Professional Driver Magazine August 2021

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 05 £4.95

Wheel of fortune How Wheely is creating a chauffeur service that works like Uber

CAR OF THE YEAR

CAR of the YEAR 2021

Professional Driver’s signature summer event is back–p18-20

Dp

Delivery Point

contents

28

20 24

26

COVER STORY

wheel of fortune – How

Wheely is creating a chauffeur service that works like Uber

6-16

B usiness News

18

N ews Analysis

20

J udgement days

24

F irst Look

The latest from around the UK private hire sector

driver crisis deepens – UK operators struggle as Brexit and Covid decimate the driver pool

It was great to be back with our popular Car of the Year judging days at Epsom Racecourse

Renault has unveiled a new electric car specially designed Self Drive Hire of PCO Licensed and Un Licensed Exe for the ride-hailing sector

28 V-Class G et ready for QSi , Mercedes Mercedes S-Class , Mercedes Start preparing your entries for the 2021 Professional Driver Tesla Model S , Nissan Leaf QSi Awards

30 Running Report 01707 649 090 Living with a BMW 7545Le plug-in hybrid : info@chauffeurrentals.com REGULAR FEATURES 32 The Knowledge 33 The Advisor Daily , Weekly Hires 34 or The Monthly Negotiator 35 The Insider

26

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mark Bursa 07813 320044 VOLUME 15 ISSUE 05 £4.95

markbursa@prodrivermags.com COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Paul Webb 07807 133527 paulwebb@prodrivermags.com ART DIRECTOR Alan Booth 07817 671973

Kevin Willis, Peter Panayiotou, Iain Dooley, Mike Stone, Denot Nyack, Adam Bernstein, Dr Mike Galvin WEBSITE MartinCoombes 01959547000

CAR OF THE YEAR: judging day 2021

COMPANY ADDRESS 50BeechcroftManor, Oatlands,Weybridge,KT139NZ

It’s great to be back!

alan.booth@calixa.biz

Wheel of fortune How Wheely is creating a chauffeur service that works like Uber

SUBSCRIBE CONTRIBUTORS Curwood CMS Ltd, The Barn, Ian Robertson, Tim Barnes-Clay, Abbey Mews, Robertsbridge, TN32 Glen Holder, Phil Rule, John 5AD, 01580 883844 Coombes, Gary Jacobs, David subs@prodrivermags.com Self Drive Hire of PCO Licensed and Un Licensed Executive Cars Wilkins, Phil Huff, Craig Thomas, Mercedes S-Class , Mercedes V-Class , Mercedes E-Class

Our Car of the Year judging days returned with an electric atmosphere Mark Bursa

G

REAT CARS, GREAT WEATHER AND A

great turnout marked the return of the Professional Driver Car of the Year judging event this week.

The much-loved event couldn’t happen last year, so we were delighted to be able to invite our friends in the industry to the first post-Covid social event of 2021. One thing had changed – we moved from our traditional home of Sandown Park to another Surrey racecourse, Epsom, as Sandown has been pressed into vital service as a Coronavirus vaccination centre.

Our new location was well received, and we’d

like to thank the Epsom staff for being so welcoming. And, of course, we’d like to thank everyone who turned up to judge, especially those who travelled long distances, from as far as the West Country, South Wales and Lancashire.

We had a terrific selection of cars, including many of the latest plug-in hybrid and electric models, giving judges a chance to sample the cars that will form the future fleets for the private hire trade.

This year we have seven categories: Chauffeur Car, Executive Car, Luxury SUV, MPV, Estate Car, Private Hire Vehicle and Zero-Emissions Car. Now we’ve got the task of sorting through the scoresheets and working out

ESTABLISHED SINCE 2005 CAR OF THE YEAR

4

CAR OF THE YEAR 2021 Professional Driver’s signature summer event is back–p18-20

20

Tesla Model S , Nissan Leaf 01707No.: 649 090 Registered in England 70 86172 © 2021 All contents copyright of Pro Driver Media Ltd. : info@chauffeurrentals.com Daily , Weekly or Monthly Hires

which cars you’ve chosen as our cars of the year.

As always, we’ll announce the winners – and our overall Car of the Year – at the Professional Driver QSi Awards dinner on November 25, at the Celtic Manor resort in South Wales.

The QSi Awards are the only awards designed specifically for you, the chauffeur, private hire and taxi operator. We look forward to seeing you there. Entries are open until the end of September, so make sure you’re in with a chance of winning.

To enter, or to book a ticket, please go to www. prodrivermags.com/qsi-home We hope to see you at the QSi Awards, and meanwhile, here’s a gallery of images from the judging days.

AUGUST 2021

AUGUST 2021

comment

The theatre of the absurd

W

e hear a lot of calls for unity

within the taxi and private hire sector.

Industry leaders, big operators, trade bodies and anyone else with an interest in the sector is usually ready with the fine words.

United we stand, divided we fall. And so on.

In reality, there is very little unity within this most fragmented, fractious business. The Black Cabs hate the private hire operators. They both hate the ride-hailing apps. Drivers are kicked around by operators, unions and activists who claim to be on their side, but often deliver results that suit nobody but themselves.

Does “worker” status really improve the lot of a freelance driver? And has the supreme court’s ruling on Uber not created a whole new raft of unresolved issues, such as who is paying when a driver is waiting for a job from a number of platforms?

In the past few days, we’ve seen the theatre of the absurd played out on the streets of Oxford (above), where what purported to be a group of concerned local drivers and operators were protesting about Uber. Not because it was operating in the city – but precisely the opposite. They were protesting because it wasn’t.

Run that past me again? We’ve said this before, but a number of seemingly sensible people in the industry seemed to lose their minds over Uber’s takeover of Autocab. We’ve reported it all here in Professional Driver – we present all sides of the story, so you can make up your minds.

And frankly, given our history of dealings with Uber in the past, we have as much, if not more reason than operators to be suspicious of the company. It has never truly played by the rules; indeed, its policy has often been to tear up the rule book and replace it with one it has written for itself.

Yet. Something has clearly changed within Uber. It’s no less ambitious, and it certainly isn’t intending to level the playing field on which it operates, but the Oxford situation is clearly not normal.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Uber won’t be

AUGUST 2021

launching direct services in other UK towns. It’s now four years since it last did this, and the current approach is to use Autocab users to carry out the work.

