Amber Cars Athlone Street, Armley, Leeds, LS12 1UB

Tel: 0113 2311366 Fax: 0113 2311366

E-mail: ambercars@btconnect.com

20th February 2007 Dear Des, Thank you for your recent letter regarding the ongoing subject of illegally plying for hire. We have discussed this on many occasions and both agree it is at epidemic level. You only have to walk through the City Centre on an evening to see the queues of private hire drivers waiting to pick up fares illegally. They have no fear of prosecution and come up with feeble excuses for being there. The penalties have never fitted the crime. The passenger is potentially not insured, there is no record of the journey, which in this day and age is unsafe, and we know the main reason they do this is to overcharge the customer. These drivers in reality are unscrupulous and should not be in the position of responsibility. We have recently employed two road managers to combat this problem, which I believed was a minor issue at our company, but the results over the first weekend were astonishing. Nine drivers were reported to me for plying for hire and one attempting to overcharge by an excessive amount. All drivers were given a first and final warning and all but one admitted the offence when confronted with the evidence. The only reason I did not dismiss them was the fact that I believe these drivers have been doing this for a long time and they may believe that our night supervisor accepts this practice. I have now made it clear that my road managers, one of whom is a former licensing officer, will be on shift both days and nights armed with all the information they need to check on a driver’s status at the time they are seen. In future they will be dealt with in a more severe manner. We also need to address the role operators play in this problem. We all know only too well that certain operators allow drivers to blatantly ply for hire and in fact encourage them by charging minimal rent for the radio services. I feel the Council is negligent in many ways regarding operators, their premises and the conduct of their staff and drivers. They pay cash in hand to staff members run no PAYE scheme, pay no maternity or sick pay and exploit people by paying less than the minimum wage. All this in premises licensed to operate by the local authority. Not to mention there are no health and safety policies in force, fire alarms or security in place for evening and night staff. Some of the premises that allow walk in customers are so disgusting that you would not allow your family pet to roam around in them. Whilst the Council is proposing rules, admirably, to tackle the issue of plying for hire, I believe it should go the whole hog and insist all premises are up to a minimum standard. To sum up, any scheme which stops the practice of plying for hire and therefore improves the image of the Private Hire industry gets my full backing. Yours sincerely,

A Pennock

Andrew Pennock Director

Leeds Taxi Owners Association Representing Licensed Public Hire Taxi Proprietors and Drivers

February 14, 2007

Dear Sir

I write on behalf of the Leeds Taxi Owners Association to welcome and support the proposed initiative to deal

with the illegal plying for hire within Leeds Licensing District.

Illegal plying for hire is of course endemic in the City, by vehicles and drivers who are licensed private hire

within the Leeds Licensing District openly and without any fear whatsoever.

Then there are the vehicles and drivers who are licensed as private hire and indeed Taxis who migrate from

other licensing districts.

Then of course we have the private motorist who generally has a more sinister motive.

Of course we all know that if any of the above ply for hire and take a passenger in Leeds, that passenger is in

danger in more than one way. This can be the risk of an accident in an uninsured vehicle; any insurance held

becomes invalid if plying for hire.

Or even the assault or rape and possibly the murder of vulnerable people in the City, who will almost inevitably

be intoxicated and have a couldn’t care less attitude as to whether a vehicle is a Taxi.

It is unfortunate that in Leeds and in fact throughout Britain, the Press, Radio and TV always use the term Taxi

or Cabby when describing an incident involving a licensed private hire, an illegal private hire or in fact an

illegal taxi.

This misuse of the word creates in the mind of the public that they are all Taxis and they can flag anyone down

anywhere.

This proposal to deal with the escalating problem is long overdue and should be applauded; the Council has to

take on board the need to protect the public from these predators.

Respectfully yours,

Brian Heptinstall

Chairman

Liberal Democrat Councillor James Monaghan

Des Broster Legal & Democractic Services

Taxi & Private Hire Licensing

225 York Road

LEEDS 9

Flat 21, Merchants House 66 North Street

Leeds LS2 7PN

E-mail james.monaghan@leeds.gov.uk Civic Tel (0113) 247 4580

Our ref JM/JW

Date 12 February 2007 Dear Mr Broster

I am writing to inform you that on Thursday 8 February 2007 the Inner North West Area

Committee agreed to support the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing proposal to introduce tougher

penalties against drivers who illegally ply for hire. The Committee supported the view that

taxi drivers found to be plying for hire illegally should have their license suspended and

consideration given to its revocation.

