Hackney carriage and private hire news and information

Taxi newsletter June 2023

Dear members of the trade

Please take a few minutes to read this newsletter it contains important information for you.

1. Driver medicals

You will be aware that we had a consultation on driver medicals recently, whether to decrease the number of medicals you need and the ages at which you need them so that it mirrors the DVLA requirement for group 2.

Thank you to those who took the time to respond to the consultation.

The Regulatory Committee met on Tuesday 20 June and I presented a report recommending a change, they were keen to hear your views and the responses received helped in making a decision.
The outcome was that the Committee agreed with the recommendation and with immediate effect the requirements around medicals now mirror the DVLA group 2 timescales.

Our policy has been amended to reflect this.

To be clear the medical requirements are now as below.

A group 2 medical assessment will be required at the following frequencies:

  • On submission of a new HC or PHV driver licence application.
  • At age 45 and thereafter every five years until the age of 65
  • At age 65 and thereafter on an annual basis.
  • In the event of a disability or medical condition which may affect an applicant’s ability to drive being disclosed to the Council’s licensing section whilst the grant of a licence is in force.

2. Forums

The first forum this year took place at the Hythe Centre Egham on Wednesday 22 March 2023
There will be 2 other forums this year one in July and one in October, both are booked for the Hythe Centre 11 till 12 on Wed 12 July and Wed 25 Oct 2023.

Please come along and support your trade.

3. Taxi ranks

We have had complaints about drivers playing loud music while waiting in their vehicle at the ranks. Don’t do this, it breaches the terms and conditions of the lease with South Western Railway and could lead to them pulling the contract.

If you see a driver doing this let us know!

4. Hackney Carriage Fares

Following feedback from drivers at the forum in March we are sent all HC drivers a survey regarding an increase in the pull of rate. We only had 3 replies to this so at the moment there is no proposal to increase fares. The last fare increase was in July 2022.
We will carry out another survey later in the year.

5. Enforcement

Transport for London enforcement officers joined our taxi licensing officer Jill Tyne last week and carried out enforcement in the Egham and Virginia water area. The focus was mainly on TfL licensed vehicles working in our area and they had a productive day. We will be carrying out another enforcement day with them very soon.