This might not suit all the operators in Oxford. At the moment, it only suits one operator, 001 Taxis. But nobody can complain that Uber is taking work from local companies. It’s giving all its work in Oxford to a local company. As far as Oxford is concerned, Uber is merely a platform, like CMAC or Karhoo. Or a travel platform such as Expedia – which is where Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi used to work.

So why was there a protest? Clearly 001 Taxis’ rival operators are not happy that they are losing work. In particular, they see Uber’s ability to promote the service as giving the ride-hailer and its partner taxi firm an unfair advantage. They have a point, but that’s business.

But they’re not the ones taking to the streets.

Instead, we are seeing a manifestation of an ugly and rather personal battle between two dispatch systems companies. Where is it heading? Who knows. Uber has been remarkably restrained over the issue. But noisy protests do seem to be quite effective – see the success of Messrs Farrar and Islam in forcing the worker status agenda through the courts. I suspect we haven’t seen the last of it.

Will protests against Uber giving work to selected operators prove as effective? Unlikely. It’s hard to see that Uber is doing anything wrong here. Ultimately the proof will be in the pudding. How are operators getting on with those Uber local Cab jobs? Is it positive or not?

Early signs are that it is bringing in work, and proving effective to help operators that have signed up to recruit new drivers – a chronic problem across the industry right now, and a clear example of how a united front might be able to bring about a better outcome for everyone.

Mark Bursa Editor markbursa@prodrivermags.com

5

news

Didi suspends UK launch plans amid China crackdown on data security Mark Bursa Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global has suspended its plans to launch in Britain and mainland Europe, following a regulatory backlash in China over data privacy.

Didi has been building up to a planned launch later this year, having secured operator’s licenses in a number of UK cities including Salford and Sheffield. But now the planned launch has been delayed for at least a year – and industry insiders believe it may now not happen at all.

In February 2021, Didi announced plans to launch in European markets including the UK, France and Germany. But now, staff working on the planned launches have been told that they face possible redundancy, and Didi has stopped hiring in Britain.

In a statement, a Didi spokesman did not mention the UK, merely stating: “We continue to explore additional new markets, liaising with relevant stake-

holders in each and being thoughtful about when to introduce our services.”

Beijing-based Didi’s problems are in its home market, where it has been caught in a domestic regulatory crackdown on the massive Chinese internet sector. Didi is under a cyber-security review as China revamps its policy towards privacy and data security to ensure secure storage of user data.

Didi listed its shares in New York in June after raising £3.2 billion in an initial public offering with

a view to international expansion, but the Chinee regulatory crackdown has wiped a fifth off its value.

Didi is the dominant ride-hailing operator in China.

Indeed, it is so powerful that Uber withdrew from the market in 2016 in exchange for a stake in Didi.

Didi recently launched in South Africa, Ecuador and Kazakhstan, and has established operations in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Colombia. But it now looks like Europe is no longer on the schedule.

Bolt launches in Sheffield with low initial commission charges Uber’s biggest ride-hailing rival Bolt has launched in Sheffield, and is targeting the city’s drivers by offering to take lower commissions on their fares than other firms.

Sheffield is the ninth city in the UK to be targeted by the company, and Bolt faces stiff competition from giant local operator City Taxis, as well as Uber, which also operates in the city.

Sheffield joins London, Birmingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peterborough and Wolverhampton.

It is not known how many cars Bolt will be operating in Sheffield.

The launch comes at a time when Uber is backing away from the direct-launch model and putting increasing amounts of work through established private hire operators on the Autocab iGo platform. Uber bought Autocab last year.

Hafeas Rehman, chairman of Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, said: “From talking to people, I understand private hire drivers

6

are happy for them to come in to Sheffield purely because of the rate that they charge. I think drivers are welcoming it, and I’ve seen at least one today with Bolt stickers on its doors. Talking to colleagues there are a few drivers with them.”

In an email to drivers, Bolt offered a 7.5% commission rate for

two months, rising to 15% or 10% for drivers running electric cars.

Estonia-based Bolt last month announced it made a loss of €44.9m in 2020, an improvement on 2019’s net loss of €85.5m. In the same period, Bolt’s revenue increased by 74.5% to €221.4m despite volatile trading in the pandemic, according to the

company’s consolidated annual report.

Bolt announced on August 2 that it had closed its largestever funding round, raising €600m and increasing its valuation to more than €4bn. Expansion plans include electric scooters and food delivery services under the Bolt Food and Bolt Market brands.

AUGUST 2021

news

TfL backs down on controversial written language plan for private hire drivers Mark Bursa Transport for London has backed down from its controversial policy of forcing private hire drivers to take a written language test – or else lose their licence.

It is believed that under new policies to be introduced on October 1, TfL will use new training modules to determine whether an applicant is proficient at reading and writing English at the level required. A 15-minute conversational test would follow to assess the driver’s ability to understand and speak English.

TfL has confirmed that private hire drivers who are yet to pass an English speaking, writing or listening test will not have their licences revoked when the new licensing policy is introduced.

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association welcomed the news, and said in a statement: “It was confirmed that drivers who have not yet undertaken and passed an English Test, or sent

their English language qualifications to TfL, will not have their licences revoked. This follows a five-year LPHCA campaign, asking for appropriate English language testing for TfL-licensed PHV Drivers.

“TfL has however asked that if proof of qualifications for exemption, by way of exam certification can be provided, drivers should do so by 30 September, as this would ensure that a future test

will not be needed.”

The LPHCA statement continued: “From October 1 we understand that new arrangements will be put in place, which include an assessment on safety, equality and regulatory obligations modules and TfL Taxi and Private Hire will use this to confirm an applicant is proficient at reading and writing English at the required level.”

The lower cost 15-20 minute conver-

Dress code and drug tests for drivers as Greater Manchester looks to unify standards Councils in Greater Manchester are close to agreement on a set of common licensing standards for taxi drivers across the metropolitan area, including a dress code and drug testing.

Tameside council’s executive cabinet has approved the first stage of the new Greater Manchester minimum licensing standards, which focuses on drivers, operators and local authorities.

