PUMP UP THE VOLUME Where are the charging points? - INSIDE: Uber license renewal Taxi APPG - LEVC opens TX order book - Cab Trade News
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INSIDE: Uber license renewal • Taxi APPG – LEVC opens TX order book
Autumn 2017 The magazine for taxi drivers
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Where are the
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Time
for new
legislation
Autumn 2017 The magazine for taxi drivers Dear Colleagues
For some time I have
Contents been writing about the
need for new legislation
to tackle the increasing
3 National Officer’s Introduction. abuses taking place with the taxi and private hire trades.
This is affecting passenger safety so much that Neil
4 General Secretary’s Introduction Billary, Head of the Metropolitan Police's taxi and
private hire unit, has written to Transport for London
5 Respect: reckless cyclist at Silicon accusing Uber of failing to report serious crimes
roundabout committed by their drivers.
8 Losing friends fast This is on top of their surge pricing and their
increasingly aggressive stance against their workers. We
9 Unite welcomes APPG report now have the opportunity for the change that is
required. Daniel Zeichner MP has said that he will use
10 Electric cabs: charging concerns
a Private Member's Bill to bring in new taxi and private
12 Uber licence renewal hire legislation and bring the law up to date and fit for
an age of smartphones and hailing apps. We welcome
14 Taxi legislation needs updating... this and will work tirelessly with Daniel and all other
interested parties to ensure that we get a law fit for
16 Brighton & Hove report purpose and puts passenger safety at the heart of new
legislation.
18 Southampton safety concerns
We call on the government to get behind Daniel's Bill
21 Order your taxi now to ensure that it gets the parliamentary time necessary
to ensure its progress through parliament. By working
22 Unite Taxi education with Daniel the government can stop the flagrant
abuses taking place.
23 Nottingham report
Unite is also calling on Mayor Khan to refuse Uber's
26 Letter from Edinburgh licence to operate in London. This would send a clear
signal that the law needs tackling.
27 Postcard from Southend
Unite will be working with Daniel Zeichner MP and
28 Heathrow flyer the Mayor to ensure that passengers and taxi drivers are
protected, standards are improved and we have a
30 Leeds dispatch
licensing system fit for purpose.
31 Glasgow circular
32 Mark’s Missive
34 Online training for taxi drivers
Bobby Morton
National Officer, Passenger Services
www.cabtradenews.org Cab Trade News Published quarterly by Unite the union,
128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 020 7611 2500.
facebook.com/cabtradenews Editor – Peter Rose peterjrose@cabtradenews.org
Phone 07903 525 520.
Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email
@cabtradenews www.cabtradenews.org
Distribution enquiries contact your regional office
3 Autumn 2017
CAB TRADE NEWS Comment www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews
'Due regard for the
feelings, wishes, or rights
A new vision of hope has spread across the country as the
people found their voice with their votes and told the Tories of others'
that they are tired of their lies, of austerity, of cruel cuts, fear
and despair.
-Any taxi driver would be aware of the reckless nature of a
Credit for this hope must go to Labour, led by JEREMY minority of cyclists near “Silicon roundabout” in Shoreditch.
CORBYN, which has pulled off the biggest political It was perhaps inevitable that the death of a pedestrian in
reawakening of the century. February would occur in this location. For the last five years
some cyclists in this area have developed a wanton disrespect
Corbyn connected with people in a way that May and her for other road users, the law and basic road safety.
‘strong and stable’ message simply couldn’t match. He has
shown people that politics can work to make people’s lives Why this area has evolved this dangerous habit is puzzling.
better. But every morning between 8am and 9.30am the roads
emanating from Old Street roundabout resemble the wild west.
His campaign, built on honesty and taken to the public’s front Bus lanes are unusable for either buses or taxis, bus drivers
doors by real people, spoke stronger than an empty manifesto attempting to stop at designated stops need nerves of steel as
and campaign with hundreds of thousands of pounds thrown do taxi drivers stopping to pick up or drop off or simply make
at it by City donors. a left turn. Red lights are ignored as are one-way streets.
Cab members have felt the brunt of Tory economics for too
I can think of at least two incidents in the last twelve months
long. When people don’t have money in their pockets they
when cyclists have been victims, so this is not about taking
don’t take cabs, it is simple as that. And with this government
the moral high ground, but the lack of common sense
determined to turn the streets into cut-throat chaos by
unleashing thousands of Uber licences, things will get tougher displayed by some cyclists is frightening. If this behavior
for taxis under this government. scares and appalls me, encased in a ton of steel protection,
surely a cyclist must be aware of the dangerous manoeuvres
With Labour we have a government in waiting that will work they are employing?
for the many, not the few.
Clearly cyclists are not always in the wrong, but it seems
Times are still uncertain. But with May desperate for a deal that many often stick with the herd mentality and as soon
with a minority party to form a government, and with the UK as they see another cyclist doing something dangerous and
looking ill-prepared for imminent Brexit talks, the Tories have getting away with it, they all follow in a sheep like fashion.
shown themselves unfit for office.
Other than the Old Street area, I believe most taxi drivers
May can only cling to power for so long while the rest of her awareness of cyclists has increased and vice versa.
party sharpen their knives. Certainly, in Zones 1 & 2 I have seen a more accepting, if
sometimes grudging, respect that motorists must share
We must now demand action from the Tories on the ‘gig’ road space with cyclists.
economy and continue our fight against the lowering of our
living standards. But we do so renewed, fired up by the hope Charlie Allison’s actions and his comments on social media
that another way really is possible. immediately after should make cyclists wake up to the fact
that they are not morally superior to other road users; that
traffic regulations are not created simply to be disrespected.
