London Taxi and Private Hire Notice 08/11
Outcomes of Private Hire Consultation
Following a consultation on private hire matters which ran from October 2010 to January 2011, a number of changes will be implemented from late 2011 onwards.
London Taxi & Private Hire has analysed the results of the consultation and spent a considerable amount of time undertaking further consultation and engagement with the private hire and taxi trade and the police to understand the impact of introducing some of the changes.
Most of the changes relate to the introduction of additional requirements for private hire operators, particularly those operating from shared premises and will seek to address a number of key issues raised with TfL over the past few years. Some items for private hire drivers are still under review and will be announced separately.
Throughout the consultation process, the overriding aim has been to ensure that any changes strike the right balance between improving safety for the travelling public whilst meeting the Governments desired objective of adopting a pragmatic approach to licensing without over regulating.
A summary of the changes due to take place is as follows:
Private Hire Operators
New measures will be introduced for shared operator premises. Applications will only be accepted if certain conditions are met.All applications for a private hire operating centre will require proof that planning permission has been granted, applied for, or is not required. (Granted, applied for, or is not required, legally means absolutely nothing. As long as an operator says they have applied, they will be granted a license. No change here then).
Private hire operating centres within a shared premises will be required to have a designated booking area within the premises. This area will be named on the licence.
(This should already be the case but is completely unenforced. Joe Royal when in charge of Cab Enforcement said this piece of the legislation is unenforceable. LTPH has recently stated it is not responsible for enforcement, so no change here then)
Operators within shared premises will be required to provide a booking ‘receipt’ to passengers.
(No enforcement at present, wont make any difference to touting)
Private hire operators will be required to have a fixed landline telephone number for bookings.
(Doesn't mean they must take all bookings on this number, so means nothing)
Additional checks will be done on all personnel named on an operator’s licence application to ensure they are ‘fit and proper’
(Not hard to find a patsy with clean record to use name on license, current practice with most licensed sex shops in Soho)
Further restrictions will apply for operator applications in shared premises within central London.
(?)
TfL will work with private hire operators and applicants to encourage adherence to local parking regulations.
(Should that not be LTPH, as Mason is Director of Private Hire as well as Taxis?)
Editorial Comment:
Another Load of waffle. All points mentioned above are subject to tweaking.
No mention of the 7 points mentioned in the meeting with the LPHCA.
I'm sure other measures designed to harmonise our trade with Private Hire will emerge shortly between Christmas and the Olympics.
ANSWER: STAND UP AND FIGHT, OR LAY DOWN AND DIE.
Nothing here that would upset Addison Lee. John Griffin now runs the PCO. Having a good holiday Mason? This stinks to high heaven!
ReplyDeleteThere is only one word that will get through to these arrogant, belligerent, hypocrites and that's demonstration.
ReplyDeleteOff to Turkey again Mr Mason?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? your consultation has just stuffed us!
All this before 2012, one can only dread 2013 for the trade.
And the taxi trade rep. on the TfL board said.....
Hello, hello!
Taxi Drivers should demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament and demand that Boris is sacked and demand a Public Inquiry into the condcut of TFL (perhaps on the grounds that 4267 people a year are dying from pollution and they have implemeted no proper strategies to redcue emissions.The Taxi age limit is improper and will do nothing to reduce emissions; its another exmple that they act unlawfully and improperly
ReplyDeleteBlame bob oddy he has once again said sweet fa.
ReplyDeleteIt has been mentioned more than once on this blog and no ones picked it up.
ReplyDeleteThe restriction of vehicles resembling licensed taxis has been dropped.
LTC has said in a press statement they are about to start producing a TX4/5 saloon for the private hire market.
LTPH has said they will license as PHV's.
These vehicles will br bought by PH companies with an eye on the disabled accounts.
Why have rhe UTG not said a word about the scrapping of this restriction.
How about we scrap paying subscriptions to these muppets who say nothing.
Noboddys fool asks
ReplyDeleteWhat has 2013 got in store.
That's an easy one, the scrapping if the yearly overhaul to be replaced by two MOTs which will further harmonise the trade with PH.
Well done silent Bob, still got nothing to say?
Been said many times by many others, that our only leverage is NOW before their beloved Olympics.
ReplyDeleteIf we dont act now we are truly *****d.
So if PHV drivers are allowed window tints, then we must be or are PHV drivers more trusted than us?
ReplyDeleteAnswers please TfL?
DEMO OLYMPICS !!
ReplyDeleteWE HAVE 9 MONTHS OF PLANNING !!
NO ARGUMENT ITS A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TRADE AS A WHOLE ( for once ) TO UTILIZE TO IMPROVE OUR FUTURES !!
There were a few images of a saloon type vehicle designed by LTC milling around last year - that's how long they've known the results of this so called consultation.
ReplyDeleteBob Oddy knows all this and still remains silent!
How many viewing this are still paying subs to LTDA? You should be ashamed of yourselves.