The standards – which will be introduced across all of the region’s ten councils – have been in the pipeline since 2018 and are aimed at delivering improved safety, environmental standards and accessibility across the 2,000 hackney carriages, 11,500 private hire vehicles and 18,600 drivers currently licensed across Greater Manchester.

The more stringent rules for

8

drivers will see DBS checks occur more frequently, as well as medical examinations for drivers, knowledge and English language tests. This autumn, a further report is to be published outlining the proposed standards for taxi vehicles.

A dress code is also be introduced which would limit drivers to wearing ‘good condition’ clothes, and ban them from wearing sportswear, sandals, hoods and offensive slogans or graphics.

It comes after licensing authorities received ‘numerous complaints’ each year about driver dress standards and personal hygiene. The Tameside cabinet report states that in the worst examples,

sational test will meet the needs of the government’s statutory taxi & private hire vehicle standards requirements on English language proficiency for all London taxi & PHV drivers.

“We are delighted that this pragmatic outcome after nearly five years of campaigning brings in a new process that will in our view be far more fit for purpose. We will continue to work closely with TfL TPH to ensure the new testing meets with recommendation 28 of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing recommendations for England and Wales,” the LPHCA concluded.

The GMB Union also welcomed the move, saying in a statement: “GMB’s five-year campaign for changes to the TFL English Language test has resulted in a new oral and written test module being available from October of this year. The trade bodies pushed hard on this. TfL, and the Mayor’s office, have through our representations now made change for good.”

passengers reported drivers wearing shorts had their “private parts on display”.

A policy around drug and alcohol testing is also being developed to introduce testing for drivers based on complaints or intelligence received. Ian Saxon, director of neighbourhoods and operations, said the recommendations were the product of many years hard work. “They are very strong and supported by the travelling public,” he said. “This is there to promote public safety and that’s our role within the taxi licensing regime.”

Tameside council leader Brenda Warrington said: “At the moment some of the drivers that we know are licensed outside of Greater Manchester from other authorities that just give away licences like toffees. It is a worry to us so I do hope and believe that this kind of arrangement across all ten of the districts in Greater Manchester will be a benefit,” she said.

“We would hope to a degree it would drive out those drivers who frankly we don’t want to see because they’re not up to the standard that we require.”

AUGUST 2021

news

Anti-Uber protest under fire as Oxford council vows to investigate ‘Local Cab’ deal with 001 Taxis Mark Bursa A protest against Uber’s launch of its Local Cab service in Oxford has drawn criticism from 001 Taxis, the company that has been chosen to handle Uber bookings in the city.

A number of taxi drivers held a protest outside the town hall in the city. But Amir Khan of 001 Taxis said: “We do not believe that the recent protests in Oxford were anything to do with local taxi drivers, but rather were driven by an ulterior motive.”

Indeed, the protest was organised by Azmat Sherwani, who appeared on BBC News as the protest organiser, and was quoted in the Oxford Mail as head of a “Say No to Uber” campaign. But Sherwani is also head of Manchester-based sales agency business Dotted, which handles UK sales for Renault-owned dispatch systems supplier iCabbi.

Dublin-based iCabbi is the principal rival of Uber-owned Autocab, whose iGo system powers the Uber Local Cab service. iCabbi’s directors have been strongly critical of the Uber-Autocab deal, calling it “a trojan horse” for Uber to take business from the private hire and taxi trade.

Sherwani also held a similar protest at an August social event outside Autocab’s offices in Manchester, where he parked a mobile billboard van outside and led a noisy protest against the Uber takeover of Autocab. The protest did not appear to feature many taxi drivers, but included a group of young people who appeared to have been hired for the day. Sherwani refused to be interviewed at the protest, and eventually moved on after police were called.

In Oxford, the protest followed comments by Oxford City council deputy leader Tom Haynes, who said: “If a company as big as Uber isn’t prepared to put their own application into Oxford City Council and to have their own taxis licensed here that raises concerns for me… I’m concerned about Uber trying to get in to Oxford by the back door.”

Haynes later told the Oxford Mail: “It is our duty, as the licensing authority, to ensure that the taxi trade in Oxford operates according to the law, the legal guidance issued by the government, and our local policy that puts the safety of passengers first.

We take this responsibility seriously and are investigating whether or not the relationship between Uber and 001 meets these requirements.”

However Uber’s European head Jamie Heywood told Professional Driver last year that Uber’s UK expansion going forward would involve it putting jobs

AUGUST 2021

AZMAT SHERWANI: “Nationally Uber have not been able to get a licence in many areas, so what they’ve done is they’ve purchased the largest technology provider in the taxi industry.

What this has allowed them to do... is enter different areas without having a licence”

out to local operators rather than opening new operations.

Speaking in August 2020, he said: “It’s been almost four years since we launched in a new city, and we currently have no plans to launch with our previous model in any more. I can see a world where almost all the future expansion with Uber, particularly in the UK, will be in partnership with local taxi and private hire companies.”

Uber’s purchase of Autocab allowed it to use Autocab’s iGo system to put jobs out to local firms.

The system is being piloted in a number of towns and cities including Plymouth, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bedford, where operators who have signed up are reporting increased business as a result.

During the Oxford protest, Sherwani told the BBC: “Nationally Uber have not been able to get a licence in many areas, so what they’ve done is they’ve purchased the largest technology provider in the taxi industry. What this has allowed them to do... is enter different areas without having a licence. They [Uber customers] will be arriving from London, but now they already have Uber downloaded and they’ll be using that – it’s going to have catastrophic effects on local drivers and local operators.”

However, 001 Taxis’ Amir Khan countered the claim, saying Uber’s move was benefiting local driv-

ers who work for his company: “As a locally licensed operator and Oxford-based business we provide earning opportunities to many drivers who live in the area. By partnering with Uber we are able to provide more opportunities for drivers and more choice to the customers who book their trip with us through the Uber app. This model is the same as a local cab operator having a relationship with a local hotel who request a trip for their own guest.”

Ozayr Khan, managing director of 001 Taxis’ main local rival, Royal Cars, said he was not directly involved in the protest but was broadly supportive of its objectives. However, he added that the protest was more likely to promote Uber rather than affect it – indeed, Uber reported a spike in downloads of its app in the wake of the news coverage of Sherwani’s protest.