We all need to make our roads safer, but this should be
backed up with just laws as well.
Len McCluskey, general secretary
4 Autumn 2017
@cabtradenews BY MIKE HEDGES
Charlie Alliston faces eighteen months in prision because he who made an admittedly, naive and silly decision to instruct a
couldn’t care less about other road users, a young woman with a taxi driver to remove a copy of Taxi newspaper from the front of
loving family has been needlessly killed. Surely our laws now his cab. Most comments are anonymous.Worse still, some
need updating and just as important, enforcing. comments are reportedly sexually denigrating the women. This
is wrong and if it’s taxi drivers writing these comments they let
Pedicabs the London trade down.
On the theme of Safety and common sense, I saw two separate
cases recently where tourists hired a pedicab outside Hamleys, A recent example of a hospital refusing monies from a fundraiser
with their children. The children, in both cases, seemed under where men dressed as highly sexualised nurses shows how times
five years old. The fathers both seemed happy to bounce their are changing. I am sure many men will argue that this is PC
young children on their laps; no child restraints; no protection gone mad. But female nurses deserve our respect for the tough,
in a crash. Why is this dangerous & unregulated exploitation underpaid jobs they do caring for our community 24/7, and
still being allowed to flourish openly outside all our major tourist shouldn’t be portrayed as sexual objects.
attractions? As in the case of Kim Briggs, will it take an
avoidable tragedy before anything gets done. About women doing tough jobs; it’s interesting how many
leading positions at Taxi & Private Hire are at present being
Respect undertaken by women. This is a long way from the male ex Met
As a taxi trade, we are rightly proud of our high standards of police types who formerly got tucked up into these positions,
safety offered to the traveling public. The recent -allegation that allegedly with the help of certain funny handshakes, or indeed,
Uber has been concealing sexual assault cases amongst its drivers previous holders of high office within TPH who were reportedly
would not come as a shock to many London drivers who have happy to challenge taxi reps to fight outside The Ring in
campaigned relentlessly for better safety for women traveling in Blackfriars Road.
minicabs, minicabs licensed by TfL. Clearly regulations on
private hire operators and drivers are not rigorous enough. Whilst disagreeing with many issues being raised by Taxi &
Women, especially women traveling alone, need the highest Private Hire recently and often feeling like we are walking
levels of regulation and enforcement when using minicabs. through treacle on simple issues, the level of consultation and
response on many other issues affecting working taxi drivers is
Therefore, it’s disappointing to hear of the number of comments far better than in the past.
on social media denigrating the women TfL compliance officers
5 Autumn 2017
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www.cabtradenews.org
HEADER Goeshere facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews BY JIM KELLY
LOSING parliamentary time to allow the passage of the
Bill through parliament. This is a golden
opportunity to put in place robust legislation
that is fit for an age of apps and smartphones.
FRIENDS
That can ensure progress in a way that
continues to protect the public.
Unite Cab Section have a good relationship
with Daniel, and we have met and discussed
many of these issues with Daniel, and we are
FAST
convinced that the main issues can be tackled
with a focus on keeping licensing local and
simple. These include:
Unite has always been clear. The way to end
cross-border hiring is for all private hire
bookings “to begin or end in the licensing
Over the last few months there has been an They oppose any increase in safety standards, authority where the licence was issued”.
increasing number of negative news stories there accept and disregard sexual and verbal This is simple to check and would stop the
and revelations about Uber and the way they assaults by their drivers towards passengers, blatant abuses taking place at the moment,
are operating. From the threat of not having aim to destroy local licensing conditions, which such as a London licensed vehicle doing all
their licence renewed in London to the are there to protect passenger safety and force of its work in Brighton with a London
exposure by Neil Billany, Head of the driver's to work excessive hours, in many cases licensed Brighton driver.
Metropolitan police's taxi and private hire drivers are forced to sleep in their cars as they
unit, of Uber failing to report serious crimes are so exhausted. Is that a company that should The Deregulation Act should be scrapped
committed by their drivers. be protected by the state at the expense of law- immediately. This gives operators another
abiding companies and legitimate taxi drivers. way to undertake cross-border bookings.
This comes on top of the recent All Party
Parliamentary Group report into taxis and It is clearly time for the government to act and A cap on private hire numbers.
private hire which had a series of bring in new legislation to tackle the licensing
recommendations aimed at stopping cross- problems that exist. If the Mayor refuses Uber One high minimum standard of driver,
border hiring and raising minimum driver a licence this will send a strong message to vehicle and operator. For drivers this should
standards, ensuring plying for hire is only government and other authorities that Uber include a driving test, English language
allowed by taxis and allowing private hire can be tackled and beaten. They refuse to say test and a topographical test.
numbers to be capped. how their App works and whether it conforms
to existing legislation requiring all private Increased enforcement powers for
The Uber model, like all gig economy focused hire bookings to go through the operator licensing/enforcement officers to be able to
businesses, relies on an oversupply of labour, before the driver. It is clear that Uber send the inspect out-of-town vehicles.
in this case drivers, to push down wages and booking straight to the driver before the A standardised DBS to stop drivers and
conditions. Therefore, Uber floods the market booking goes to them. That is dangerous and operators moving around licensing
with unskilled drivers, working at or below, illegal and must be stopped. If Uber's London authorities.
