New taxi rules could put passenger safety at risk, claim Wolverhampton chiefs

Proposals for a deregulation bill which would allow drivers and vehicles from other parts of the country to complete journeys booked through Wolverhampton based operators have been criticised by Wolverhampton City Council.

The council has written to Oliver Letwin, minister for Government policy and the sponsoring minister for the deregulation bill, highlighting their concerns that the changes would make it impossible to ensure drivers or their vehicles meet required standards.

Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for City Services, said: "The council has serious reservations about the prospect of taxi journeys booked through local operators being completed by drivers and vehicles licensed in another area.

"We will have no enforcement powers regarding the conduct and behaviour of these drivers when they complete such jobs – and if passengers have a complaint there will be confusion about who they could complain to and what action, if any, could be taken by either of the licensing authorities involved.

"The existing licensing framework gives councils control over the standard of drivers and their vehicles.

"For example, we require all our drivers to complete a safeguarding awareness course and know their way around the city, so for example they know how to get to the hospital if their passenger falls ill.

"The proposals will effectively negate all localised licensing requirements for private hire drivers and vehicles and act as a disincentive to licensing authorities to maintain high standards.

"Additionally in the absence of any electronic national database it will be almost impossible to validate the authenticity of vehicle licences from other areas and while this could be achieved retrospectively, in some cases it may be too late."

Councillor Reynolds added that the Local Government Association has expressed similar concerns, and said: "While we accept that the existing licensing framework requires reform, we have grave concerns regarding public safety and our ability to effectively enforce the private hire licensing regime should the sub-contracting of private hire fares clause in the bill be agreed."

He also called on the Government to carry out a more comprehensive review of the licensing framework, keeping public safety at the forefront.

Taxi drivers in Wolverhampton are currently demanding a clampdown on the number of foreign cabbies being given licences amid concerns about their level of English and the level of background checks done.

Wolverhampton City Council has said it would refuse licences for cabbies who cannot speak adequate levels of English and revoked one licence last year because the driver could not speak English to a satisfactory level.