Ozayr Khan said most of the protesting drivers were hackney drivers, who were losing out at the railway station as Uber users arriving from London were booking via the App rather than taking a cab from the rank.

He said Royal Cars was losing business as a result of the Uber-001 deal, and his main concern was the level of marketing spend that Uber was able to leverage in the town: “Uber is using its war chest to fund advertising for the 001 Taxis link in Oxford, which is being advertised on bus stops.”

9

news

Uber still under fire despite joint GMB pledge to end driver exploitation Mark Bursa Uber and the GMB Union have committed to ending the exploitation of more than 200,000 drivers in their first meeting since signing a collective bargaining agreement on May 26, 2021.

The agreement allowed GMB to represent up to 70,000 UK Uber drivers in negotiations with the company on issues such as pensions and workplace safety. This was the first time Uber has recognised a union of its drivers anywhere in the world.

The agreement followed Uber’s defeat in the UK Supreme Court in February 2021, when it was ordered to reclassify its UK drivers as workers, entitling them to better workplace conditions and protections for the first time, including the right to be paid the national minimum wage.

The Supreme Court’s decision was the culmination of multiple attempts by Uber to overturn the ruling of an October 2016 employment tribunal, which determined that drivers should be treated as workers rather than self-employed individuals.

In a joint statement published ahead of the meeting, GMB and Uber said that with more than 300,000 drivers working in the ride-hailing and private hire vehicle (PHV) industry, there were still an estimated 230,000 drivers “not receiving their legal rights” from rival firms such as Bolt and Addison Lee. “The ground-breaking deal between GMB and Uber was the first step towards a fairer working life for millions of people,” said GMB general secretary Gary Smith. “It showed that when companies and trade unions work together, standards can be raised across these industries.

“Earlier this year, the Supreme Court set a precedent for all ride-hailing apps to provide drivers with workers’ rights such as holiday pay and a pension. Uber has done this for its 70,000 drivers, but

Council considers single zone for taxis in whole of Northumberland Mark Bursa New rules for taxi drivers are being considered by Northumberland County Council, which could make life easier for drivers and operators.

Currently, hackney carriages must be based in one of six zones and cannot tout for trade outside their designated area.

10

[from left] Jamie Heywood and Gary Smith

there are more than 200,000 more working for other operators who are still denied these basic legal rights.”

Smith added: “GMB and Uber today take the next step in our commitment to ending the exploitation of hundreds of thousands of ride-hailing app drivers.”

Jamie Heywood, Uber regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, praised the “historic agreement” between the two, adding: “We hope that working constructively with GMB will show the rest of the industry what can be achieved, ensuring that all drivers, no matter who they work with, receive the rights and protections they are entitled to.”

However, the agreement between Uber and GMB does not allow collective bargaining over drivers’ earnings, including the firm’s implementation of the minimum wage, just “consultation”.

Responding to Uber and GMB’s joint call for other private hire operators to respect the rights of workers, the App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) said its members were “concerned and distressed” by the comments made, pointing out that Uber itself had not respected the Supreme Court ruling by deciding to pay drivers only from the time they are assigned to trips rather than, as the court

But while a proposal to scrap the current situation in favour of a single patch to make regulations easier to understand is being considered, concerns have also been raised about the knock-on effect the overhaul could have.

“Some parts of the trade will say it would be much better to only have a single zone for Northumberland and then they can take their trade anywhere,” said Philip Soderquest, head of housing and public protection at Northumberland County Council.

“Others will say they don’t want that because then others will come from one area into another, taking the trade

explicitly ruled, from when they log in to the app.

“We are appalled by Uber’s ongoing PR campaign, which deliberately misinforms the public and policymakers about its true position on workers’ rights,” said ADCU president Yaseen Aslam and general secretary James Farrar in a joint statement.

“Uber continues to be in violation of UK employment law, is failing to implement the Supreme Court ruling and is engaged in ongoing litigation against tens of thousands of drivers representing the majority of its workforce.”

The International Workers Union of Great Britain’s (IWGB) United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch also took issue with Uber and GMB’s pledge: It said in a statement: “After the Supreme Court ruling, Uber has a natural interest to try to level the playing field for itself with other companies in the sector. We agree that it is important for Bolt, Ola, Free Now and all the rest to clean up their acts and respect driver rights.

“That Uber is now trying to lead the charge on this fight shows that it was the right strategy for drivers to take on Uber – the biggest player – first, in order to then change conditions across the sector.”

Addison Lee chief executive Liam Griffin rejected the claim by Uber and GMB that its drivers were being exploited.

“We guarantee the drivers that work with us get the London Living Wage level of earnings, as opposed to only the National Minimum Wage paid by Uber,” he said. “Drivers working with Addison Lee also get access to a pension and holiday pay.”

Bolt said its drivers were “free to choose which platform they use and record numbers are continuing to earn through Bolt”, adding: “They tell us that’s because they can take home more money. That’s not exploitation, it’s competition. We don’t take business advice from competitors motivated by their own agenda.”

from businesses already based there.

“A single zone would simplify it from a customer point of view, for visitors and tourists who won’t have a clue what the zones in Northumberland are. For the trade, some might welcome it, some will probably oppose it.”

Northumberland’s former two-tier system of local government, with six district councils sitting below an overarching county council, was abolished in 2009 in favour of the current system of a single unitary authority. But the system has lived on in rules for hackney carriages, which are still required to register to a ‘licensing zone’, dictating where they

can be hailed in the street or pick up customers from cab ranks, although the fares are the same. Different rules apply to private hire vehicles.

Licensing chiefs will hope to avoid a repeat of what happened in County Durham. “They created a single Hackney Carriage zone that created huge problems,” Mr Soderquest told the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

“The term used for Chester-le-Street and Durham City was ‘honeypot’, because a lot of the taxes from the smaller districts moved into Durham City or Chester-le-Street, where there was more business for them.”

AUGUST 2021

news

TfL launches new NR3 national refusals database to help weed out taxi criminals Mark Bursa Transport for London has introduced a new national refusals database, known as NR3, as part of its taxi and private hire driver licensing process.

The NR3 database allows councils and licensing authorities to record details of when a taxi or PHV driver application has been refused or a licence revoked by other local authorities, stopping drivers who have been refused a licence in one area from applying in another.