the minimum wage under increasingly licence is refused then all licensing authorities
exploitative conditions. Uber have increased should immediately follow suit and withdraw A review of 'plying for hire' to stop apps
the commission for many of its drivers to Uber's licence to operate. In itself, this is not displaying vehicle availability.
exploit them even more. the solution, but it will send the strongest
message possible that the law needs changing. Together with all the other pressures facing
So anything that threatens their exploitative Uber, such as the Employment Tribunal's
model is a threat to Uber. The Mayor of Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge, has said decisions, the government reviewing the gig
London refusing to relicense Uber would be that he will use his Private Member's Bill to economy and Uber's refusal to pay taxes,
the strongest signal yet that Uber is not a fit tackle many of the problems with taxi and means that now is the time to put an end to
and proper company to operate minicabs in private hire legislation. The government Uber's disgusting behaviour and bring in laws
this country. Their record is abysmal and no needs to use this opportunity to back Daniel that protect all concerned; passengers and
other company would operate in this way. Zeichner and ensure the Bill gets the necessary drivers.
8 Autumn 2017
HEADER Goeshere BY MIKE HEDGES
BY JIM KELLY
Unite Cab Section
Welcomes APPG
Report
Unite Cab Section welcomed the report of the request it, the power to cap the number of minimum requirement for all drivers. In
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) PHVs addition local authorities should be free to set
Lessons from London: The future of the UK local requirements, such as environmental
Taxi Trade. This was a three month Create a statutory definition of cross border standards, vehicle colour and safeguarding
investigation which received evidence from hiring whereby a journey must “begin or education.
many sources, including Unite’s Cab Section. end in the licensing authority where the
It comes at a time which is very much a licence was issued” All of these requirements should be dealt with
crossroads for the taxi industry in the UK. in consultation with the taxi trade to ensure
Consult on statutory guidance for taxi and that the requirements are robust and put
With so much uncertainty and changes PHV licensing and set out a robust set of safety at the heart of licensing.
confronting the taxi trade this report is very minimum licensing standards for all
welcome, particularly if it can kick-start a new licensing authorities. Mayors should be given increased powers in
attitude from the government towards the ways that the APPG recommends to
bringing in legislation that will put an end to The simplest way to end cross-border hiring tackle serious problems. If the Mayor of
the escalating abuse of the licensing is to place a restriction on private hire drivers London had the power to cap numbers then
legislation that is abundant around the whereby a journey must “begin or end in the London would have been able to tackle the
country. Local authorities are becoming licensing authority where the licence was explosion in private hire numbers that has
increasingly frustrated at their lack of powers issued". This would instantly stop a driver taken place, to the detriment of the drivers
to stop the flaunting of licensing conditions being licensed in one authority and working themselves, London's road network and to the
that they have imposed in the interests of their exclusively or partially in another authority. environment.
local electorates safety. Safety is being This is almost always done to avoid licensing
compromised and the government must act restrictions that have been brought in to The Deregulation Act should be scrapped as
before it is too late. address particular safety issues, such as a lot of operators use this as a means of cross-
safeguarding education in a number of border operation. Increased enforcement
The APPG have addressed these issues in a authorities. Taxis can only ply for hire in their powers for licensing/enforcement officers to
wide ranging report. Unite Cab Section is very licensing area so the same should be the case be able to inspect out of town vehicles would
pleased to report that many of the solutions for private hire. The case for this is also help stop cross border hiring and improve
that we have advocated as required in overwhelming. safety. The use of private hire Apps showing
legislation have been recommended by the the availability of vehicles should also be
APPG. In keeping with Unite's view the Creating a set of high national minimum stopped as this is clearly 'plying for hire' as
essence of the report has been to keep standards is essential to ensuring the best these vehicles are exhibiting themselves for
licensing local and simple. possible safety criteria for passengers. The hire, which is clearly illegal and dangerous.
minimum standards should include a
These include: standardised DBS check, a medical group 2 Unite fully endorses the APPG report and we
assessment, a local topographical test, a look forward to continuing to work with the
Grant the Mayor of London and any other driving test, an English language test and a APPG to bring their recommendations into
Mayors or combined authorities who disability awareness course. This should be the law.
9 Autumn 2017
ww.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews BY PETER ROSE
ELECTRIC
CABS:
Charging is the
current main
concern
If you have looked at buying an electric cab will need to be ‘topped up’ mid-shift. pass the Dynamo version of the all
car, the most common expression you’ll And it’s here, if the Mayor and Transport electric NV200 taxi.
come across is ‘range anxiety’. However, for London fails to act quickly, that the
for the taxi trade it isn’t ‘range anxiety’ problems will arise. London simply So, with a four-year lead in time, and
that’s the biggest worry, its ‘charge doesn’t currently have any dedicated with being charged with the task, you
anxiety’! charging points for electric cabs. would have thought that TfL would have
been busy with a plan of implementation.
