an extra 3
years.
Leaders finally took head of what the
CSPHA stated and they gave us an
extra two years. But that was two
years ago, we are now back to 7
years maximum.
We have seen one local Eccles
operator, who had 7 disable friendly
vehicles, go out of business.
It’s far from over with, more
operators will close the doors for
good, experienced drivers switch
staff and many workers and vehicle
suppliers will leave the trade at the
end of this current year. At least 546
vehicles will have been taken off the
road.
What we have always asked for is the
economic structure of Salford, to be
the same as Manchester’s.
It comes down to if you want a
limousine and a chauffeur, it comes
at a price!
Can the people of Salford Pay that
price?
See table on the right
33
Year
Euro
2012 2012 2012
2012
Total
1994
0
4
4
1
1995
0
5
1
1
1996
0
9
4
2
1997
0
22
13
2
1998
0
35
13
2
1999
0
81
46
9%
2
2000
0
144
63
15%
3
*
2001
0
2010
254
110
28%
3
*
7yr Max
401
147
44%
3
*
546
145
60%
3
2009 2010
Euro
2002
10yr
0
2003
9yr
44
-99
2004
8yr
76
-43
119
6yr
3
2005
7yr
90
10
80
5yr
4
2006
6yr
86
25
61
4yr
4
2007
5yr
155
99
56
3yr
4
2008
4yr
229
183
46
2yr
4
2009
3yr
172
166
6
1yr
4
2010
2yr
55
55
5
2011
1yr
68
68
5
21
21
5
2012
2013
5
2014
5
2015
Euro
5
6
647
647 newer vehicles purchased in 2 years
34
Airport concession cards
Note for Users: For the
financial year 2012/13
the concession card will
locations in Terminal 2
and Terminal 3 short
stay car parks.
cost:
How the system will
work:
£25 incl. VAT per
annum.
The fee charged will
cost £1.80 for the first
30 minutes, £3.00 for
the first hour, reverting
to normal short stay
rates thereafter.
Additional benefits will
be:
The card will allow entry
and exit to/from the
car park on the barrier
system, without the
need to visit a pay
machine on every visit.
Allocated bays marked
for private hire only are
now in place in primary
35
On entry to the short
stay car park the card
should be inserted at
the entry point to raise
the barrier.
The reader will show
the current balance.
If credit is required
the driver should visit
one of the designated
pay machines below and
load credit onto his/her
card.
On exit the card is
inserted at the exit
point to raise the
barrier.
Payment will be
deducted from the card
at the appropriate rate.
The reader will show
the remaining balance.
Designated pay stations:
All pay stations on the
ground level in each of
the three terminals will
accept Concessionary
Rate Cards.
Use of pay machines:
In order to add credit to
your card the following
procedure should be
followed at the pay
station:
Press the button
marked ‘Concessionary
Rate Card Holders’.
Insert your card.
The existing balance
will then be displayed.
Insert the required
amount of credit up to
maximum of £50.00.
Press the receipt
button should you
require a vat receipt.
Press the button
marked ‘Concessionary
Rate Card Holders’ to
return your card.
cancel the card.
A replacement fee
will be charged for any
lost/stolen or damaged
cards.
A replacement card
can be obtained from
Car Parks Business for a
fee of
Refunds will not
be given against
returned cards
unless in exceptional
circumstances and
at the discretion of
Manchester Airport and
its agents.
In the eventuality that
a barrier is left open,
users should ensure that
£12.50 +VAT. Any
Terms and Conditions
credit on the card at the they use alternative
appropriate barriers on
point of cancellation by
A maximum credit of
exit, to ensure that their
Manchester Airport will
£50 is applicable on all
card is correctly debited
be transferred to the
cards
at all times. If there
new card.
is no barrier available
Lost stolen or retained
Manchester Airport
to exit, the user must
cards must be reported
Car Parks do not accept
contact the control
immediately to Car Park
any liability for credit on
room via the help
Control on 0161 489
button on their next
2467, where staff are
cards, which are lost
entry before the card
available 24/7. In this
stolen or retained
is inserted to allow the
eventuality Car Park
and subsequently not
card to be reset.
Control will immediately reported as above.
