Hundreds of taxi drivers facing a new “punitive” penalty point system signed a petition urging councillors to drop the idea.
Drivers, proprietors and operators would have risked having their licences revoked if they accumulated too many points for breaking licensing rules.
The aim was to ensure that drivers were “fit and proper” as required by law, according to Brighton and Hove City Council.
But after the scheme was debated at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Tuesday 13 February), councillors sided with the trade and rejected the proposals.
Trade rep Ahmed Abuorof presented the petition to the council’s Licensing Committee on behalf of hackney carriage – or taxi – drivers as well as private hire drivers.
Mr Abuorof said that there was a shortage of drivers joining the trade and said: “While we understand the importance of maintaining high standards and ensuring passenger safety, we believe the proposed penalty point system may be excessively punitive and does not take into account unique circumstances taxi drivers often face.
“As members of our local community, taxi drivers provide an essential service and they play a crucial role in our city transportation network.”
A report to councillors said that all of the 1,363 drivers licensed by the council were contacted before the consultation which received 69 responses.
Of those, 63 responses objected to the scheme including one from the GMB union which represents the trade.
Labour councillor Emma Daniel, who chairs the Licensing Committee, said that she and her deputy, Councillor Tobias Sheard, met every representative of the taxi trade who had asked to speak to them.
She made it clear that the proposals would add penalties to taxi licences, not driving licences.
Labour councillor, John Hewitt, who voted against the proposal, said that any scheme should ensure that drivers and operators functioned to a safe and high professional standard.
Councillor Hewitt said: “It should never be introduced as a means to punish them. I’m sure this obviously isn’t the intention of this scheme but it could be an unintended consequence of it.”
Formal warnings and training would be more effective, he said.
Another Labour councillor Faiza Baghoth was concerned that half of Brighton and Hove’s registered drivers were against the proposals.
Councillor Baghoth said: “On whose behalf are we trying to put this system in if the majority don’t want it.
“We’re supposed to listen to the majority of them. It’s the drivers who are concerned. In whose interest is it that we go forward with this point system?”
She was also concerned about subjectivity when it came to issuing points.
Green councillor Steve Davis also voted against the proposals during a “tough time” for the trade because of the “cost of living crisis” and increased motoring costs.
Councillor Davis also cited the rise of out-of-town licensed private hire drivers who operated with less strict Lewes and Chichester licences through Uber.
He said: “We have an outstanding professional trade who we should be trying to take with us on this. I just don’t think now is the time to be putting this report through.”
Councillor Sheard said that he understood driver concerns about a review and how points on their taxi licence could be a “terrifying” prospect.
The Labour councillor added: “Overall, this gives a consistency to the trade. They know where they stand with each offence. They know a worst-case scenario of what (each) offence means.”
Several nearby councils, including Lewes, Worthing, Mid Sussex, Rother, Wealden and Crawley, already have a penalty point systems in place, the committee was told.
The decision was not whipped, allowing councillors a free vote, and they rejected the proposals by seven votes to four.
Good. Its about time they were held to account.
who, the council??
Hard working Taxi drivers seem to be at the bottom of the food chain. but who do you trust to get you home, or take your kids to school safely?
people like you make me sick!
You are just jealous of our freedom to work when we please
Stephen
I assume you’re a taxi driver and talking about getting home safely, you do understand the 30 MPH is a maximum limit not a minimum. Lights not working, u-turns without looking, 2 inches off my bumper, just pull up in the middle of the road, block off side roads, and display a general driving standard that is well below avarage.
Safe, you’re having a bubble bath.
I agree Helen, There are a few taxi drivers that really let the rest down. To pretend otherwise is stupidity. It’s the stopping in the middle of the road, when there is space to pull in that gets me
However they nearly always have a Chichester plate on the back.
I think a better debate would have been about why the council isn’t going to the government about this cross border taxi nonsense.
I agree with you Helen, of vehicle types that are most likely to be speeding, or driving to a lower standard, taxi drivers are a big warning for me. I could report at least one daily without fail, and without looking hard.
Another display of ineptitude from our Labour council. Even with their big majority, they still can’t execute their policies and have their own members voting against them!
Shambles.
Conan doesn’t understand how democracy works ? Do you need it explaining in cave man terms?
It is refreshing to see that the council have a taken what appears to be a more reasonable and measured approach as opposed to their more general attitude to cars and motorists.
It is a dangerous conflict of interest that arises when the powers to penalise and raise revenue are granted to those who will financially benefit. A significant reduction in local
Authority powers of this type is long overdue.
Hard to understand what you’re typing. The council has not had a reasonable approach to cars for many years. It has shown bumbling incompetence in handling transport.
The council have rejected the points scheme which is the correct decision. In my view, implementing the scheme would not be. It is one of the few instances where one of their decisions re cars, taxis etc has shown good measure.
I disagree with the idea of local councils having powers removed. Which powers are you talking about?
If it’s the power to use traffic wardens or enforce the traffic laws then no. If anything the council needs a ton more power.
The problem we have had over the last few years was green councillors abusing their powers and trying to micromanage people’s lives through the use of obscene fines rather than being normal.
BBQ beach ban, commercial bin ban, Un-needed traffic road blocks at schools, to name a few of the illogical ideas they had.
But they have been kicked out so it looks like it’s back to a democratic council.
The public probably doesn’t know this, but to become a licensed taxi driver in Brighton and Hove, you have to go through an approval process, enhanced DBS check, fitness check, test on all roads (knowledge test), safeguarding training, trafficking training etc. Their vehicles have to go through suitability check (enhanced MOT). On top of that, Brighton and Hove Council already has the book of rules, called the Blue Book, which is very strict (and has been used by other councils to set their own rules). The proposed Penalty Point System would only be enforceable on Hackney and Private Hire cars licenced by Brighton and Hove Council. It would not be enforceable on Uber, and not Lewes cars or Chichester cars or any other cars that come to work in Brighton. So really, the only winners would be these “car-share” and out of town drivers. Also, if you have any complaint about Brighton and Hove drivers, contact the Hackney Carriage Office and log your complaint, which the licensing team will investigate. (Each car has a license number at the back and the driver has to wear a lanyard with his license, so either of these would do)
Hana Fiser
What a shame most display a poor standard of driving, very few would pass a driving test. Yeah, report them via the hackney office and receive no response to a ringing phone and no reply to e-mails.
Dash cam is sent to Brighton Police is now my favoured 1st option. And the next Taxi that pulls a U-turn is going to get a 7.5 tonner slammed into it.
I’m trained to an advanced driver level, with emergency response capabilities, and I can say, in full honestly, that the level of driving I regularly witness from taxi drivers is below the average standard of civilian drivers. Bad habits built up over a period of time from regular driving? Most likely.
Knowledge is an interesting one, because I recently had one pull up next to me, and try to explain how bus lanes work. I had to explain back how hours of operation work, and remind him the speed limit is 10mph below what he was caught on my camera doing via pacing.
I was thanked with a traditional two-finger salute and recommended to go forth and multiply (not verbatim).
Hurrah for the taxi drivers. Their council should be serving and supporting them, not persecuting and profiteering from them.
How many points would a Brighton taxi driver get on his taxi licence for sexually assaulting a passenger I wonder?