We all probably know by now that the In January, it will four years since former After all during the same period TfL’s
Craig Doogan
new TX taxi on offer from the London Mayor of London Boris Johnson, marched Road Space Management team managed
Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) into a marquee on the lawn of City Hall to introduce an extensive Cycle
formerly the London Taxi Company has and announced that he wanted all new Superhighway network, spending
a small onboard motor to maintain the taxis to be Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) millions in the process. One might be
batteries. So from a standing start with from January 1st 2018. At that event the forgiven for thinking that they would do
batteries fully charged and a full tank of trade was looking forward to what looked the same for the charging network
fuel, taxi drivers will have an overall to be a serious vehicle choice. LTC, New needed to run London’s taxi fleet from
range in excess of four hundred miles. Metrocab, Karsan all on display, with 2018. Unfortunately nothing could be
This should more than eliminate the Nissan joining the party a little later. further from the truth.
range anxiety issue. Four years down the power-line and with
no fault of the surviving manufacturer, it The fact is, TfL have been static on the
However, to run the new cab at optimum looks like only one vehicle remains. need for charging points. Often talking
efficiency, and to make the most of much Metrocab and Karsan seemingly about them, but never actually getting in
vaunted fuel savings, as well as starting disappearing up their own battery off the ground and installing them. Why
your shift with fully charged batteries, the terminals. We’ve yet to see if TfL will is this? Lack of funds? No, the fact is, TfL
10 Autumn 2017are going to outsource the charging only three months to go, seventy-five ranks, none of them want to have the
points needed to run London’s fleet of points looks to be no more than a pipe- large fridge sized charging stations
electric taxis. This means taxi drivers will dream. So why the delay? needed to run them on their pavements.
be paying commercial rates for power Too big and too ugly for most councils,
every time we top up mid shift. Worse it has come to light that the charging preferring to wait for advances in
still there will be no standardised rate. companies are reluctant to bid for ‘taxi technology to make them smaller, neater,
Costs will differ from one charging point only’ charging points. Probably because more powerful or non-visible (Wireless).
to the next. Taxi drivers will need a they are being asked to bid and maintain
smartphone app to find the lowest price locations without a single electric cab Because of this TfL are having to resort to
for charging. That is assuming you will being on the road. To see some guaranteed bribery, releasing £4.5 million to twenty-
be able to find a vacant point. Even more use and profit, they want the sites to be five boroughs, encouraging them to
worrying is that TfL don’t know how open to all electric vehicles. An install the rapid charging points, as
many we will need in total. There is no understandable position perhaps, given drivers and the manufacturers need to
cabs to charging points ratio. that until it actually goes on sale, no one make these vehicles successful. Whether
really knows how fast the take up of zero or not this will do the trick, and this
Dedicated charging emission capable cabs will be? And unplugs the stopgap facing the electric
By the end of the year the trade has been without a sufficient dedicated cabs, we can only wait and see. If it doesn’t
promised by TfL that as a start it will infrastructure, potential owners of the new then the likelihood is that zero emission
have seventy-five dedicated taxi rapid cab could well be put off from buying. cabs sales will falter, trade confidence will
charging points, with another seventy- fall and the green cab ideal will fail. TfL
five coming in 2018. That is, points with Another reason is, that although London’s and the London boroughs need to get
enough power to see a cab up and boroughs want the all new, all green cabs, their acts together, and they need get
running again within half an hour. With even proposing new electric only cab them together – yesterday!
Thinkstock
11 Autumn 2017www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews BY HAJERA BLAGG
UNITE SAYS NO
TO UBER LICENCE
RENEWAL
“
Police have slammed the ride-sharing app Delays the profit motive,” he said. “Uber is
Uber in London for failing to report Billany noted that the MPS was made driving this race to the bottom in the
sexual assaults by its drivers, among other aware of six sexual assaults, two public private hire market — where the safety
serious crimes, leading Unite to call for order offences and one assault in 2016 of its passengers does not even register as
an end to Uber’s operating licence in the which were first reported to Uber and a priority — and it must stop.”
capital. subsequently reported to TfL but were
initially kept from police. Kelly explained that the incidents
”
highlighted in Billany’s letter also expose
a loophole in private hire legislation:
From the way it treats its This caused a delay in police
being informed from anywhere
passengers with wanton disregard between a few weeks to seven “We at Unite argue that all
to the way it sees its workers as months. Because of this delay, complaints against private hire drivers
should be directed straight to TfL and
expendable robots with virtually no some cases, like the two public
order offences, could not be not to the operator,” Kelly noted.
employment rights or protections, pursued “despite both having “This is so that all passengers, no
Uber has shown itself to be a clear evidence of an offence matter what mode of transport they
take or which company the operator
company that does not deserve to taking place” because a six-
month prosecution time limit is, are in a position where their safety
operate on the streets of London, had passed. comes first and complaints are dealt
with in a streamlined way.”
Uber has itself admitted that it
In a damning letter obtained by the reports incidents to TfL as per Licence
Sunday Times from Inspector Neil regulations but it is not a matter of its Kelly added that the latest news
Billany, head of the Metropolitan police’s policy to inform the police. Billany revealing Uber’s failure to protect
(MPS) taxi and private hire unit, Uber claimed that in one alleged road rage passengers adds to the reasons why Uber’s
was accused of “deciding what crimes to incident involving a driver using licence in London should not be renewed
report” – those that would “be less pepper spray, which is technically in September.
damaging to [its] reputation” – and classified as a firearm, Uber refused to
failing to tell police about more serious give information to the police unless “From the way it treats its passengers
crimes. The letter, sent to Helen they submitted a formal request under with wanton disregard to the way it sees
Chapman, head of taxis and private hire the Data Protection Act its workers as expendable robots with
at TfL, highlighted several incidents in virtually no employment rights or
which Uber failed to report to police. Passenger safety protections, Uber has shown itself to be
Unite’s London Cab Section chair Jim a company that does not deserve to
TfL said Uber’s failure to communicate Kelly slammed Uber’s refusal to operate on the streets of London,” he said.
with police was “totally unacceptable” cooperate with police.
and would form “part of the “We at Unite urge the Mayor of London
consideration” as it decides Uber’s long- “Their behaviour demonstrates what we and TfL to not renew Uber’s operating
term licence renewal in London in have known for some time — that Uber licence when it comes up for review later
September. sacrifices passenger safety at the altar of this month.”