17
“To raise standards in the trade,
both actual and as perceived by
the public”
This is the motto and credo of the
National Private Hire Association,
which this year celebrates its 20th
anniversary by continuing to fulfil this
goal for operators, drivers, and local
affiliated trade associations from
Land’s End to John O’Groats.
We are not a union; we do not
formulate policy for our members.
What we do is to educate our
members to put forward their
views where they will be heard the
loudest: to Government; to the
relevant departments and Ministers;
and in recent months, to the Law
Commission project team that
is currently reviewing the entire
structure of taxi and private hire
legislation nationally.
37
16
Table, national trade surveys and
statistics, legal helpline, distribution
and interpretation of taxi/private hire
law, regular critique and analysis of
local licensing conditions, applications
for specific licence conditions...
and that’s just some of our daily
functions. It’s all about education.
We also have a Top Team of legal
experts: taxi-knowledgeable
solicitors and barristers with whom
we have successfully challenged
many councils’ conditions of licence.
So when – as over 95 per cent of our
calls start – the caller says, “We’re
having a bit of trouble with our
licensing authority - I wonder if you
could help....” Inevitably the answer
is, Yes.
For example, during the present
consultation period for the Law
Commission review, the project team
indicated they had not had enough
responses from actual drivers. So
the NPHA printed a questionnaire in
the August 2012 edition of Private
Hire & Taxi Monthly; so far the
Association has already collected
hundreds of filled-in questionnaires
from drivers all over England and
Wales. We encourage you to fill in
the questionnaire in this newsletter.
So it does pay to be a member of
the NPHA – and it’s memberships
and renewals that keep our doors
and phone lines open. Check out our
website: www.npha.org.uk for more
information.
You may or may not be aware of
all we do: the Taxi Fares League
Tel: 0161 280 2800
Fax: 0161 280 7787
Bryan Roland
The National Private Hire Association
8 Silver Street
Bury, Lancs
BL9 0EX
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Fuel quality can affect the performance
of a vehicle and, in general, is controlled
by national, often legally enforced,
standards and specifications that define
the minimum quality for a fuel supplied
within that country. In the UK, minimum
diesel fuel quality is defined by EN590,
the legally applicable automotive diesel
fuel standard. This standard defines the
basic characteristics of automotive diesel
fuel with approximately 20 or so tests
performed to ensure that diesel is fit-forpurpose. The specification is not static
but is adjusted along with the latest
European Emissions Standards, e.g. Euro
5, to reflect environmental pressures and
changes in vehicle design. It is therefore
also critical that Shell fuels do not affect
the environmental performance of any
vehicle and as such, the technology in all
Shell diesel fuels is tested in line with our
extensive no-harm protocols.
Only once compliance with the relevant
national specification and no-harms testing
has been confirmed, can we at Shell then
apply our research and experience to
modify the fuel formula further, to help
create advanced fuels designed to work
and interact with the engine, to help deliver
additional performance benefits. In doing
so, we are building on more than a century
of experience of fuels development at
Shell and currently, with around 120 fuels
scientists and specialists across the globe
working on fuels innovation, development
and implementation, we are committed
to producing fuels designed to meet the
evolving needs of customers and their cars.
Our research in the diesel fuel arena has
shown that diesel engine performance
can suffer as a result of injector deposit
formation. Carbonaceous deposits can
build-up on the fuel injectors and can lead
to, for example, loss of power, increased
fuel consumption and increased exhaust
emissions. Therefore, Shell diesel fuels
are formulated with powerful detergent
additives which are designed to help
control these harmful injector deposits
which can form over time. Shell V-Power
Diesel for example, is designed to help
prevent and clean up diesel injector
deposits that may otherwise impact engine
performance. The formula not only helps
deliver more power, but keeps on delivering
39
that power as you
clock up the miles.
It is designed to
continuously clean
modern precision fuel
injection systems,
helping your diesel
car achieve its
full performance
potential.
Another important
parameter in diesel engine
performance is defined by the diesel fuel’s
cetane number. The higher the cetane
number the shorter the ignition delay – this
is the period between the start of diesel
fuel injection and the onset of combustion.
