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Taxi Forum

The Taxi Forum is held approximately 3 times a year at either Long Eaton or Ilkeston Town Halls. It is the chance for representatives of the taxi trade to meet the Council to discuss any current issues, proposals or changes to licensing procedures or policy. It is open to licensed operators, drivers and proprietors. The most recent Forum was held on Monday 20 June 2011. Please find below the Agenda and Minutes from that meeting.

• Agenda 20 February 2012
• Minutes 20 February 2012

The next Taxi Forum will now be held on Monday 11 June 2012 at 10am at Long Eaton Town Hall

Changes to Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy and Conditions

From 1st April 2012 all private hire vehicles shall be required to display on each front panel of the vehicle a sign stating the words:-

‘PRIVATE HIRE – ADVANCED BOOKINGS ONLY’

The sign can be a removable magnetic sign or a permanent sign.

The words ‘Private Hire’ shall be in letters at least 50mm high.  The words ‘Advanced bookings only’ shall be in letters at least 25mm high.  The company name and contact number shall be in letters at least 25mm high.  The maximum height of advertising letters and numbers shall not exceed 20cm.

Please note that failure to have these signs displayed during a test at the Council Depot after 31 March 2012 may result in a green failure.

A full copy of the licensing policy and procedures for Private Hire Vehicles can be viewed on line here.  If you require further help or guidance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Taxi Driving Training Pack

Drivers may wish to visit the Democracy, Disability and Society Group (opens in a new window) website for some information regarding the difficulties disabled people have when using taxis. This society are a group of people trying to break down the barriers to disabled people's inclusion in society. Their experiences have caused them to be particularly concerned about the availability of transport to get them around.

This web site is intended to help this process by showing how taxi companies, drivers and local authorities can best support disabled peoples' use of taxis and private hire vehicles.

It must be stressed that this web site merely offers advice and guidance to drivers when dealing with disabled passengers. Any training involved is seen as best practice and NOT compulsory for Erewash drivers. 

Market Place Taxi Rank, Long Eaton - Traffic Order Enforcement

The traffic order covering the Market Place Taxi rank and the adjacent pedestrianised area are now formalised and therefore enforceable. Depending on the type of offence both the Council's Civil Enforcement Officers or the Police will be enforcing the Traffic Order.

The main points of the order that will affect taxi drivers are as follows:

• Prohibition of driving on the Market Place pedestrianised area between the hours of 10am and 4pm (so there can be no entering off the Market Place or off Union Street). Entering the pedestrianised area through these access points between the restricted hours is a moving traffic offence which will be enforced by the police.
• There is also a prohibition of waiting within this area between the same hours. Anyone found parked on the pedestrianised area is contravening the prohibition of waiting. Civil Enforcement Officers will be enforcing this contravention.
• It will also be an offence to be waiting on the taxi rank anywhere other than in one of the six marked bays. This will also of course apply to private vehicles parked on the taxi rank.
• The order will also apply to empty vehicles left on the taxi rank, both licensed and private. Drivers are reminded that if a vehicle is left unmanned on the rank and a space becomes available on the rank, the empty vehicle will hold up vehicles wishing to move forward.

Merlin Way Depot appointments

Drivers and proprietors of vehicles are reminded that arriving late for appointments without prior notice may incur cancellation of the appointment and a further re-appointment charge. If suitable notice of cancellation or lateness is given, or good reason for non-attendance, then any due payment may be deferred until a new appointment is made.

Please remember when calling the contact centre at Erewash Borough Council to make a note of the time of your appointment time. If in doubt please call the contact centre or the licensing office.

DfT warns of change in vehicle insurance law

A change in law announced today means that it is now a legal requirement for anyone who owns a car, van, motorbike, motor home or truck to have insurance at all times or to declare the vehicle off the road.

The DVLA will compare their records with the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to identify keepers of uninsured vehicles and those implications for drivers or employers caught out include:

• A fixed penalty of £100
• Their vehicle being clamped, seized and destroyed
• A court prosecution with a maximum fine of £1000

Right to work in the United Kingdom

The prevention of illegal migrant working in the UK is governed by sections 15 to 25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. As a result of this legislation and Department of Transport Best Practice Guidance the Council now has a responsibility to ensure that it only issues licenses to persons who have a legal entitlement to work in the United Kingdom.

Proof of the Right to Work in the UK must therefore always be provided when any new applications are received. This requirement is for all applicants for private hire operator, private hire driver and hackney carriage driver licences.

The Home Office, via the UK Border Agency, has compiled a list of documents which prove that an individual has the right to work in the UK. Documents will fall into either List 'A' or List 'B', and these lists can be found on the Home Office Border Agency's website (opens in a new window) or by contacting the licensing section.

An applicant will need to provide either:

• One document from List 'A'. These documents show an ongoing right to work in the UK.
• If you cannot produce a document from List 'A' then relevant documents from List 'B' must be submitted. These documents show a right to work in the UK for up to 12 months.

These documents must be original copies or photocopies - scanned documents and faxes for example are not acceptable.