12 Autumn 2017www.cabtradenews.org
HEADER Goeshere facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews OD
BY JIM KELLY
UNITE CAB
SECTION
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13 Spring 2017
Autumn 2017ww.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews PRESS RELEASE
Taxi legislation needs
updating to safeguard
passengers says LGA
“The need for reform is now urgent. involved taxi and PHV holders abusing
Councils are doing what they can to the trust that has been placed in them, so
strengthen licensing processes, such as there are strong safeguarding reasons for
commissioning an LGA national register, strengthening current legislation.
but we have always said that the best way
to strengthen safeguarding is to update “The onset of mobile phone booking apps
legislation, which only government can for PHVs is causing concern about
do.” whether drivers are able to compete on a
level playing field and has led to
Taxi laws need urgently updating to It is urging government to support new numerous and costly legal challenges
reflect new technology, help reduce the taxi legislation on taxi and private hire which local licensing authorities are
risk of child sexual exploitation and vehicles in order to modernise the being forced to spend public money on.
create a level playing field for drivers, the licensing system for taxis and PHVs,
Local Government Association (LGA) improve passenger safety and create a “Local licensing authorities are trying to
said today. level playing field for drivers. work out how new models fit within a
legislative framework drafted before
The LGA, which represents more than The LGA has recently commissioned the mobile phones were even invented, when
370 councils in England and Wales, says development of a national register of taxi what is really needed is clarity on a new
taxi and private hire legislation – some of and PHV licences which have been legislative framework that allows for a
which dates back to 1847 and horse- refused or revoked so councils can check 21st century way of doing things fairly
drawn hackney carriages – needs new applicants against the database and for passengers, councils and drivers.
strengthening to improve passenger update with their own information.
safety in light of the proliferation of app- “The need for reform is now urgent.
based taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) But the LGA says the best way to Councils are doing what they can to
companies and increased cross-border strengthen safeguarding measures is for strengthen licensing processes, such as
hiring. government to update taxi laws. commissioning an LGA national
register, but we have always said that the
Councils cannot take enforcement action Cllr Clive Woodbridge, Deputy Chair of best way to strengthen safeguarding is to
against the rising numbers of taxi drivers the LGA’s Safer and Stronger update legislation, which only
licensed by other authorities operating in Communities Board, said: government can do.
their area. This is causing huge
frustration to councils and local drivers “Councils have long argued that there is “It’s encouraging that the Government
who, depending on what the local rules a need for the existing outdated taxi laws has recognised the need to look at this
are, may have had to comply with more to be updated. issue as a matter of urgency, following
rigorous licensing standards. Minister John Hayes’ announcement of a
“The legislation governing aspects of working group to look at this over
The Government has set up a working taxis and private hire vehicles pre-dates autumn and report back to him. The
group to look at the issue over the the motor car and is simply not fit for LGA looks forward to being part of the
autumn. The LGA wants the group to purpose in an era when mobile phone working group and is urging government
look at the issue of national minimum technology is significantly changing the to follow it up by supporting or bringing
licensing standards for drivers of taxis and way people access private hire vehicles. forward new taxi licensing legislation
PHVs, a national database of all licensed which benefits passengers, councils and
taxi and PHV drivers, and cross border “In recent years, we’ve seen a number of drivers as it is brought before
hiring. child sexual exploitation cases that have Parliament.”
14 Autumn 2017Unite4
Heathrow
Working people need a 3rd runway
Unite backs
Heathrow expansion for
• JOBS
• A STRONGER ECONOMY
• A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL
Join us
Support the campaign – go to
www.unitetheunion.org/Unite4Heathrow
to pledge your support
@Unite4Heathrow Unite4Heathrow
www.unitetheunion.org/Unite4Heathrow
15 Spring 2017Brighton & H
www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews
Plying for hire
On Monday 8th of August 2017 around As said, the law makes ‘hailing’ unlawful their mobile and requested a taxi, or a
twenty-five metropolitan London Taxis for private hire vehicles. ‘ride’ as Uber so quaintly puts it. Then if
visited Brighton & Hove, teaming up one of those metropolitan London taxis
with the local trade to challenge the inner Apps in use by the local Brighton & accepted that request, then the respective
workings of the Uber app. Hove taxi and private hire companies do metropolitan London driver has acted
not use a system of direct street hailing, illegally and rendered themselves liable
The Uber app has been shrouded in which simply connects the customer to to revocation of their hackney carriage
mystery, with Uber refusing to fully reveal the driver. These apps accept the booking licence.
how it functions, even when directly from the customer into the operator's
questioned at the Brighton & Hove Taxi booking system and correctly records and So they duly made a metropolitan, TfL
Trade Forum meetings. At the last meeting documents the details of the booking to licensed London cab available for hire on
held in July, questions from the trade were the operator's booking records, before their app in Brighton, just as Uber does
again put to Fred Jones of Uber, about how offering or dispatching the job to the with its TfL licensed minicabs on a daily
the app functioned, but he again refused to nearest or most appropriate vehicle. basis). We requested a ‘cab’ and the
discuss the matter. However, the reps from request was immediately sent to ’our’
Brighton & Hove Streamline Taxis, City The purpose of the visit by the London cab. It was then open to the
Cabs and Brighton & Hove Radio Cabs metropolitan London cabs was to driver to accept that request, just as many
were willing to discuss their apps and demonstrate a specific app that they use TfL Uber drivers do each and every day
booking systems in detail. in London would also work for them in Brighton & Hove.