Shell’s latest generation of regular diesel
fuel, Shell FuelSave Regular Diesel with
fuel economy formula, contains a Shell
Efficiency Improver which is designed to
boost the diesel fuel cetane number. By
helping the fuel to ignite and burn more
quickly, this allows for smoother and more
complete combustion than a regular diesel
containing no additive. As more energy
can thus be extracted from Shell FuelSave
Regular Diesel, it provides a route to
help improve diesel engine efficiency and
ultimately, diesel fuel economy from the
very first tank full. Shell FuelSave Regular
Diesel also contains a detergent additive,
designed to help prevent the build-up of
deposits on diesel fuel injectors, further
helping to maintain engine efficiency.
Fuels development is a long, complex
process and the scientists at Shell are
constantly working in the laboratory
helping to create advanced fuels to help
customers get more out of every drop
of fuel, whether that be performance or
fuel economy. However, it is important
to note that while quality fuel plays a
part in helping to maintain vehicle engine
performance, vehicle emissions are largely
dictated by vehicle technology and
condition.
If you are interested in learning more about
Shell’s latest generation of automotive
fuels, please visit
www.shell.co.uk
We asked the city Mayor...
Decision Making We wish to see councillors take note of our views we wish to see
councillors make decisions not officers- which mean councillors active within the forum to
make decisions. In the last year the trades association hasn’t seen the lead member or his
deputy. The same applied when in front of John Merry the lead Member Councillor Murphy
in October 2010 promised more meetings with the trade whilst the Hackney
Trade took the council to court, Councillor Murphy went back on his word to meet with the
association, we finally met up with him in March one month after the Vehicle age policy
came in to be told the policy was in.
Customer Service We expect the council to promote a service that would be expected
to offer customer satisfaction based on a service that meets the service demands of the
customer
Transparent We wish to see the council become fully transparent in license fees/charges
made to the two trades which means after not knowing the breakdown in any private
hire licence for some years we should get a full breakdown to the nearest penny. We feel
the council has failed to meet the audit commissioner’s wishes to ring fence the fees
charged to the two taxi trades Obviously there are savings that could be made in less “Hot
Desking” and being able to do more on line. See “Auditors Report”.
Saving We wish to see a change in the vehicle age policy to read. 5 years and 10 years. See
London’s TFL Vehicle Age Policy.
• Elected chair at future forum meetings. (Please note not a member of the trades
association) With a constitution in place for those meetings.
• Lead member or his deputy to be present at every second I third forum meeting if
possible. Every 6 weeks.
Health and Safety To stop (with immediate affect) this present form of booking a
compliance test, expecting drivers to book and pay at two different places. This wasn’t
discussed with the trade associations ·before licencing officers implemented the changes
and as such the association has received a large number of complaints.
Saving Full on line application for all forms including payment on line relating to the trade
i.e driver license, operators license, reporting conviction, change of address, etc.
Saving 3-5 year operator’s licence made available but to keep the l year available.
Saving Booking vehicle test, vehicle re test on line and to be able to pay on line without
having to travel to Turnpike House except to show information when picking up a licensing
plate.
Quality Control License Renewals - recorded mail, emails, texting, mobiles, Skype. See
trades survey!
Saving Administration desk for booking compliance tests with current technology two
monitors, one at garage and one at officer’s desk, clear views of any appointments without
the need of using officer’s time for those that wish to use the desk compliance booking
facility. Please Note Regina- v - Richmond-upon-Thames no fee/charge shall be made for
giving advice.
40
Saving The garage being looked at- times slots for appointments, costs for tests, re
tests are we getting value for money? What is a fair price? And what can we expect for
our money at the moment again it seems as though the owners of vehicles are not the
customers. See Survey!
Complimentary Garage In the past the council has used another garage in Salford On
Edison Road/Barton Road to do compliance tests. Turnpike has had problems in keeping
to the promised 3 day test appointment scheme and doesn’t allow for repairs to be done on
site. See Survey!
Legal Control A full amnesty for drivers change of address. Notice Dispatched with
magazine.
Health and Safety CCTV policy .similar to Manchester, funding to be sought to fund a pilot
scheme and interested parties to attend a working party to deal with the implementation
of a policy that suits the needs of the trade not only in Salford but in Greater Manchester. Police involvement which has been promised by the police.
Legal Control A new policy on how drivers will be dealt with in relation to the licensing
panel. I.e. policy on telephone complaints and what is expected from officers in carrying out
there duties. Tick off box to make sure officers have completed the work to a worksheet
before drivers are called to the panel and afterwards.