The NR3 database will provide details of all taxi and private hire driver licence revocation and refusal decisions taken from January 1, 2018. From Monday 23 August, any subsequent licensing decisions to refuse an application or revoke a licence are being added to the NR3 database on a weekly basis.

In a notice sent to drivers, Graham Robinson, TfL general manager, taxi and private hire, said: “We already require taxi and private hire driver applicants to disclose if they have had an application for a licence refused, or a licence revoked or suspended by any other licensing authority. We will use the NR3 database to

ensure the information provided by applicants is accurate.”

He continued: “If a refused application or revoked licence is disclosed, or identified via the NR3 database, we will contact the relevant licensing authority to establish the circumstances, as this information is not available via the NR3 database. The relevance of the reason for refusing/revoking a licence will be considered.

“If we receive information about an applicant or licence holder that they did not disclose during the application process, we would also consider if this calls into question if the person is ‘fit and

proper’ to hold a licence.”

Licence refusals and revocations will be registered on NR3. While there might be a number of reasons why TfL would refuse or revoke a driver’s licence, it is often a result of complaints or criminal history.

Last July, the Department for Transport published new statutory standards for taxi and private hire licensing. This included advice for councils and licensing authorities on the use of the NR3 database to enhance effective due diligence when making licensing decisions. Primary reasons for refusals or revocations are likely to be

complaints or criminal history. These could be: u A ny conviction for a major violent offence (murder, manslaughter, etc.) u M ore than one conviction of any type of violent offence in the past 10 years u S erving of a custodial sentence, even if the applicant has been released early on licence or the sentence was suspended u C onvicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for a serious sexual offence (rape, indecent assault, possession of indecent images etc) u C onvicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for more than one sexual offence of any type, irrespective of age u L isted on either the Children’s or Adults’ barred list u C onvicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for touting in the past 12 months or have more than one penalty for touting in the past five years.

TfL has stated that this list is not exhaustive and they may, on a case by case basis, refuse application on other grounds not listed above.

Rising ULEZ and C-Charges are impossible for PHV drivers to cover, says GMB’s Garelick charge if their vehicle does not meet the latest emissions standards.

Garelick told the PA news agency: “Drivers are The GMB Union says private hire drivers are losing business due to rising costs of the Congestion Charge faced with the charge and have to find a way to recovand the ULEZ fees. er that cost. It’s just not possible. Even Private hire drivers in London are facwhen you’ve got Uber adding £1.50 on to a fare for passengers to help combat the ing costs of £27.50 a day due to an incost, drivers still have to do 10 journeys crease of Congestion Charge fees and the to recover the £15.

ULEZ, which is now being extended out “The drop in jobs is a combination of to the North and South Circular roads rising costs, not being able to get a batSteve Garelick, regional officer in London for the GMB Union, said while the tery-powered electric vehicle, the fact price increases have been in place since that passenger fares are not as they June 2020, passengers will only have Steve Garelick should be and commissions. It’s the perstarted noticing the difficulty when tryfect storm.” ing to book a car as now more people are leaving their Garelick continued: “I think TfL put others ahead homes and socialising as a result of the easing of lock- of drivers because drivers are an easy target as you can track them. But it’s not just London – the price of down restrictions.

If a private hire driver wants to take a passenger such journeys are a luxury and the cost will increase from the outskirts of the capital into central Lon- across the country as these charges start to apply don, they currently have to pay £15 for the conges- elsewhere. Somebody has to pay for them, and nortion charge and an additional £12.50 for the ULEZ mally they will get a private hire and or taxi to cover

Mark Bursa

AUGUST 2021

the cost of these cars because they’re an easy target.”

The congestion charge was temporarily increased from £11.50 to £15 per day last June after TfL’s finances were badly hit as a result of the pandemic.

TfL is currently holding a consultation over whether it should make the 30% increase a permanent fixture and reduce the hours from 7am to 10pm to 7am to 6pm every day, while delaying its start until 12 noon on weekends and bank holidays.

Garelick said he has put forward a proposal of a city-style tax – as seen in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Budapest – of £1 per fare to every private hire fare in London to help drivers combat the costs.

A TfL spokesperson said: “The Congestion Charge and ULEZ play key roles in managing congestion and reducing air pollution. The majority of private hire vehicles in London are less than five years old, which in most cases will mean the vehicle is ULEZ compliant and so no ULEZ charges will apply.”

“Should proposals which are currently out to consultation go ahead, no journeys after 6pm would be subject to the Congestion Charge.”

11

news

Nottingham taxi drivers take council to court over low emissions license losses Mark Bursa Taxi drivers in Nottingham who had their licences revoked for not moving over to expensive lowemission vehicles are appealing the council’s decision in court.

The Labour-run council had demanded that around 400 of its local hackney fleet should be upgraded to low-emissions vehicles by the end of June 2020. But just 177 drivers have bought the hybrid taxis and 50 drivers have informed the local authority that they did not wish to renew their licences and obtain the new vehicles. Some have switched to private hire, or have retired.

Thirty-three vehicles have been refused a licence as they are not compliant, and drivers have appealed against the decision to the Magistrates Court. The outcome of these appeals is still pending.

A further 160 licences have either expired or were refused (and have no appeal outstanding) with no application for a policy compliant vehicle having been made.

Drivers had to take out loans to buy the new cars, which can cost between £36,000 to £60,000, a sum which one driver described as being like “a second mortgage”.

But many drivers did not want to take on the loans

during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The local authority says hackney drivers had been aware of the proposed changes since 2017/18 and have had more than 18 months since the policy became effective to make arrangements to purchase the compliant vehicles.

And although it has now extended the deadline until the end of September and then a further three months to either licence a

Taxi drivers protest outside Sandwell Council over licensing delays Taxi drivers have taken to the streets to protest against Sandwell Council for long delays in receiving private hire licences.

More than 200 drivers staged a protest outside Sandwell Council House in Oldbury on Wednesday, organised by the Sandwell Private Hire Drivers Association.

Imran Mahmood Qureshi, secretary of the drivers’ association, said: “This problem has been going on for more than ten years. During the pandemic, it was horrendous. We have often felt like we are going round circles, where we write to our council leaders, and then receive no response.”