outside of London, including Brighton &
Unite and the local trade merely wonder, Hove. The app used was a direct hailing The intention of the demo was to ‘alert’
If Uber's app is fully compliant with all one, which for London hackney carriages Brighton & Hove City Council to this
legislation, then why all the secrecy? It is whilst working in London is perfectly ‘plying for hire’ of out-of-town vehicles
this compliance (or otherwise) with the legal. However, these metropolitan in the city which is illegal and to see what
legislation that we sought to test. Uber London taxis are legally only allowed to reaction the council would have to this.
supposedly only uses private hire vehicles use this type of app when they are within Of course, it was never the intention for
and not hackney carriages. This itself is TfL’s licensing area. They are not allowed any of these visiting London cabbies to
questionable, as they use hackney to use them to ply for hire outside of ply for hire in the city, as this was merely
carriages from outside their respective London. This is the same rule for any a test conducted under 'test conditions'.
taxi licensing areas to work as private hire hackney carriages nationally, which In effect, a staged event of what may
in other areas. are limited to legally plying for hire happen in theory with such 'apps' in use
only within their respective licensing by vehicles and drivers not licensed by
The law states that as such, private hire authority areas. Brighton & Hove, but operating without
cars are not allowed to be ‘hailed’ or to hindrance in the city.
'ply for hire' in the street, including We sought to challenge Brighton &
hackney carriages that are not within Hove Council on how the Uber system Just when we may have been confused
their own licensing authority area. From works. If one of these metropolitan (we weren’t, but we may have been), TfL
reports available, it is widely believed London taxis makes themselves available came to the rescue (when did you ever
that the Uber app simply connects the on their app in Brighton & Hove (outside think you’d hear those words) with a
customer to the nearest available driver, of their Licensed area), and if a member couple of tweets, confirming that a TfL
which is effectively a 'direct street hail'. of the public had the customer app on taxi MUST be: ‘physically located
16 Autumn 2017Hove Report
BY SEAN RIDLEY
explain in detail just how road signs and signals. In one example an
it works and a correction Uber vehicle being driven the wrong way
will certainly be made. along Kings Road Brighton against the
flow of traffic. Unlawful unauthorised
We believe that we have ranks of Uber cars plying for hire and
achieved our ultimate aim of even parking up on local taxi ranks.
clarifying what is a 'booking Vehicles without any distinguishing
app' and what is a 'direct safety markings or even evidence of
hailing app'. It would appear licence plates.
in essence that the Uber app
fails to comply with both the Interestingly enough, the Brighton
‘London Private Hire Act Argus newspaper covered a story recently
1998, and the ‘Local of an Uber (TfL licensed) minicab seized
Government Miscellaneous by Sussex Police for having no insurance
Act 1976, by allowing the - this alone breaches the primary purpose
driver to directly accept of Licensing - Public Safety!
within your licensed area to legally bookings from the passenger.
accept a job’ and; 'with pre-booked jobs, This is one of the reasons why we believe It was very clear that whilst London and
you still must be in your licensed area TfL should refuse to re-license Uber in Brighton & Hove face different issues,
when you accept the job’. That London. there is one common factor that affects
clarification came directly from the the whole of the country and that is the
regulator - TfL!!! Safety First question on the legality of the Uber app
There are of course major issues that connecting the customer directly with
Of course, this applies to taxis licensed in both London and the City of Brighton the driver and until there is a clear
London and not to private hire vehicles & Hove and indeed other licensing definition of this then it remains smoke
that comply with the three licence authorities face with Uber such as, Uber and mirrors. We have of course called for
requirements of a licensed operator TfL drivers sleeping in their cars action by Brighton & Hove City Council
dispatching jobs to vehicles and drivers (evidence available). Out of town private but as usual the silence is deafening!
licensed by the same authority. hire vehicles from as far as Edinburgh,
Leeds, Sefton, Birmingham, Portsmouth, We now require immediate enforcement
Now perhaps TfL Taxi & Private Hire Southampton and Reigate to name just a action from both TfL & Brighton &
could explain why TfL licensed Uber few 'alien' vehicles working in Brighton Hove City Council on vehicles licensed
minicabs are allowed to wait for and & Hove without the need to have by TfL, not physically located within
accept app work in Brighton & Hove expensive CCTV installed as insisted by their licensed area and illegally
(outside of their licensed area), but also the Council. Also, enforcement of these accepting jobs’ and/or; ‘accepting
in many other towns and cities across the out of town vehicles is almost a physical pre-booked jobs, whilst not located
length and breadth of the Country? impossibility with them being left to run in their licensed area when they
When the driver is directly accepting amok with scant chance of being accept the job.
bookings from the passenger and not apprehended.
having the booking despatched first by
Uber London. This together with a
catalogue of legal
At this point we state publicly that if infractions building,
Uber Britannia Limited disagrees such as Uber drivers
with how the consensus of the actual from TfL and other areas
workings of their app is generally driving the wrong way
perceived by the national taxi trade in one way streets,
and others is incorrect... Then kindly failing to comply with
17 Autumn 2017www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews
Southampton saf
over our ‘Out of To
Council leader echoes Unite call for private hire
journesy to start or finish in the area they are
licensed for.