Legal Control To make sure that each and every driver is treated the same for the same
offence, to make sure that questions that affect the financial well being of the driver-family
are taken into consideration before making a decision to suspend or revoke a driver’s right
to fend for himself and his family.
Legal Control To add a small licensing panel to deal with immediate affect of a driver that
is suspended the same day, not to depend solely on an officer to suspend a driver and wait
for the full panel to meet up.
Legal Control CRB and driver license renewal, some drivers are late with renewals we wish
to see a compromise at the moment as drivers have to wait four weeks before they can
go to a solicitors to swear an oath (during this time a driver could be out of work) we want
that time out of works replacing with an oath been made available at a cost to the driver for
additional officer service. But the driver must still fill in the CRB and if any new evidence is
found the driver will be asked to attend the licensing panel.
Saving No driver licence to be terminated until 6 months have passed, after 6 months have
past the driver will pay the full new license fee. This doesn’t mean the driver can continue
to drive a PHV. The driver will not have to take the knowledge test before the 6 months have
elapsed or pay the higher fee for new starter. The fees will remain the same as if the driver
was renewing his license up to 6 months. Similar to Bolton!
Saving A joint taxi and private hire badge/ licence fee. Similar to Wigan
Education Booklets -operator, driver and vehicle owner booklets instead of the bulky rules
and regulations pink book. To have examples of what can happen if the trade fails to adhere
to the policy. Same as Manchester.
Saving School contracts - one man band operators fees reduced as Wigan has done £200
to £75.00. Or to allow self employed drivers to tender for school contracts subject to them
41
becoming operators.
Saving We wish to see incentives for new vehicles., disabled vehicles, cleaner vehicles, driver
long time servants of the industry. See and compare Wigan Policy.
Promotion NVQ we wish to see more incentives to display the results of those that have
succeeded in taking this course. See Manchester.
Profile We wish to be part of the Greater Manchester transport policy taking into account
the number of passengers that use our services over other service providers; to give a true
reflection of what are customers needs are and why they choose our service over other
providers. Why do so many elderly passengers use private hire over Black cabs or any other
door to door service?
Saving We need to be included in some ·bus lanes without officers making excuses i.e they
cant tell the difference between a PHV and a car. We all know that London’s TFL can charge
every vehicle owner in London a congestion charge or a discount for being green, we know
Manchester can impose a ticket/fine and a photograph of a car going through a bus lane,
so the technology is out there, and for officers to be as observant as Manchester wardens I
CCTV.
Saving To allow PHVs into Eccles Town Centre during the day or at least allow the
association to show councillors how we fail to deliver a door to door service to those that
especially need to get to the post office or to Age concern.
Saving To cut costs but not services - deal in today’s climate rather than the pen and paper
stuff. Cut out wasted man hrs and agree with a saving policy that all parties agree with.
Saving To save money on license plates similar to Manchester.
Saving Magnetic Stickers - with the shortage of vehicle hire, every time a vehicle goes into
service its necessary to purchase a new sticker to replace another operators sign, we wish
to see magnetic stickers for those vehicles to save on the purchase and to make savings in
printing, wasting plastic and saving time removing and sticking new sign. B, We would also
wish to see, because drivers on rest days use the same vehicles be allowed to use magnetic
stickers full stop.
Saving To state £143,528 on wages alone or £103,200 on compliance tests on 10 licenses
per day beggar’s belief if this department is efficient or is doing other work other than tax i
and private hire work we want to be included with any future budgets if possible.
Saving In short we wish to see officers install new technology and new ways of thinking.
it’s not what’s best for the officers but what’s best for us all and ·that ·means discussing all
issues before implementing them.
Legal Somewhere we have read the customer is always right! What we have had to endure
over the past three years is the officer is always right 4 Compliance Tests, 21 day .rule, Audit
Commissioners Report, MEN Report show they are not right all the time.
Before we get the audit commissioner back on many issues that weren’t discussed last year
or t.his year so far we would wish you to look at the £6.00 charge for DVLA information that
wasn’t discussed with the trades association. Although this is a small amount we think it
goes against the 1976 miscellaneous act and other legal cases /challenges already proved.