Sandwell Council chiefs said they had listened to the drivers’ concerns and are committed to helping ease them. But Qureshi added: “We feel like we are being ripped off. The council say they are committed to helping us, but if they can’t commit, why should we listen to what they have to say?”

12

Face-to-face appointments with drivers were suspended last year due to the pandemic but many drivers complained they could not get through on the phone, while some were not able to use email.

Council leader Rajbir Singh met with members of Sandwell Private Hire Drivers’ Association to discuss the changes and listen to their concerns.

Cllr Singh said new software had been introduced to make it easier for drivers to make payments and the licensing office was now open five days a week. “The past 18 months have been a challenging time, particularly for those in the taxi trade,” he said.

“We are listening to the drivers’ concerns and are in the process of implementing a user-friendly software system that will allow drivers to apply, track, and make payments, and this will bring huge benefits to them.”

compliant vehicle or confirm that they have ordered one, drivers say it is not enough. They are calling for an extension to April 2022, so they can get their finances in order.

The council is offering up to £3,464 of financial support including contributions to vehicle licence fees and MOT. The council now faces a loss of revenue as it normally licenses 420 taxis in the city. In a statement, it said: “The change in vehicle specification coupled with a loss of trade due to the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic has meant that for the first time in many years the council has potentially 243 licences it could issue before reaching the limit of 420 licences.”

The council says it will need to look at reallocated licences to ensure there is enough provision as more people are coming back into the city.

The council said it has also reinstated issuing renewal and expiry reminder letters and has agreed to contact all applicants within two working days of receiving their applications.

According to badge and taxi plate data seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, it takes between nine and 12 months for new applications for a private hire licence to be processed. For neighbouring Wolverhampton Council, it takes approximately three weeks.

A one-year taxi plate costs £353 for a vehicle under five years old, and £399 if it is over five years old, if the vehicle is registered with Sandwell Council. Other councils, such as Dudley and Birmingham City, charge £235 and £185 for any aged vehicle.

Councillor Jay Anandou, deputy leader of the opposition Conservative group in Sandwell, said: “When other councils take far less time to process a new operating licence for private hire drivers, Sandwell takes almost one year, which is highly inefficient, unfair on hard working people, and needs immediate attention. This inefficiency in handling licencing affects our overall Sandwell economy and transport infrastructure – and makes Sandwell look anti-business.”

AUGUST 2021

news

TfL opens Woolwich charge hub ahead of October ULEZ expansion

Mark Bursa Transport for London has opened a new EV rapid charging hub at Glass Yard in Woolwich, in advance of its expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in October.

The hub has eight fast charging points, which allow drivers to recharge their vehicles in up in 20-30 minutes.

The south London facility, a £2 million investment in collaboration with charge point operator ESB Energy and installation partner Siemens Mobility, is part of TfL’s strategy to have a rapid charging hub in every

one of the capital’s five sub-regions.

The first one is at east London at Stratford International, and a site at Baynard House in the City of London, the central location, is currently being constructed. More will follow in the north and west.

On October 25, the ULEZ will expand up to, but not including, the North and South Circular roads. The Glass Yard hub is located on the edge of the boundary. The expanded ULEZ is 18 times the size of the current zone and TfL hopes the expansion will bring about a 30% cut in NOx levels across London.

Last year, TfL installed 300 rap-

id charging points across the capital, aimed at taxis, private hire and van drivers, while it has installed more than 3,000 residential charging points through the Go Ultra Low Cities scheme.

There are now more than 7,000 charging points within the M25, an increase of more than 2,000 over the past year.

The Mayor of London’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan estimates that by 2025, London may need up to 4,000 rapid charging points and up to 48,000 residential chargers as more and more people and businesses move to electric vehicles.

Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city

planning, said: “It’s essential that we increase the supply of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Charging hubs that can be used in the same way as a traditional petrol station but without pumping toxic fumes are important in helping people to feel comfortable taking the plunge with an electric vehicle.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Petrol and diesel vehicles are major contributors to air pollution in London so it is essential that we make it as easy as possible for people to swap their cars, vans and motorcycles to greener, electric versions.”

Ride-hail rival Yandex buys out Uber stake in Russian joint ventures Uber has sold its stake in a number of Russian businesses to rival Yandex in a deal worth around $1 billion.

In the deal, Russian internet and ride-hailing giant Yandex has acquired Uber’s 18.2% stake in the Self-Driving Group (SDG) and Uber’s 33.5% stake in Yandex’s food delivery service, last-mile logistics service, and 15-minute convenience store delivery service.

Yandex SDG is an autonomous technology spinout from MLUBV, a

AUGUST 2021

ride-hailing and food delivery joint venture established with Uber in 2018 by integrating Yandex’s ridehailing operations and Uber’s Rus-

sian operations.

Yandex said in a statement that autonomous driving technology is “highly synergistic with the Yandex

ecosystem, which includes the ride hailing, e-commerce and food technology businesses”.

A Yandex spokeswoman said: “This acquisition gives Yandex even more strategic management and flexibility when it comes to autonomous driving technology.”

As part of the deal, Yandex will obtain an extension of its current license to use the Uber brand in Russia and certain other countries until August 2030.

—Mark Bursa

13

Get ready The Eighth Annual Professional Driver QSi Awards Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Thursday November 25, 2021

T

HE QSI AWARDS ARE BACK! We know how much you’ve missed the only awards that count in the private hire, taxi and chauffeur sector – and the 2021 edition will be bigger and better than ever.

We’ve missed you during the lockdown – and now, at last, we can get together again in 2021 at our two flagship events for the chauffeur, private hire and taxi industry.

We’re keeping to our regular spot in the calendar – the event takes place on Thursday, November 25, 2021. But for our comeback, we’re moving to a new venue – the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.

As usual, we’ll be presenting Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to the best of the best among the operators and drivers – with a special focus on how the sector contributed to the fight against Covid-19.

We’ll also reveal our 2021 Cars of the Year on the night – so prepare for a great party!

Details of the awards categories and how to apply for the QSi Awards, plus details of how to buy tickets and tables, can be found on our website, so please visit this address for details: https://www.prodrivermags.com/qsi-awards-home/

y for the QSi Awards 2021

news

Lambeth EV charge scheme targets high-rise car owners Mark Bursa A new project to tackle electric vehicle inequality and drive greater EV adoption among people living in council estates and high-rise flats, has been launched in the London Borough of Lambeth.