Councillor Simon Letts, Labour leader Mayor of London Taxi and Private Unite the union says people are becoming
of Southampton Council has written to Hire Action Plan. It was also amongst used to getting into unmarked cars
John Hayes CBE MP, the government Labour's Wes Streeting's proposals for because of all the TfL licensed Uber
minister in charge of taxis and private the taxi trade in his All Party vehicles that are “flooding” into
hire at the Department of Transport, to Parliamentary Group (APPG), Lessons Southampton.
complain about the number of non from London report on the future of
Southampton licensed private hire taxi and private hire services in Perry McMillan, chairman of the
drivers and vehicles working in the city. England and Wales. Unite cab section Southampton cab section of Unite, told
adopted the private hire journey Southampton’s Daily Echo:
In his letter, Councillor Letts raises a policy at its annual taxi trade
number of safety concerns with the large conference in March. “Uber vehicles licensed by Southampton
numbers of private hire drivers working City Council had to carry clear markings
cross border. And closes his letter by Unite's concerns for but those from other areas often displayed
saying that the government should unmarked private hire nothing but a small disc in the back
change “current legislation so that all Earlier this month, Southampton's Daily windscreen”.
journeys must start or end in the area that Echo reported an incident in which a
has registered the vehicle for private hire”. woman is alleged to have been sexually Councillor Letts's letter is reproduced
assaulted and dumped near the M27 opposite…
The ’licensed area' policy has already motorway after getting into an unmarked
been outlined by Sadiq Khan in his car which she thought was a taxi.
18 Autumn 2017BY PETER ROSE
fety concerns
Town Private Hire’
Dear Mr Hayes,
I am writing to you to raise the issue of public safety with regards the licensing of hackney carriages, private
hire vehicles and minicabs.
In Southampton we have adopted a strategy to protect the public, our vehicles are clearly marked
differentiating between Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles. Both sets of vehicles have to have a
livery that tells them apart from a private motor vehicle as well. We feel this is important in preventing rogue,
bogus drivers trying to take advantage of the vulnerable. Additionally in Southampton we require our vehicles
to have an on board taxi camera fitted.
Over the last two years we have seen a new phenomenon with a number of private hire vehicles or minicabs
licensed by authorities other than Southampton City Council predominantly working in Southampton.
Southampton presently licences 283 hackney carriages and around 650 private hire vehicles. We have seen a
rapid growth in these vehicles working in the city. The local trade estimate there to be in excess of 120 such
cars, the vast majority of which are licensed by Transport for London, other areas include New Forest District
Council, Havant, Fareham and Chichester.
None of these authority areas require cameras to be fitted and the Transport for London (TfL) vehicles are only
identifiable by small stickers in the front and rear windscreens. This has caused confusion as these TfL vehicles
often look just like a private vehicle. Earlier this month a local man took advantage of this confusion and used
his private vehicle to lure a vulnerable victim into his car on the pretence he was a licensed private hire vehicle,
he then seriously sexually assaulted her. Officers and the local trade believe this only occurred because of the
recent influx of TfL cars in Southampton.
The whole regime of taxi and private hire licensing has been undermined over the last two years and local
authorities are no longer able to properly protect the public with appropriate measures to address local
problems as the local measures are easily circumvented by getting licensed in an ‘easier’ area. Previously the
government has suggested it is within the power of the local authorities to address the problem by attaching
conditions to vehicles to predominantly work in the area it is licensed. This is reliant on all the authorities
agreeing and it being supported in the courts as to date it has not been properly tested. Clearly authorities are
not prepared to apply these conditions with a lack of proper support in legislation.
An easy solution is for you as the Minister to amend current legislation so that all journeys must start or end
in the area that has registered the vehicle for private hire. Otherwise the next time we have a serious incident
in Southampton I will be directing the media interest to your door.
Best Wishes
Cllr Simon Letts
(Leader of Southampton City Council)
19 Autumn 2017www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews
ORDER YOUR
TAXI NOW!
LEVC opens order book for all new TX, the most
advanced green taxi in the world
running costs for the all-new TX model. As well as offering complete range
LEVC – the London EV Company – The launch finance package – through assurance and flexibility, the TX with its
formerly London Taxi Company, which more than 90% of drivers are eCity technology will also significantly
confirms costs and prices for all new expected to buy the new TX – is reduce costs for taxi drivers. Currently, a
TX with eCity technology: confirmed at £177 per week, including the taxi driver using the outgoing TX4 Euro
battery over five years. The outgoing TX4 6 model with its 2.7-litre diesel engine,
Finance package, at £177 weekly model was priced at £167 per week over and driving an average of 115 miles per
equivalent price, inclusive of the four years. day, will spend around £150 per week on
battery over 5 years. fuel. A taxi driver operating the same cycle
LEVC’s Commercial Director, Richard in a new TX is estimated to save £100 per
Typical fuel saving for average driver Gordon, said: “I am delighted to announce week on fuel.
of a £100 per week over current such a competitive package for the new
model. electric TX. Market leading in every way, Commenting on the fuel savings drivers
this is a truly outstanding new vehicle that will benefit from, LEVC’s Commercial
Full retail price for the new TX is will revolutionise the taxi trade in London Director, Richard Gordon, commented:
£55,599 OTR inclusive of battery. from an emissions perspective, for “Taking in to consideration the fuel costs
passenger comfort, experience and of the TX, over the course of a week, it
Compelling UK launch offer on enjoyment, and importantly for the represents a really impressive savings of
warranty and servicing with drivers.” £100. We look forward to welcoming
roadside assistance programme all customers old and new in to our
inclusive: The all new electric TX is based on eCity showroom as of this week with our order
technology comprising a battery electric book now open.”