Richmond case V McCarthy the enforcement costs we would question again on proven case
Hemmings and Others-v- Westminster 16-5-12 re unlawful to charge for enforcement. (2009
Services Regulations).
42
City of
Salford Private Hire
Association
NOTICE OF
NEXT MEET
IN
G
TUESDAY 16
TH OCTOBE
R 2012
START 7.30
PM
VENUE:
PATRICROF
T CONSERV
ATIVE CLU
1 EDDISON
B
ROAD, ECC
L
E
S
,
M30 7AW
All welcome
non-membe
rs join at do
or
£1.00 mem
bership.
Plenty of Pa
rking Space
s Available
!
Gena Merret
Assistant Mayor of Salford reply
• RE meeting on 19th
June 2012 with the
Private Hire drivers’
representatives with the
City Mayor, the Deputy
City, Mayor and Assistant
Mayors, Antrobus,
Merrett, Mullen and
Jones and
• RE meeting on 3rd
July 2012 with Paul
Joy and Unite Officers
representing the Hackney
Taxi drivers, the City
Mayor, Mark Reeves and
Assistant Mayors Merrett
and Jones.
I have reviewed Salford’s
Taxi Licencing policy
in the light of their
representations and
concerns. A full review of
the policy is scheduled
for February 2013 and
we await the outcome
of the Law Commission’s
consultation regarding its
proposal to reform the
law of taxi and private
hire services and set
national standards.
In doing this review I
have taken into account
the views of the drivers,
councillors and local
authority officers and
also the following
documents:
• The Department of
Transport’s guidance
on “Private Hire Vehicle
Licensing”
• The Department of
Transport’s guidance
on best practice in Taxi
licencing Policy
• The Policies of other
Local Authorities.
• The report of the
Law Commission on
‘Reforming the law of
taxi and private hire
services.’ In the meeting
on June 19th the Private
Hire Drivers asked for the
policy to be reviewed in
relation to;
• The age limitation of
vehicles in the fleet,
• The operator’s fees,
• The visibility of the
Private Hire car badge
They have also previous
made presentations
about the use of CCTV in
private hire vehicles.
In addition they made
presentations about
access for private hire
vehicles in the pedestrian
zone in the centre of
Eccles and being able to
stop to drop off in bus
lanes. These will be dealt
with by the Assistant
Mayor for Planning,
Councillor Antrobus,
through the planning
team and the requests
in relation to Eccles have
been sent to the Eccles
Community Committee
for further consultation.
In the meeting on July
3rd the Taxi (Hackney)
drivers asked for the
policy to be reviewed
early in relation to;
• The age limitation of
vehicles
• The delimiting of
numbers of taxis
They also raised
concerns and made
representations about:
• The Law Commission
consultation on
reforming the law of taxi
and private hire services
and brought with them a
joint response from Unite
the Union, GMB and RMT
• The number and
positioning of Taxi ranks
in the city
• The transport and
building planning process
that does not consider
taxis or plan ranks from
the outset.
44
www.greenlightmotorcare.co.uk
16
Taxi licensing in Salford
Aims of the Taxi and
Private Hire Licensing
Policy
When setting out the
policy in April 2010
elected members
and Council Officers
gave a high regard
to the standards of
safety and health of
drivers and the public,
the access, comfort,
condition and quality
of vehicles operating in
the city, environmental
sustainability and
promoting the vision of
Salford City Council.
Furthermore, the
Council’s own policy
ensures that contracts
are awarded only to
those contractors
whose cars meet the
safety, age, emission
and condition standards
set out in the policy.
May 2012.
The Private Hire Cars
and Drivers in Salford
services – consultation
only – responses by
August 2012.
The Private Hire vehicle
fleet in Salford has
grown in Salford from
939 to 996 cars and
from 1129 private
hire drivers to 1144
between June 2010 and
The council aims to
May 2012, with some
operate a safe, clean
fluctuations in between.
and high quality fleet
However, the number of
of taxis and private
operators has reduced
hire vehicles that will
so that there are now
ensure the public have
only forty operators
confidence in the service across Salford as
they are receiving and
operators join together
that will improve the
or buy each other out.
image of the service
The Hackney Carriages
throughout the city.
and Drivers in Salford
We believe it is essential
Since the delimitation on
we meet these aims
taxis numbers in Salford
if we are to improve
the Hackney vehicle
the standards of
fleet has grown from 79
service provided for
to 103. Since 2010 the
Salford people and
numbers have grown
for visitors to the city
from 95 to 103 in May
and if operators are to
2012 and the number of
compete with drivers
drivers has grown from
from neighbouring cities
119 in 2010 to 133 in
for lucrative contracts.