The issue of noise nuisance from taxis and private hire vehicles was also discussed and the

committee agreed that they would like to see clearer taxi licences on vehicles, so that

offending vehicles may be more easily identified from a distance.

Yours sincerely

Councillor James Monaghan

Chair Inner North West Area Committee

HEADINGLEY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT WARD COUNCILLORS

Councillor James Monaghan E-mail: james.monaghan@leeds.gov.uk

Councillor David Morton E-mail: david.morton@leeds.gov.uk

Councillor Martin Hamilton E-mail: martin.hamilton@leeds.gov.uk

<streamline-

taxis@btconnect.com>

14/02/2007 12:32

To des.broster@leeds.gov.uk Subject: Illegal working of Private Hire

Dear Des

I am writing to you as a concerned Leeds Hackney Carriage taxi driver regarding the illegal working of

private hire in the centre and immediate areas of Leeds. I feel that the pasengers are given a faulse

sense of trust, and the safety of the public are being put at risk due to the fact that by illegally working,

this brings into question the credibility of the whole taxi trade as their insurance then becomes null

and void.

I feel that the safety of all passengers should be paramount and they should be made more aware of

the dangers involved.

i hope that the above observations may help you in maintaining a standard of Taxi Trade that this City

deserves.

Regards

Ken Gill Chairman

Joan Watson/CED/LCC

13/02/2007 16:09

To Des Broster/CED/LCC@Leeds_City_Council Subject PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER’S PLYING FOR HIRE- ENFORCEMENT POLICY PROPOSALS

Cllr Morton has asked me to let you know that he fully supports this.

He would like a copy of the Panel report when it is published.

Joan Watson

Casework Officer

Liberal Democrat Group Office Tel: 247 7291

"Andrew Edwards"

<andrew.edwards@bbc.co.uk

>

13/02/2007 11:16

<Des>Broster@leeds.gov.uk> RE: Plying for hire in Leeds - Consultation

Dear Des,

Here are a few thoughts, mine and our listeners in no particular order. I've mixed them up because -

as you know - I'm an utterly impartial BBC journalist and don't want to go off on a personal rant!

Best wishes, Andrew

• Your average Joe / Joanna isn't terribly interested in the distinction betweeen private

hire vehicles and hackney carriages. To most people they are all simply taxis, and

folk are puzzled that you can't hail them and call them when you want, where you

want, no matter whether they're black and white or red or blue with yellow spots.

Yes, we know it's the law, but laws often seem a bit daft to members of the public!

• People don't like being made to feel they're in the wrong for hailing a private hire car

or, as in our case after Christmas, being essentially picked up by one which was

hovering. As one texter said the day you were on, it's the drivers (or the bosses who

instruct them) who are behaving badly, not us.

• The private hire drivers need to know that the authorities will come down on them like

a ton of bricks if they tout for business. They're clearly not scared at the moment as

the practice is widespread. If there were a real threat to their business (eg licence

taken away), they wouldn't be putting passengers at risk by essentially driving people

around who aren't covered by insurance.

• Your sting operations need to be secretive. Taxis, strangely enough, have radios,

mobiles, sat nav and just about every communication gizmo going. Word will spread

quickly that your inspectors are on the prowl and everyone will suddenly - and

unsurprisingly - be very well behaved! (You mentioned your covert recording plans to

me).

• Could it be that the private hire drivers are the ones who have their fingers on the

pulse in terms of being where customer demand is? They often seem much keener

on making money. We had a text from a guy at Leeds railway station who'd queued

in the cold for ages waiting for a black and white taxi. People get frustrated by having

to go to official ranks which may have long queues or be a long way from where they

are, stand tipsily on a kerbside. Is it any surprise that people go for a private hire car

which is, to all intents and purposes, a taxi - and, what's more, is available here and

now? As one texter said I'd rather pay a bit over the odds for immediate service?

• Which is more dangerous, a woman standing alone in a taxi rank queue late at night

or getting into a car driven by a friendly driver here and now (albeit without

insurance)?

