We license the drivers and owners of taxis and private hire vehicles (minicabs) who operate in London. We have also been working for some time alongside York and all other authorities in West Yorkshire to establish a series of common licensing standards that will mitigate any potential impact of the new deregulation rules and ensure we have a common approach to safeguarding across our region. As a taxi or professional driver we know how important it is for you to keep your licence for your work. Three options are presented for councillors to consider which are summarised as follows: In regard to option b) the report outlines that the standard could be amended to reflect feedback form the consultation as follows: The changes included in options a) and b) would better align Leeds with councils across the country, including neighbouring West Yorkshire authorities and City of York Council, who have already implemented a seven-point threshold. Leeds City Council delivers multi-million pound boost for taxi and private hire trade, https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/licensing/taxi-and-private-hire-licensing/free-driver-licensing, https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/licensing/taxi-and-private-hire-licensing/financial-support-overview. Supporting drivers means we are supporting those people as well.. Following consultation with the trade and public, plans to improve public safety in Leeds by changing taxi and private hire driver licensing standards are to be discussed by councillors next month. In addition, many people especially those with mobility needs or a disability rely on taxis and private hire vehicles to get around. Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services. It is subject to change and may be updated without notice. To enable us to conduct a full investigation into your complaint you should include as much detail as possible. The Private Hire operator shall retain a copy of the Hackney Carriage vehicle licence granted by another Authority along with a copy of the MOT certificate, certificate and policy of insurance and vehicle registration document and forward a copy of those documents to the Leeds City Council, Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Office within 72 hours. At the next meeting of the councils executive board, on Wednesday 14 December, members will hear how work to improve safeguarding measures in taxi and private hire licensing has progressed over the past year. Climate control. I also believe that the proposed amendments are also a fair reflection of the consultation work that has been ongoing to ensure the voices of both the trade and travelling public are fairly reflected in the outcome of any changes in the licensing standards.". Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Contact Details Athlone St, Leeds, LS12 1UB . Overall the change in standards would affect less than 1.5% of all current licence holders in Leeds with more than 80% of taxi and private hire drivers currently having no points on their licence. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Taxi and Private Hire The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. If you've been through our complaints procedure and are still dissatisfied, you may choose to escalate your complaint to the LGO at the address shown. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The proposed new policy would require non-UK applicants to obtain a full criminal disclosure from their country of birth and any other countries in which they have lived. 0.6 mi | 42 Bridge End, Leeds, LS1 4DJ. Are you a taxi driver, proprietor, or operator and a licence has been refused, suspended, revoked or has conditions The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The time and costs required to obtain a licence vary by council, as shown by the estimates set out above. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In considering our next steps it will be important toachieve the right balance between ensuring public safety in line with the Institute of Licensing framework whilst proactively supporting the taxi and private hire trade in Leeds. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies for this visit and subsequent visits. The LGO is an independent national service that investigates complaints against local authorities, such as Transport for London. Annual declaration and statement of medical fitness. About this policy. expected to travel, the number of coaches booked, the name and the contact number for the . These drivers are part of the lifeblood of our city and we are determined to do as much as we can to help protect their livelihoods. Up to 4 large bags. However, drivers said the new rules would be "devastating" for those already impacted by Covid and the rising cost of living. We have also been working for some time alongside York and all other authorities in West Yorkshire to establish a series of common licensing standards that will mitigate any potential impact of the new deregulation rules and ensure we have a common approach to safeguarding and public safety across our region.. Registered in England and Wales Number 7724985 Call Charges apply 0343 222 5555 New Hackney Carriage (Taxi) Driver licence. Subscribe to our regular newsletter and news alert service. People can report any complaints or concerns about the taxi and private hire trade to the Taxi and Private Hire licensing section on 0113 3781570 or by emailing taxiprivatehire.licensing@leeds.gov.uk. representation can make a difference. communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk. For Private Hire Executive vehicle licence applications, this certification must be produced at the time of application. Leeds City Council Communications team Customer Correspondence Manager Taxi and private hire accessibility. For vehicles that have a LPG system fitted during the currency of a Private Hire vehicle licence, they must inform the Taxi and Private Licensing office in writing and produce the above certification within 7 days. The council has announced 2.5m funding for three-year taxi and private hire licence renewals for drivers affected by the lockdown restrictions. Hundreds of drivers previously went on strike and held a protest over changes. If you are required to attend an interview under caution with licensing officers contact us. The results of that consultation were reported back to all councils with all councils adopting the policy during 2019/2020. . The suspension came under the Suitability and Convictions policy which came into place in February 2020. If a current licence holder accumulates nine points or more, their licence would be reviewed on an individual basis, and they may be required to attend training. The taxi and private hire licensing trade raised some concerns regarding the proposals for how minor motoring convictions would be considered, and councillors in Leeds agreed to pause the implementation of that part of the . Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: The pandemic has had a major impact on people working in many different sectors across Leeds, with taxi and private hire drivers among those most seriously affected. Visit our site today to find out about our taxi services, or book your taxi on 0113 2022 117. Funded as part of the councils direct response to the COVID-19 crisis, the free three-year licence renewals will be worth 450 to most taxi and private hire drivers. Safeguarding is a complex issue and one which requires a partnership approach to deal with. The recommended set of standards were developed as a result of the public consultation, in order to achieve the right balance between public safety, whilst proactively supporting the taxi and private hire trade in Leeds. Step 1 - Book Driving Exam. The executive board is also being asked to approve a new policy in respect of the fit and proper person assessment for applicants born outside of the UK. More info. 5 Endeavour Square The Institute of Licensing guidance suggests that seven points or more is an indication of multiple motoring convictions. Call us now. Wheels Private Hire is the fastest taxi service and private hire operator in East Leeds. Overall, the recommended set of standards would affect less than 1.5 per cent of all current licence holders in Leeds, with over 80 per cent of taxi and private hire drivers in the city currently having no points on their licence whatsoever. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Since January 2015 nearly 3000 licence holders have attended a Child Sexual Exploitation awareness session, which is now a compulsory part of the licence application and renewal process. The recommendations of the licensing committee will now be considered for adoption at the next meeting of Leeds City Councils executive board on September 21. This training is aimed at educating drivers to help avoid misunderstandings and help them identify any potential issues whilst carrying out their day to day job. Leeds City Council communications and marketing, Leeds City Council Communications team Hackney carriages and private hire service Shearbridge Depot Shearbridge Road Bradford BD7 1PU. authorises the holder of a taxi or private hire vehicle licence to operate local . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your form has been successfully submitted. Hundreds of taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds have gone on strike today (Monday 17 January) over plans to revoke their licences if they get six or more penalty points in a year. It will also include further work on safeguarding including training on child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and the adopting a standard convictions policy and convictions criteria.. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The free three-year license renewals will be worth 450 to most taxi and private hire drivers and applicants should be due to renew their Leeds license between March 1 this year and March 31 next . Licensing service updates will continue to be posted on the Taxi and private hire bulletin. Local transport. At the next meeting of the council's executive board, on Wednesday 14 December, members will hear how work to improve safeguarding measures in taxi and private hire licensing has progressed over the past year. Number of taxi and private hire licences as at 04/11/2015. . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We are also the enforcement authority and work closely with the Metropolitan and City of London Police services to ensure that drivers, operators and vehicles are compliant with taxi and private hire legislation, regulations and policy. The General Manager will conduct a final review, usually within 10 working days, and a response will be issued outlining our final position. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In a separate move, unrelated to the councils pandemic response, grants are on offer to taxi and private hire vehicle owners who have switched to low emission vehicles. Coronavirus Details of agenda item Taxi & Private Hire Licensing - Proposed Suitability Policy and update on Policy Harmonisation with West Yorkshire & York authorities. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services. Terms & Conditions Members of the licensing committee are being asked to consider the options and make a recommendation to the councils executive board for consideration in September. We are the fastest taxi firm and private hire operators in East Leeds. The 1.9m funding for the transitional grants has been retained by the council after originally being secured as part of Leedss Clean Air Zone (CAZ) scheme. Leeds City Councils taxi and private hire licensing team is responsible for making sure that drivers, vehicles and operators meet the terms of their licence and that the trade in Leeds is operated in a professional manner. Medical. You will need to print off these two forms: Fitness to drive hackney private hire [PDF 176KB]. Our cross council safeguarding group, which includes representatives from the citys adult and childrens safeguarding boards, has been closely involved in developing our new policies and procedures. Licence costs. Cookie Policy Millions of passengers use our taxi and private hire services each year because we have more available vehicles than anyone else. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Total estimated time to obtain a PHDL: 10 Weeks. If you're struggling to pay higher energy bills; you may be eligible for a 400 payment through the Council's Energy Crisis Support Scheme. For any new applications for a taxi and private hire drivers' licence, licenses will not be granted if the driver has already accrued seven or more points for minor motoring convictions. Professional They would be able to continue working and could still renew their licence. This is why it is prudent to regularly review our safeguarding policies and ensure we have robust checks in place when issuing and renewing licenses. Website. This procedure outlines how you can complain to us about the services we provide or the drivers and operators we license. 04/11/2015. Members noted that for a small number of sections of the g uidance, . We make getting your PCO licence a simple, stress-free process . Further to this, speaking on behalf of the licensing committee, to thank all the taxi and private hire drivers that live and or work in Leeds, Councillor James Gibson, said: Drivers play an enormously important role in our city. Councillor Mary Harland, chair of the licensing committee said: The safety of the public travelling around our city is paramount and it is our responsibility to minimise any risk posed to people using a taxi or private hire vehicle. Download Uber Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement, Download Uber Eats Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement. Currently it is acceptable for an applicant to provide a certificate of good character which can take a variety of forms and is often difficult to verify by licensing staff. Call us on 0113 2022 117. . Amber Cars is a registered company in England. Of course the majority of our drivers are very professional and carry out their duties with no complaints or need for enforcement action but it is prudent that we regularly review our safeguarding policies and ensure we have robust checks in place when issuing and renewing licenses. Calls are handled by the same friendly staff, and taxi bookings are completed by the same local driver-partners. The licensing committee have recommended the adoption of the following set of standards for taxi and private hire licence holders, in relation to minor motoring offences, to Leeds City Councils executive board: The current standard in Leeds is that taxi and private hire drivers can accrue 12 points on their drivers licence before any action is taken. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This policy sets out our approach to hackney carriage and private hire licensing to provide transparency and consistency . Details of agenda item Taxi & Private Hire Licensing - Leeds City Council Assessment Against Statutory Guidance from the Department of Transport. Leeds Airport Cars To Minibus Transfer Airport Cars To M7 Manchester Resort Transfers To Minibus Transfer M10 Manchester To Leeds Minibus Transfer To Leeds Manchester Station To Manchester Airport M1 Manchester To Minibus Transfer Airport Cars To L1 . Approved licenses. Find out how to apply for pavement (street cafe) licences in Leeds and view and comment current licence . Of these, officers considered it appropriate to revoke the licences of five drivers, with the remainder requiring formal warnings or additional training. The previous standard in Leeds was that taxi and private hire drivers could accrue 12 points on . These policies include new stronger convictions criteria which are now fully embedded in the service and are being considered for adoption as a national policy, as well as a new policy which allows officers to immediately suspend a license holder whenever a safeguarding or public safety concern is raised. Leeds City Council Communications team Senior councillors will next week discuss how Leeds City Council is keeping people who use taxis and private hire vehicles in the city safe. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Driver Licence (over 65's medical requirements) renewal of a annual licence until DBS, DVLA checks required) 95.00 (Payment over the phone only). Safeguarding measures for taxi and private hire licensing is top of the agenda. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. . Book a taxi in Leeds with Wheels Private Hire and Amber Cars. If your licence is at risk of being revoked, your first application for a licence has been refused or you want to Amber Cars offer taxi hire & private hire services across Leeds. If a driver accumulates nine points or more, their case would be reviewed on an individual basis and they may be required to attend training or the decision could be taken to revoke their licence. Set out below is a list of the local council authorities where many Uber partner-drivers have chosen to obtain their private hire driver licence in the UK. communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk. Read about our approach to external linking. Climate change. Application to operate private hire vehicles. Email: Info@wheelsprivatehire.com. It does not store any personal data. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. For further information about these free renewals, visit https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/licensing/taxi-and-private-hire-licensing/free-driver-licensing. Support was also available for those working in the trade when the scheme was originally open last year. The strike comes after Leeds Taxi and Private Hire Organisation (LPHDO) continue to . if a current licence holder accumulates seven or eight points, they would receive a warning and could be required to attend a driver training course to improve their driving standards and road safety awareness. Transfer to a Private Hire Driver licence. Taxi and private hire drivers and operators with a Leeds business address will also be able to apply for 500 grants . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Fourth Floor - Area 4B Customers can expect a safe and comfortable journey with their well-maintained fleet of vehicles and a dedicated team of friendly driver-partners. Leeds City Councils deputy leader and executive member for resources and Safer Leeds Councillor Debra Coupar said: Id like to thank everyone who has responded to this important consultation exercise. Taxis. The free three-year license renewals will be worth 450 to most taxi and private hire drivers who need to renew their Leeds license between March 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Reports will be used to inform future deployments. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Online payment. a) to recommend the adoption of the standards as consulted upon; b) to recommend an amended set of standards taking account of the consultation feedback; c) to recommend that the standard not be approved and that further work is undertaken. Since 1988. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Book a taxi online with us today or download our free app. Coventry CV4 0EH, Phone: 0300 061 0614 (08:30 - 17:00 Monday to Friday), Website: http://www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaint. To contact us about a licensed taxi or private hire driver or operator: call us on 0343 222 4000 (09:00 - 17:00, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays). Following consultation with the trade and public, plans to improve public safety in Leeds by changing taxi and private hire driver licensing standards are to be discussed by councillors next month. We now have our own dedicated Twitter account where we provide useful information to the Taxis and Private Hire trade, please follow us at @tfltph. Schemes being put in place by the council mean more than 7.5m worth of support is on offer to taxi and private hire drivers and operators, whose business has been significantly hit by Covid-19. The board will also hear about new policies which have been introduced to help strengthen the ability of the councils licensing team to protect the travelling public, by reducing the risk of unacceptable applicants from obtaining licenses and to take action when any issues with existing license holders arise. If they have already received training, revocation of their licence could be considered. 6. 2023 BBC. Licensing committee to discuss report on 9 August. Licensing Regulation and Charging Wheel Private Hire is now part of the Amber Cars family. Application to allow display of adverts [PDF 30KB]. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. External link; Taxi and private hire licensing policy and procedures. The consultation undertaken built on an earlier consultation exercise and the outcome of a working group consisting of councillors, trade representatives and stakeholder/passenger groups. The councils executive board will next week hear about the progress which has been made to further strengthen these arrangements, two years after this was first agreed. Complimentary 4G Wi-Fi. Overall the change in standards would affect less than 1.5% of all current licence holders in Leeds with more than 80% of taxi and private hire drivers currently having no points on their licence .