Five years full unlimited mileage power train with range extender providing
battery warranty – industry leading over 400 miles range between charges Servicing of the TX will be easier and
for commercial EVs; Three including well in excess of 70 miles with more reassured than ever, with LEVC’s
years/90k miles free servicing; Three zero emissions. UK launch offering of three years free
years/120k miles full vehicle servicing or 90,000 miles on the all new
warranty to include roadside The technology is purposefully designed electric TX, as well as a full five-year
assistance programme. for commercial operators that face unlimited mileage battery warranty and
demanding and unpredictable duty cycles a full three year, 120,000 miles vehicle
Ahead of taking deposits for the first time which require complete range assurance, warranty. LEVC’s battery warranty is
and opening the order book, LEVC but also significant zero emissions industry leading for commercial
confirms final pricing and indicative capability for city centre operations. vehicles.
21 Autumn 2017UNITE TAXI
www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews
and don’ts for the Hackney or private
hire driver / operator.
The project has evolved from a basic
delivery model to an enhanced delivery
model that has earned us the
accreditation of Pearson EDI’s top
centre in this field. By using our
purpose built Training Cab for
assistance and CCTV cameras for
observation as well as many other
assessment methods we can get the best
out of the candidates and at the same
time achieve the highest possible level
of Education.
Our Education Centre at Bute Street,
Liverpool has three computer suites /
classrooms and a classroom for delivery
only. We also have the main office and
Unite Taxi Education has been course delivers all the information a a Library where we can conduct Guided
delivering both the VRQ in the driver needs to protect themselves and Discussions in private.
Introduction to Taxi and Private Hire their passengers. The course structure
Industry (QCF) and the Road Passenger is set out so it best suits the driver by All our assessors have A1 awards in
Vehicle Driving Taxi and Private Hire trying not to impact on his daily Assessing Candidates and PTTLE’s. We
(QCF) qualifications for the past nine routine. The course covers health and have 5 Onsite IQA’s and all our policies
years. Originally it was a three month safety, road safety, customer services, and procedures are in place.
trial but we are still going as strong as vehicle maintenance, routes and fares,
ever almost ten years later. The delivery transporting parcels and luggage, As part of the education structure of Unite
of these courses has benefited drivers transporting children including the union we strive to deliver the best
throughout the country. safeguarding, transporting passengers education package as possible so that
who need assistance including everyone who learns with us leaves with the
In this period we have completed over wheelchair accessibility and finally ability to competently carry out their duties
9,000 VRQ, NVQ’s (QCF’s) and our regulations which cover all the do’s in whatever field they are employed in.
22 Autumn 2017A RR O W
www.cabtradenews.org facebook.com/cabtradenews @cabtradenews
FR OM
GHAM
O TT IN
N
By Imran Hussain
Branch Committee Unite
Nottingham Taxis
A new taxi strategy has been presented to 2020 (1st Jan)
the trade by Nottingham City Council All taxis & PHV to be a minimum of
(NCC) after Unite the union presented a Euro 6 (for diesel)
fair argument on its offer. We researched All vehicles will have any age limit of 10
and put forward a detailed argument years (ULEV 14 years) To be confirmed but hopefully £3k NCC
against the former proposal set out by the There will be no exceptional vehicle allowance (£5k for vehicles scrapped by
City, and have now renegotiated, what we checks NCC), on top of the £7,500 government
believe is a fairer, more realistic NO VEHICLE other than Euro 6 or allowance (TBC)
compromise regarding taxi strategy. ULEV will be allowed from this date. FREE home charging kit for the first 100
There will be NO EXCEPTIONS. vehicles converting to ZEC ULEV
This now gives a clearer guideline for Allowance has been made for Euro 6 with
everyone to follow and help move the a number of vehicles due to be approved New vehicles awaiting
trade forward without any uncertainty. (see below) committee approval:
Nottingham City Council has written to
Unite and will be writing to all hackney 2025 (1st Jan) Nissan NV200 Hackney (ULEV)
carriage owners. All vehicles licensed for the first time will LTC (ULEV)
need to be ZEC ULEV Metrocab (TBC) (ULEV)
The new taxi age limits and emissions ZEC ULEV age to reduce to max of 12 Mercedes Vito Hackney (Euro 6)
policy will be along the following lines: years Ford Torneo Hackney (Euro 6)
Vauxhall Vivaro VX8 Hackney (Euro 6)
2018 (TBC) 2030 (1st Jan) LTC TX4 (Euro 6)
Exploring if we can award the first 100 All vehicles will need to be ZEC ULEV
Taxis £3,000 NCC allowance (£5,000 if Zero Emission Capable ULEVs ONLY Hopefully this information (all subject to
vehicle handed to NCC for scrappage) ZEC ULEVs will have priority charging NCC committee approval) is useful and
towards a new Zero Emission Capable points throughout the city will allow drivers to think about their
(ZEC) ULEV vehicle. Dedicated ZEC ULEV ranks phased in new vehicles & timescales. Branch advice
*This is on top of the government's (starting with Melville Street rank) would be for any driver thinking of
allowance (£7,500 TBC). Access to priority lanes (i.e. 9km changing their vehicle to speak to a NCC
A free home charging kit will also be Daleside Rd) for ZEC ULEV Licensing colleague (John Davis). The
provided for the first 100. This is a ZEC ULEVs to have increased vehicle City Council will of course share any
proposal to central government and we licence of 14 years (10 for all other consultation or policy changes with each
are awaiting the answer. vehicles) and every driver.
23 Autumn 2017You can also read