• Who will know, if I hail a private hire car or it stops for me, that I hadn't booked it? On

a number of occasions I've been asked to give my name, presumably so it can be put

on a log, so that I look like a proper advance booking?

"Heather" <heather@arrowprivatehire.co.uk>

08/02/2007 09:16

To <des.broster@leeds.gov.uk

Subject MEETING UPDATE

8th February 2007 Dear Des, Many thanks for seeing me on Friday last.

Our meter installations will begin week commencing 12th February and will most probably take close on one month to fully install. GPC will certificate installers so that they can calibrate their meters for us without the need of coming down to Torre Road to get them sealed. We talked about the new stickers, anything that gives operators more control of drivers can only be positive making it difficult to continually change operator will only increase overall standards. One of the problems operators have when drivers change base is the reluctance to return property. A modern day Private Hire driver who is working on data has approximately £1000 worth of equipment.It would be great if as part of when a driver moves it would be mandatory that he produces a letter from his operator confirming all equipment has been handed in.If a letter cannot be produced the withholding of the fixing of the new sticker should take place until the equipment is returned.This will also enable operators to have a full and up to date list of drivers with the knowledge that they have not registered for another base. As Wheels we also rent out plated vehicles to other firms, I do not believe that this should be a consideration for the implementation of better more permanent stickers.Quite clearly car hire is a different business to Private Hire and all of our concerns should be the improvement of standards. We talked about “flagging” this clearly is a huge problem and Arrow are 100% in favour of the proposed cameras and the immediate 12 month suspension of a Private Hire license for anyone caught blatantly flagging We talked about an evening marshalled City centre booking office potentially this is a very good idea.It would require further discussion but Arrow would be interested in maybe getting involved/organising this. The City centre however is a minefield, we handed back the Oceana ( Leeds largest nightclub)contract due to the difficulties in collecting either being moved on by the Police or surrounded by pirateting drivers. Yours sincerely, David Richmond

"Richard Holt@Hunslet cars

ltd"

<hunsletcarsltd@ukonline.co.

uk>

05/02/2007 12:41

To des.broster@leeds.gov.uk Subject plying for hire

Hi Des

In response to your letter regarding plying for hire, my understanding was the proposal you are to

make was all ready in place. I totally and unreservedly agree that drivers plying for hire should have

there licence revoked until any judicial hearings are completed. The problems are not only the safety

aspect of the public getting in the cars but also the safety aspect of other drivers and the public trying

to make there way through town on a Friday and Saturday night only to be held up by all the cars

waiting around in certain areas that you know at least 70% are hoping to get a flag down. I say this

more on the side of been a public road user than a PhD/operator, the only way this can be combated

is by setting on more enforcement officers of which I know you are trying to address. I look forward to

hearing the results of your proposal at the next ops meeting.

regards

RAHolt (Director)

South Leeds & Hunslet Cars Ltd

Ref: DPB/Operator 97 & 31

Dear Mr Broster

Re: Private Hire Driver’s ‘Plying for Hire’ – Enforcement Policy Proposals

With reference to your letter dated 30th

January 2007 regarding the above proposals. I am fully in favour of

drivers having their Private Hire licence suspended for a period of time and possibly leading the licence being

revoked if they are caught ‘plying for hire’

Plying for Hire is not only illegal, but dangerous for drivers and passengers due to the insurance issues involved

in a private hire driver carrying customers who have not pre-booked their car.

This issue has touched a nerve with me recently as we are experiencing a number of problems within our

company at the moment. A number of weeks ago, a new private hire company has opened in Yeadon, under the

name of Regal, who, obviously as they are just starting out, do not have a great deal of work for their drivers.

We are finding that they have a driver sat outside most of the public houses in the local area, just picking up

who they please, and we are generating a lot of no fares due to this. Most of the public are unaware of the issues

of getting into a vehicle that has not been pre-booked, and I personally feel that more awareness should be made

readily available to the general public. I’m sure you are all aware of the incident that happened at Yarnbury

Rugby Club a few weeks ago….

I can understand that at certain times the City Centre and surrounding areas are full of people all requiring a

‘taxi’ at peak times of the evening, and hope that because of this, the council will not turn a blind eye during

these busy periods.

An example needs to be set.

Yours sincerely

S A Johnson

Miss Shelley Johnson

On behalf of SJK Private Hire