Hackney carriage and private hire news and information

1. Staff changes in the Licensing Team

Following the retirement of Robert Smith, the Senior Licensing Officer role has been filled by Mrs Kelly Dutfield. She has over 20 years experience in local government and looks forward to working with all members of the trade over the coming months.

2. VAT treatment of private hire vehicles consultation

The government has published a public consultation on the potential tax impacts of recent High Court judgments on transport legislation. This consultation invites views on potential government interventions that could help to mitigate any undue adverse effects on the PHV sector and its passengers.

Further information is available on GOV.UK

Responses should be sent by 8 August 2024

Via Email to: phvovatconsultation@hmrc.gov.uk

Via post to: HM Treasury, VAT & Excise Team, 1 Horse Guard’s Rd, London, SW1A 2HQ.

If you require the information in an alternative format contact:

Correspondence Team, HM Treasury

Tel: 020 7270 5000

Email: public.enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk
 
3. Forums

The latest Taxi forum took place at the Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) Civic Centre on Friday 16 June 2024.

The next forum will be held in October 2024, date to be confirmed. Forum notes can be seen on our website

4. Hackney Carriage Fare increase

Following the consultation on the proposed new tariff for Runnymede meters, the changes came into effect from Monday 8 April 2024. Thank you to all of those who submitted calibration certificates and if you have not already done so, please get meters calibrated and certificates sent to: licensing@runnymede.gov.uk

5. Enforcement Operation

A multi-agency joint enforcement operation was carried out on the 5 June 2024 - Police Officers joined staff from the Licensing Teams at Runnymede, Spelthorne and Surrey Heath Borough Councils at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds on the A308 Windsor Road in Egham. An enforcement team from Transport for London (TfL) were also present.

Fifty vehicles were stopped over a 4hr period - mainly a variety of taxis. A small number of taxi drivers will have reports submitted to their relevant Licensing Authorities. Two drivers were issued Traffic Offence Reports for mobile phone offences. 3 vehicles stopped were licensed in Runnymede - 1 vehicle needed cleaning, which was a positive result overall. This was a great bit of multiagency working, enabling different organisations with different powers to work together to ensure that our roads are safe, and any offences were dealt with appropriately. We hope to conduct similar operations in the future.
 
6. Railway station hackney carriage ranks

Following on from the February newsletter, Councillors considered a report regarding the station rank contract with South Western Railways (SWR) on 13 March 2024. SWR will take back the control, supervision and contract arrangements for the station ranks from 1 January 2025 onwards. It is confirmed that SWR could not give licences to Uber or vehicles not currently licensed in RBC.

The Council had entered a contract for hire of the ranks for this year until 17 August 2024 and would, as usual, recoup the cost in arrears through HC vehicle fees in 2025.

With the current contract only until 17 August 2024, drivers are asked if they want to pay from 18 August 2024 - 31 December 2024 for use of the ranks, or should RBC cease the remaining months of the contract? Any feedback should be sent to: licensing@runnymede.gov.uk

Note that RBC will no longer be providing ANPR details for HC drivers at Egham Station from 1 January 2025. At the moment there is a ‘white list’ provided that means listed drivers don’t get a ticket, but they would after 1 January 2025 if they stay on the rank for more than 10 minutes. Therefore, drivers would need to liaise directly with SWR with regards to the future individual arrangements.

7. Surrender of a Licence

If a driver no longer wishes to use their licence, they have to allow the licence to expire at the end of its term. Neither the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 nor the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022 make any provision for the surrender of a driver’s licence. This is to prevent drivers trying to surrender their licence instead of facing the prospect of a revocation or suspension, in order to avoid an NR3S entry (the National register of refusals and revocations).
 
8. Assistance Dogs

Taxis and the door-to-door service they provide are an important mode of transport for people with disabilities. It is important that disabled people who use guide and other assistance dogs have confidence that they can hire a taxi, which will carry them and their dog at no extra charge. The only grounds for any driver to decline to carry an assistance dog is through the approved medical exemption process.

Dog Trust research shows that over 80% of guide dog owners have experienced an access refusal, and 63% have been refused access to a taxi or PHV in the 12-month period prior to their survey. This experience can affect their confidence and ability to get out and about independently.

There are legal duties placed on taxi and PHV drivers/operators whereby any disabled person has specific rights and protections to be transported, and receive assistance when using a taxi or PHV, without being charged extra. The law requires drivers to provide reasonable adjustments for passengers with a disability. Runnymede have a zero-tolerance approach to any reports of taxi and PHV drivers refusing access to assistance dog owners.

Reasonable adjustments may include:

• Ensuring that booking apps are accessible (with an option to state whether the customer has any access requirements);
•  Meeting a passenger with sight loss at their front door or other collection point, letting them know that you have arrived (rather than expecting them to find you) and introducing yourself (use the customer’s name, if known);
• Assisting the passenger to safely enter/exit the vehicle and guiding them to a safe location/destination point before departing;
• Asking where the assistance dog owner would prefer their dog to be accommodated.

The Highway Code says; “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars”.

The important point is that any dog should not distract the driver - all assistance dogs are trained to lie quietly by their owners’ feet. You should allow the dog to remain under the physical control of the owner at all times.

If the passenger is an assistance dog owner, ask them if they would like their dog in the footwell next to them or in the back of the vehicle if suitable (for example if the vehicle is an estate car or hatchback with removable parcel shelf).

If the passenger wants their dog in the rear footwell, you may need to pull the front passenger seat forwards to increase space in the footwell. If the dog travels with its owner in the front foot well, do not disengage the passenger airbag.

Further information can be found online