The move is good news for private hire and ridehailing drivers who do not have access to off-road parking areas where they could install electric vehicle charge points.

Lambeth Council and EV charging specialist Connected Kerb have teamed up to deploy 22 onstreet EV chargers across 11 council estates, providing easy access to EV charging for residents without off-street parking. The project will act as a blueprint to be adopted at scale by other boroughs, councils and cities across Britain to deliver a fair EV transition, including for the 40% of households nationally without off-street parking.

The project is part of Lambeth council’s wider strategy to install more than 200 charge points by 2022, ensuring every household without off-street parking is within a five-minute walk of a charge point.

EV ownership is skyrocketing, with UK registrations up 117% in 2021 compared to last year.

But the transition to EVs has exposed disparities between different communities across the UK. Households which have access to a driveway make

without reliable charging, why would anyone go electric? We have designed our business model to overcome this and with Lambeth Council, we are delivering a fairer and equitable clean transport future – here and right across the UK.” Shirley Rodrigues, London deputy mayor for environment and energy, said: “Equal access to public charging is a key step towards a fair switch to clean transport and vital if we are to meet our ambition of being a zero carbon city by 2030.”

Each of Connected Kerb’s chargers will provide a 7kW charge, perfect for overninght onstreet charging where residents are parked for a predictable amount of time each day. Every charge point will feature contactless payment via the Connected Kerb app with a consistent network up 80% of EV owners, with the remaining 20% owned and tariff across the sites, enabling fair and equal access for everyone. by those in houses or flats with no access to offConnected Kerb’s infrastructure has a longstreet parking. lasting design. The charging infrastructure is Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, located below ground with passive chargers that said: “People often think electric vehicles are the can be easily ‘switched on’ by adding the above preserve of a fortunate few with detached houses and driveways, but this couldn’t be further from the ground charge point to match consumer demand.

This project was funded in part through the UK truth. With running costs much lower than petrol Government’s On-Street Residential Charge Point and diesel cars, all communities, regardless of where they live, their social background, or whether Scheme, available to all local authorities in the UK. Through the scheme, 75% of the costs were financed they have a driveway or not, have lots to gain. “ He continued: “Without high EV adoption, charge by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and the remaining costs were covered by the council. point operators won’t build public charging, and

Clive Sutton reveals £121k ultra-luxury black cab The bespoke coachbuilding division of car dealer Clive Sutton has developed a luxury version of the LEVC London taxi.

The driver and passenger compartments of the LEVC taxi have been completely overhauled by the Sutton Bespoke team, giving options including electronicallyreclining leather-clad, heated rear seats with footrests, to a fibreoptic starlight roof and electronic selfclosing doors.

The production version of the VIP black cab was unveiled at

16

the Blenheim Palace Salon Privé concours event in Oxfordshire. The £121,480 show car featured twotone paintwork, built-in umbrella holders and a high-quality audio system.

CEO Clive Sutton said: “While many of our clients seek power, performance and stand-out style,

another portion prefer discreet, unique, customisable luxury. Our Sutton VIP LEVC Taxi enables the most comfortable, spacious and private journey through the city with extravagant features usually reserved for superyachts and private jets.”

The Sutton Bespoke team has

revealed multiple configurations for the taxi. Colour choices are almost limitless, enabling owners to stay discreet or to create something unique.

Customers can choose from a four-, three-, or even an ultraspacious two-seat set-up with a drinks fridge, on-board WiFi and Bluetooth as standard. Thickpile carpet, an ambient lighting system, and hand-crafted wood veneers add extra opulence.

Privacy can be upgraded as part of an optional exterior package that includes smoke-tinted rear windows, Entertainment system options include a PlayStation or Xbox console, connected to a 20in media screen that is built in to a leather-clad divider between the front and rear compartments.

AUGUST 2021

The Chauffeur Programme

By Mercedes-Benz Retail Group.

Tailored for the professional driver, our Chauffeur Programme offers a range of coveted benefits on the purchase and maintenance of your licenced vehicles: Our dedicated service also offers you: • A range of bespoke servicing options available at member rates for our professional drivers • Preferential buying options on a range of new vehicles including the new Mercedes EQS, wherever you are in the UK • Expert Account Managers on hand to help meet your needs The Mercedes EQS is perfectly suited to your driving requirements and is available through our Mercedes-Benz Retail Chauffeur Programme with: • 453* mile all-electric range • Expansive interior, designed with the comfort of both passenger and driver • Next generation, MBUX technology will keep everyone connected on the go • Fully compliant with ULEZ and low-emission zones Discover exclusive chauffeur benefits, the New Mercedes EQS and more at www.mercedes-benzretailgroup.co.uk/chauffeurprogramme

*Based on an EQS 450+ AMG Line and a fully charged battery. Figures in accordance with WLTP procedure. Figures shown based on standard spec. Some options may not be available in the UK. May vary with road conditions and driving styles.

Mercedes-Benz Retail Group Sales: prodriver@daimler.com Aftersales: appointments@daimler.com

news analysis

Driver shortage intensifies as work returns Mark Bursa

A

s a degree of post-covid normality returns to

our lives, it’s easy to think that we’ll quickly return to how things were. Far from it, as beleaguered taxi and private hire operators are finding out.

Across the country, the demand for local taxis and minicabs is returning. People are going out for the evening, or taking holidays.

And they inevitably need to take a cab. And that’s where the problems start.

In simple economic terms, the supply cannot meet the demand. Over the past 18 months, a perfect storm has been brewing, and now the problems are being felt, as operators find themselves seriously short of drivers.

This is causing serious problems, especially in towns and cities at night. In Blackpool, where an influx of holidaymakers creates a summer demand spike, the lack of late-night cabs has caused a sharp increase in public disorder.

“On a Saturday night on Queen Street it’s like Beirut because people get angry if they can’t get a taxi and in Blackpool they’ve always been used to getting taxis easily,” said Dee Grant, director of Blackpool taxi firm C Cabs, which has lost lost 200 of the 500 drivers it had on its books before the pandemic.