Drivers opposed the
de-limitation of taxis at
that time.
The Law Commission’s
document on reforming
the law for taxi and
private hire
Key points
• To delimit taxi
numbers nationally in all
authorities
• To keep the two tier
system
• National minimum
safety standards for
both taxis and private
hire vehicles
• Changes to standard
setting – for taxis
national standards with
some
additional local
standards.
• For private hire
services there will be
national standards only
and the
licensing authority will
have no power to set
higher standards.
• Taxi and private hire
46
...Taxi licensing in Salford
vehicles will only cover
hire standards will be
vehicles adapted to seat set nationally.
8 or fewer passengers.
It is clear that setting
• Increase enforcement standards for age and
powers for officers
emissions will remain
with the licensing
• Increase disability
authority for taxis but
awareness of drivers
that national standards
only will apply for
• Have a new licensing
private hire cars or no
category of wheelchair
standards.
access vehicles
• Weddings and funeral
cars would no longer
be exempted through
primary legislation.
• Government powers
to issue binding
statutory guidance. To
improve consistency
in how legislation is
applied.
It would appear from
the Law Commission’s
document (May
2012) that ‘Licensing
authorities should
retain the power to set
standards locally for
taxis provided they are
above the minimum
national standards,’
although safety
standards will be set
nationally and private
47
It is therefore likely that
new national standards
for PHVs may be in
operation in less than 2
years.
The proposals may
have some considerable
impact on the standards
already required by
Salford to maintain a
high quality fleet of local
private hire vehicles
and drivers, not only
in the quality age and
emission standards
of vehicles but in the
cross-border regulation
that will enable private
hire drivers from other
areas to pick up work in
Salford. This will impact
on the standards and
safety of the private
hire services in Salford
www.gmpha.co.uk
and may impact on the
capacity of taxi drivers
and PHS drivers to earn
their living.
Consideration of issues
raised at both meetings.
The age limitation of
vehicles.
Taking the aims of the
policy and the current
regulations on age and
emissions limitation into
account there appears
to be no compelling
cause for the current
policy to be changed
before its scheduled
three year review set
for February 2013 or
until the Department of
Transport, decides to
set a national standard
on emissions and on the
age of taxi and private
hire fleets.
The following points are
used to support this
argument;
1. The safety, comfort
and quality of the
service for residents
and visitors should be
the highest priority
for the City Council.
At the meeting, the
private hire drivers
informed us about
the many thousands
of trips per year they
undertake. A private
hire vehicle cannot
therefore be compared
with privately owned
cars or other types of
cars or minibuses used
for public service that
do not incur the same
extent of wear and tear
and mileage. Generally,
therefore, the Council’s
view is that for most
private hire cars a ten
year old vehicle will not
provide the standard
of safety, quality and
comfort a customer has
the right to expect and
it could be seen as a
retrograde step to lower
the standards that have
been set following a two
year consultation with
drivers, operators and a
wide range of people.
2. The current
regulation requires that
a PHV be no more than
four years old when it
enters the fleet and
seven years old when
it leaves the fleet. This
is a lower age limit
than some licensing
authorities require but is
by no means the lowest
and it is not out of step
with current practice
elsewhere. We have also
extended this for cars
that were on the fleet in
April 2010 so they can
stay on the fleet until
they are 9 years old,
although cars coming
onto the fleet since
2010 will have to leave
when they are 7 years
old.
3. Taxis have longer life
span because they are
engineered for use as a
taxi and guaranteed by
manufacturers for 10
years. Taxis should be
no older than 4 years
old when they enter the
fleet and must leave the
fleet when ten years
old. Taxis already on the
fleet in April 2010 do
not have to leave until
they are 12 years old,
4. However, mindful
of the Department of
Transport’s advice that
an old car may not
necessarily fail to meet
emission standards or
be of poor quality, the
council has provided an
exceptional condition
criteria which would
enable an older car to
remain on the fleet if it
meets the exceptional
condition criteria cited
in Appendix R of the
Taxi Licensing Policy in
the twice yearly tests.
