Issue - meetings

Notice of Motion - UBER Licensing

Meeting: 29/01/2018 - Place Scrutiny Committee (Item 678)

678 Notice of Motion - UBER Licensing pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Minute 611 (Cabinet Book 1, Agenda Item No. 5 refers)

Called in by Councillors Terry and Woodley

Minutes:

The Committee considered Minute 611 of Cabinet held on 9th January 2018, which had been called in to Scrutiny.   This concerned the Notice of Motion calling on the Council to support the Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds and to urge Government to update legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country.  This had been proposed by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Cox.

 

Resolved:-

 

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

 

“1.  That the Council supports Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds.

 

2.  That the Council calls on the Government to update Taxi and Private Hire legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country and Enforcement Officers are able to inspect all vehicles irrespective of what Borough they have been licensed in.

 

3.  That the Council calls on the Government to introduce national databases so that Licensing Authorities can check if a driver or operator has ever been refused or had a licence revoked in another Borough for failing the ‘fit and proper’ test.

 

4.  That it be noted that the Executive Member for Transport, Waste and Regulatory Services had recently met with the All Party Parliamentary Group to discuss the issues in relation to Taxi and Private Hire legislation.”

 

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Cox


Meeting: 09/01/2018 - Cabinet (Item 611)

611 Notice of Motion - UBER Licensing pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Notice of Motion attached.

Decision:

At the meeting of Council held on 14th December 2017, Members received a notice of motion calling on the Council to support the Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds and to urge Government to update legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country.

 

This had been proposed by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Cox.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.  That the Council supports Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds.

 

2.  That the Council calls on the Government to update Taxi and Private Hire legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country and Enforcement Officers are able to inspect all vehicles irrespective of what Borough they have been licensed in.

 

3.  That the Council calls on the Government to introduce national databases so that Licensing Authorities can check if a driver or operator has ever been refused or had a licence revoked in another Borough for failing the ‘fit and proper’ test.

 

4.  That it be noted that the Executive Member for Transport, Waste and Regulatory Services had recently met with the All Party Parliamentary Group to discuss the issues in relation to Taxi and Private Hire legislation.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

To respond to the notice of motion.

 

Other Options

 

 None

 

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Eligible for call-in to Place Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor:- Cox

Minutes:

At the meeting of Council held on 14th December 2017, Members received a notice of motion calling on the Council to support the Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds and to urge Government to update legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country.

 

This had been proposed by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Cox.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.  That the Council supports Transport for London in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire licence on public safety grounds.

 

2.  That the Council calls on the Government to update Taxi and Private Hire legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country and Enforcement Officers are able to inspect all vehicles irrespective of what Borough they have been licensed in.

 

3.  That the Council calls on the Government to introduce national databases so that Licensing Authorities can check if a driver or operator has ever been refused or had a licence revoked in another Borough for failing the ‘fit and proper’ test.

 

4.  That the Executive Member for Licensing meets with the All Party Parliamentary Group to discuss the issues in relation to Taxi and Private Hire legislation.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

To respond to the notice of motion.

 

Other Options

 

 None

 

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Eligible for call-in to Place Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor:- Cox


Meeting: 14/12/2017 - The Council (Item 570)

570 Notice of Motion - UBER Licensing pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Notice of Motion attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.4, the following notice of motion be referred to Cabinet:

 

UBER Licensing

 

Whilst this Council recognises the innovation of companies in the gig-economy like UBER, this Council, supports TFL in not re-licensing UBER’s private hire license on public safety grounds. Uber have been found to have a number regulatory challenges in the administration of its business model, inadequate DBS checks, the non-reporting of a number of alleged sexual assaults and other offences committed by its drivers. It is known that drivers, who have previously had their licenses revoked by this Council, have subsequently be issued licenses by TfL to work for UBER in this town even though UBER do not have an operator’s license to operate in Southend.

 

Even though it is a legal requirement for TFL and other regulators to be able to examine records and information held by UBER, the current ‘greyball’ technology used by UBER, prevents regulators from carrying out their duties.

 

This Council is also very concerned that a number of TFL licensed UBER drivers are currently operating around the Borough of Southend on Sea without having an operator’s license. When UBER drivers, licenced by TFL, are working in Southend, they do not fall under the control of Southend Enforcement Officers and are unable to look into customer complaints and are unable to monitor vehicle or driving standards. We also acknowledge that local private hire driver standards are at a higher standard than those of TfL.

 

This Council also calls on the Government to update Taxi and Private Hire legislation so driver standards are uniformed across the country and Enforcement Officers are able to inspect all vehicles irrespective of what borough they have been licensed in. This Council also supports the introduction of national databases so authorities can check if a driver or operator has ever been refused or had a license revoked in another borough for failing the ‘fit and proper’ test.

 

Proposed: Cllr Terry

Seconded: Cllr Cox


 

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