Convictions, Cautions and Fixed Penalty Notice

Drivers are reminded of the time constraints for informing the licensing department of the following offences:

The driver MUST notify the Council IN WRITING within 5 days (not working days)

a) if the driver is charged with or convicted of any criminal offence
b) if the driver has been formally interviewed under caution at a police station for any offence which you are suspected of having committed.
c) if the driver has been cautioned for any offence.
d) if the driver has been convicted of a Fixed Penalty Notice, within 5 days of being endorsed on the driving licence.

If the offence is endorsed on your driving licence and / or a fixed penalty notice is issued you must also produce the licence to the licensing department within 14 days of your appearance in court OR the date of the conviction was endorsed on the driving licence, whichever is the later.

Failure to notify the Council of any conviction as stated above may result in the revocation or suspension of the Hackney Carriage driver's licence. The driver's licence will then go to the Council panel to determine whether the licence will be re-issued, and whether the driver is deemed a 'fit and proper person'.

New fees for CRB checks

As a result of new guidelines issued from the Central Government, Erewash Borough Council will now be asking for a ENHANCED  CRB check for new applicants and driver renewals. This enhanced check replaces the standard check previously required and will cost £44.00. N.B. Drivers and operators must be aware that agencies such as Derbyshire County Council will still also be asking for an enhanced CRB check for their contract work as these contracts often involve transporting children and vulnerable adults to and from a regulated activity. The cost for an enhanced CRB check rose to £44.00 as from April 6th 2011.

Taxi Reform Consultation

The Institute of Licensing has recently undertaken a nationwide consultation to find out how the existing laws regarding Taxi and private hire licensing are working for different users, operators, drivers, customers and regulators. The results of The Taxi Reform Consultation (opens in a new window) have now been published and make for some interesting reading.

Staying Safe whilst working

There is some important information and advice from the Department for Transport (DfT). Please read the DfT Guidance for Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers. (opens in a new window)

The Health Act 2006 and smoking

Please be aware that since the passing of the Health Act 2006 smoking is no longer permitted in licensed vehicles that transport members of the public. For details of the legislation and the penalties for smoking in your vehicle please see Smoking in licensed vehicles and Newsletter. See also the Smokefree Policy for Premises and Signage.

Refusing Fares on Hackney Carriage Ranks

Following receipt of intelligence regarding the refusing of some 'small fares' on some taxi ranks we would like to remind drivers that it is an offence to refuse any fare without a reasonable excuse, and this would normally be a case of concerns regarding your own or public safety. It is an offence under section 53 of the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847. Some drivers have raised concerns that this was regularly taking place on the Market Street rank at Ilkeston and the licensing department are currently investigating these allegations.

Making seatbelt and number plates consistent for all drivers

Changes to fixed penalties and penalty deposits for seatbelt and number plate offences have been announced by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning and came in to force on 1 February 2011. Please read the attached guidance for more clarification.

The Equality Act 2010

From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act 2010 was introduced which may change the way you are required to work. The Act will introduce duties on drivers of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles and private hire vehicles (PHV's) to provide physical assistance to passengers in wheelchairs. A further announcement will be made on when the duties will come into force, but it will not be before April 2011. Please read the current advice for licensing authorities, and for drivers and operators.

Latest spot checks on Erewash vehicles

On Friday 9 December 2011 licensing officers from Erewash Borough Council attended an enforcement exercise with local police forces, VOSA and various licensing authorities at Broadmarsh Centre car park.

A total 83 hackney carriages, private hire vehicles and limousines were stopped and checked by the above agencies.

• 6 Total defect notices were issued

• 10 vehicle licences were suspended (including prohibition notices issued by VOSA)

• 16 drivers were issued with advisory notices

No vehicles from Erewash Borough Council were involved in the notices issued 

On Monday 16 March 2012 licensing officers from Erewash accompanied Traffic police from Derbyshire Constabularly on a spot check exercise on Erewash taxis and private hire vehicles.

A total of 26 vehicles were checked during the exercise, 17 of which were free of any defects. Of the remaining 9 vehicles, 2 were issued with prohibition notices, and 7 were issued with infringement notices. 

Taxi rank regulations

We would like to remind drivers of the regulations and etiquette regarding the use of hackney carriage taxi ranks. Please rind the guidance on the Use of ranks.

Regulation reminders

We would like to remind drivers of certain regulations that are causing the licensing department some concern. Firstly the rules concerning late renewal applications - this is still happening and drivers are being taken off the road because they have not followed Council guidelines.

Secondly we would remind drivers and vehicle owners that ONLY persons holding a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's licence issued by Erewash Borough Council may drive a licensed vehicle. Spouses, other family members or friends may NOT drive the vehicle under any circumstances. Any insurance policy on the vehicle would be invalid should the vehicle be involved in an accident whilst being driven by an unlicensed driver.

The Taxi Trade Newsletter

Please read the latest edition of our publication - the Taxi Trade Newsletter for Winter 2011 is now available to view.