5. The private hire
drivers expressed
concern that the age
limitation imposed
financial hardship on
owner-drivers and
operators, citing one
operator who would
have to replace a third
of his vehicles in one
year.
There are two points
that significantly weaken
this argument;
• A two year
consultation period prior
to the introduction of
the policy was designed
to enable drivers and
operators to plan
and adapt to the new
conditions and, in order
to facilitate the financial
management of owners
and operators of cars
48
already on the fleet in
2010, the council
made a concession
that these cars could
remain on the fleet
until they were 9 years
old. Consequently, the
operator in question
would have faced the
exact same problem
a year later even if
the drivers’ request
for a 10-year limit
was accepted, unless
the cars meet the
criteria for exceptional
condition.
• Additionally, it the
responsibility of drivers
and operators to ensure
that they meet the
standards required
by the council and
to manage their fleet
appropriately by good
business planning and a
regular rotation of stock
in and out of the fleet.
• The same argument
applies to driver
concerns about HP
payments over a three
or four year period. It
is for drivers, not the
council to manage their
business affairs so
they can meet required
standards.
6. There are other
reasons why it would
49
now be inappropriate for changes anyway.
the council to change
The visibility of the
the emission and age
Private Hire car badge
limit set in April 2010;
The taxi plate can be
• Firstly, this would
changed but this would
penalise those drivers
have an impact on the
and operators who, in
costs of licensing the
complying with the age
private hire fleet and the
limitation of PHVs/taxis
costs would be reflected
have already renewed
in the fees charged.
their vehicles; secondly
Due consideration would
it would be detrimental
have to be given to the
to those drivers who
impact such a change
have secured contracts
might achieve against
on the basis of being
the costs that would be
a cleaner, younger
incurred.
better quality operator
than drivers from
The Use of CCTV
neighbouring authorities cameras in cars
and it would also be a
The Council has no
potential impediment
objection to the use
to the procurement
of CCTV cameras in
of further lucrative
private hire cars or
contracts that might be
taxis providing that
secured at the expense
the strict regulations
of other local fleets.
set out in the Council’s
• It would detract from
guidance policy on the
Salford’s vision for
use of CCTV cameras
ensuring sustainable
is adhered to. However
environmental
the owners and
improvements by the
operators would have
acquisition of a cleaner, to meet the costs of
younger, safer and high this additional security.
quality private hire fleet. It is the responsibility
of the PHV owners and
• Finally there would
operators to ensure the
seem little point in
safety of their drivers
changing the policy prior
and passengers.
to the publication of the
Law Commission’s final
report that may provide
The De-limitation of taxis.
The de-limitation of taxi numbers has
grown the numbers of taxis from 79
to 103 – by 24 vehicles. This is not
more excessive than would have been
brought about by the market growth
strategy proposed by the taxi drivers
at the time of de-limitation and the
law commission is now proposing
national delimitation in each licensing
area.
However, it would seem sensible to
monitor the growth of taxi numbers
carefully and set local limits if we
feel numbers are growing too rapidly
and this proposal will be looked at
in consultation with the drivers and
their unions.
The Consideration of the taxi services
and transport strategies in general
when planning takes place for new
homes or town centre facilities in
Salford.
It seems sensible that the taxi
services should be consulted and
considered in this
process and this will fall within the
remit of Assistant Mayors Antrobus
and Jones in particular.
The number and positioning of taxi
ranks
Whilst it has now been agreed to add
a new taxi rank at Salford Crescent
and Tesco in Pendleton, the main
areas of work for taxi drivers are
located in Salford and Eccles centres
and the taxi drivers would like the
council to consider a taxi rank in
Swinton town centre or at the
new ASDA store and a taxi rank in
Walkden so they can access the four
main centres where there is likely to
be high footfall and where people will
want to wait for and use taxis.
Other Issues Raised
The Private Hire 2011-2012 Taxi
Test Summary
There appears to be some confusion
about the interpretation of the
figures provided in the meeting about
private hire test results. Officers did
not intend to show a proliferation
of failure rates as an excuse to limit
the age of PHVs. On the contrary the
figures provided demonstrated clearly
a reduction in first time failure rates
on tests and that cars that failed
the first time failed for a range of
different faults, from emission faults
to lighting faults, not overall poor
quality.
