That this Council:-
(a) believes the local taxi trade provides an important and highly valued service to the people of Sheffield;
(b) notes the work the Council is doing with the local taxi trade to achieve high standards for quality and safety of the public;
(c) feels this work is being undermined by Government legislation, particularly by the De-Regulation Act (2015) which came into force last October;
(d) believes the De-Regulation Act puts the public at risk by:-
(i) allowing drivers who do not meet the standards the Council requires local operators to adhere to, to work in the City; and
(ii) preventing the Council from taking enforcement action against these drivers;
(e) also notes that the De-Regulation Act allows operators from outside of the local licensing authority to accept bookings, whereas before, operators were only allowed to sub-contract bookings within their own area;
(f) is concerned by reports from the local taxi trade of an influx of out of town operators working in the city, and fears that this could result in large operators using a loss leader approach to drive out local operators;
(g) believes reduced competition, which would follow the displacement of local operators, would be to the detriment of local business and passengers; and
(h) calls on the Government to reconsider its approach to the regulation of the taxi trade and act to give local operators and passengers greater protection.
Minutes:
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Impact of the De-Regulation Act 2015 on the Taxi Trade |
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17.1 |
RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor David Barker, seconded by Councillor Alan Law, that this Council:- |
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(a) believes the local taxi trade provides an important and highly valued service to the people of Sheffield;
(b) notes the work the Council is doing with the local taxi trade to achieve high standards for quality and safety of the public;
(c) feels this work is being undermined by Government legislation, particularly by the De-Regulation Act (2015) which came into force last October;
(d) believes the De-Regulation Act puts the public at risk by:-
(i) allowing drivers who do not meet the standards the Council requires local operators to adhere to, to work in the City; and
(ii) preventing the Council from taking enforcement action against these drivers;
(e) also notes that the De-Regulation Act allows operators from outside of the local licensing authority to accept bookings, whereas before, operators were only allowed to sub-contract bookings within their own area;
(f) is concerned by reports from the local taxi trade of an influx of out of town operators working in the city, and fears that this could result in large operators using a loss leader approach to drive out local operators;
(g) believes reduced competition, which would follow the displacement of local operators, would be to the detriment of local business and passengers; and
(h) calls on the Government to reconsider its approach to the regulation of the taxi trade and act to give local operators and passengers greater protection.
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