Results
May 2011
May 2012
Total tests
First time pass rate
MOT failures
Compliance
failures
307
28%
75% of total fails
25%
258
42%
64%
36%
July2011May2012
1871
43%
63%
37%
50
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Reasons for failure
Lights
Brakes
Suspension
Emissions
In other words the
growth of a newer,
cleaner fleet has
resulted in lower failure
rates and fewer serious
faults indicating that the
fleet is safer and more
mechanically sound.
Fees for testing and
licensing of Private Hire
Vehicles
The fees for taxi
licensing are currently
being reviewed to
address the following
issues;
1. The Audit
Commission’s findings
that, whilst there
was no evidence that
the Council had overrecovered fees from
taxi and private hire
drivers and that the last
proposed fee increase in
2006 had been properly
advertised, there were
weaknesses in the
charging arrangements
in regard to;
• The separation of
costs with regard to
licenses for drivers,
operators and
%
22
8
6
6
vehicles
• The link between
costs and fees charged
for the private hire
licenses
• The lack of time
records to show how
officers in the licensing
section divide their
time between different
licenses.
2. The fact that fees
have not been reviewed
or raised for the last 6
years
3. The fact that the
costs for the licensing
and testing services
are £50,000 above
the income accrued
from fees, even taking
into account a prudent
view not to include the
recovery of any costs
for enforcement in
relation to driver and
vehicle licensing.
A detailed study has
been undertaken to
separate costs for
driver, vehicle and
operating fees, taking
into account the time
officers spend on issuing
licences and undertaking
vehicle testing. This
has determined that
the fees for driver and
operator licensing could
be reduced but on the
basis of current charges
and costs of testing the
overall deficit for vehicle
testing and licensing
would be £63,000.
A report is being
prepared for me that
will recommend that
fees and charges will
be realigned according
to the findings of the
review. This will reduce
the driver and operating
licence costs, make no
charge for enforcement
costs but would increase
the costs of vehicle
testing and licensing to
ensure that the income
will cover the costs
of the service without
making any profit. When
the report has
been presented I will
determine whether to
advise the City Mayor to
agree to the changes.
52
Having taken a very thorough
review of all the issues raised in
the meetings held on 19th June
and July 3rd I make the following
recommendations to the
• That considerations are given
to the way in which taxi numbers
will be monitored and excessive
growth restricted through these
consultations.
City Mayor and the Deputy City
Mayor.
• That the Assistant Mayors for
planning and transport will consider
the taxi services in planning new
homes and facilities in the city.
• That both PHS drivers and Taxi
drivers are consulted about the
response we will make to the Law
Commission in August and that our
response takes these into account
but robustly asserts the need for
national standards to be high and not
low standards in Salford whilst raising
concerns about the crossborder work.
• That no early changes are made
in relation to the age and emissions
restrictions of cars on the private hire
fleet as set out in the taxi licencing
policy but that the policy will be
reviewed, as planned in February
2013, or when national standards are
brought in, but that both taxi drivers
and PHS drivers note that older cars
in bi-annual tests that meet the
exceptional standards criteria in the
licensing policy will be able to remain
on the fleet.
• That, through their forums, PHV
drivers and Taxi drivers are consulted
extensively before the policy is
reviewed.
• That opportunities for a taxi rank
in Swinton and Walkden are explored
and reports are made to the City
Mayor about this.
• That the Eccles Community
Committee and Councillor Antrobus
explore the PHV drivers’ request for
access to Eccles town centre.
• That the request for a clearer/
changed taxi licence plate is
discussed at the private hire drivers’
forum and that drivers can choose
if they want to change and pay for
those costs.
• That, following a review of fees,
myself, the City Mayor and his Deputy
will address the recommendations for
changes to fees and decide if we will
accept those recommendations.
Councillor Merrett
Assistant Mayor for Housing and Environment
Now what do you think of that reply?
Emails please to [email protected] or Text 07954048962
Better still have your say at the next association meeting.
Pat Cons Club - 16th October - 7:30 start 1 Eddison Road, Eccles M30 7AW
53
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Private Hire - City Of Salford Private Hire Association

Transcription

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