Ian Wharmby, managing director of another local firm, Blacktax, said his company had stopped going down Queen Street despite the council bringing in taxi marshalls to control the throng, after one of his cars had a window smashed. He said: “On Friday and Saturday nights if people are out late, they can’t get cabs and are having to walk home.

So where have the drivers gone? When the pandemic lockdown began, taxi work all but dried up. “A lot of drivers left last year because there was no work and they have other

18

jobs and are not coming back,” said Wharmby.

Grant said C Cabs had lost drivers to delivery firms. “While there was still work for the day drivers, the night drivers have moved on to jobs with Amazon, Tesco and the like,” she said.

Home deliveries were one of the prime beneficiaries of the pandemic, with a massive rise in demand. For many drivers, trading a car for a van was a no-brainer. There was plenty of work, and no need for expensive licensing. And deliveries are likely to remain a major part of the “new normal”, so where is the incentive to go back to work as a cab driver?

Well, the money is good, says Wharmby.

“The drivers we have are working non-stop, so you can make some good money from it,” he said.

But the cost of getting back in – or becoming a new driver – is high. In Blackpool, it costs up to £800 to get a badge, which many cannot afford or justify when no such barriers exist in order to get a job as an Amazon driver.

Operators are having to offer incentives to recruit drivers. Grant said C Cabs was offering a £300 bonus to new drivers who join the company just to drive in the evenings. But operators feel it should be down to the councils to help out.

Blackpool’s operators are calling on Blackpool Council to relax the rules for applying for a taxi licence so they can attract new drivers more easily. John Cutler, managing director of Premier Cabs, said: “We need

more consultation from the council with the trade on this. Recruitment is difficult at the moment, but it’s something affecting a lot of sectors including the hotels and clubs.”

The council has now agreed new drivers can apply for a one-year licence at a cost of £90, instead of needing a three-year £250 licence. It is also reviewing training requirements for new drivers which can cost up to £380.

The situation is repeated across the country. In Liverpool, major operators such as Alpha Cars, are experiencing a similar driver dearth. Director James Bradley said: “Unfortunately, many drivers have been driven out of the sector over the last 18 months due to health difficulties of their own or for family members. However, replacing those who have left has proven difficult and time-consuming.”

He added: “We believe we’ll need roughly 500 more drivers to match current demand.” Bradley said local authorities have not been able to process applications because Covid prevented them from processing enough new badge applications or conducting enough knowledge tests.

“Unfortunately, for substantial sections

AUGUST 2021

news analysis

JOHN CUTLER: “Recruitment is difficult at the moment, but it’s something affecting a lot of sectors including the hotels and clubs.”

of the prior 18 months, the new badge candidate process was practically closed,” he said.

So even though Alpha is carrying out initiatives such as working with local Job Centres to help people find driving jobs, the process fails when drivers have to wait weeks for their license applications to be processed.

The National Private Hire and Taxi Association said the huge drop in the number of licensed vehicles across England – a national fall of 16% from 289,000 to 251,000 in England, according to Department for Transport figures - was because of the “sheer absence” of any financial support from Government for the industry.

David Lawrie, director of the NPHTA, added: “Due to the sheer absence of any financial support for the taxi and private hire industry, many have had to go on to benefits, many have had to find alternative work in order to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. They have felt abandoned, unappreciated, unsupported, kicked into the long grass, and forgotten about completely.”

He called on the Government to offer more targeted financial support. But the Government response was typically weak. A Govern-

AUGUST 2021

ment spokeswoman said: “The Government has announced several measures to support UK businesses through the pandemic, including the taxi and private hire sector. The majority of taxi drivers are self-employed and can apply to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and operating companies are eligible for local council grants.”

As documented in previous issues of Professional Driver, many “self-employed” drivers found themselves slipping through the SEISS net. Many found that by applying for SEISS grants, they lost their eligibility for Universal Credit.

And another Government-inflicted decision is compounding the driver shortage issue: Brexit. The taxi sector employed large numbers of Eastern European drivers. When Covid hit, many of them went home because they wanted to be with their loved ones – but

because of Brexit, they now cannot simply return and resume their old jobs.

Since January 1, EU citizens planning to work in Britain need visas which are typically only available for higher-paid jobs than those in the taxi sector. But the UK government has rejected calls to temporarily ease post-Brexit immigration rules to address employment shortages in lower-paid jobs such as driving, hospitality and farm work.

With Brexit causing even deeper shortages in the heavy truck sector, people looking for a well-paid job as a professional driver are likely to look toward the distribution sector rather than the taxi trade. According to trade group Logistics UK, there are a staggering 90,000 vacancies for truck drivers in the UK, and this is causing shortages of food deliveries to supermarkets and takeaway chains.

19

car of the year: judging day 2021

It’s great to be back!

Our Car of the Year judging days returned with an electric atmosphere Mark Bursa

G

reat cars, great weather and a

great turnout marked the return of the Professional Driver Car of the Year judging event this week.

The much-loved event couldn’t happen last year, so we were delighted to be able to invite our friends in the industry to the first post-Covid social event of 2021. One thing had changed – we moved from our traditional home of Sandown Park to another Surrey racecourse, Epsom, as Sandown has been pressed into vital service as a Coronavirus vaccination centre.

Our new location was well received, and we’d

20

like to thank the Epsom staff for being so welcoming. And, of course, we’d like to thank everyone who turned up to judge, especially those who travelled long distances, from as far as the West Country, South Wales and Lancashire.

We had a terrific selection of cars, including many of the latest plug-in hybrid and electric models, giving judges a chance to sample the cars that will form the future fleets for the private hire trade.

This year we have seven categories: Chauffeur Car, Executive Car, Luxury SUV, MPV, Estate Car, Private Hire Vehicle and Zero-Emissions Car. Now we’ve got the task of sorting through the scoresheets and working out

which cars you’ve chosen as our cars of the year.

As always, we’ll announce the winners – and our overall Car of the Year – at the Professional Driver QSi Awards dinner on November 25, at the Celtic Manor resort in South Wales.

The QSi Awards are the only awards designed specifically for you, the chauffeur, private hire and taxi operator. We look forward to seeing you there. Entries are open until the end of September, so make sure you’re in with a chance of winning.

To enter, or to book a ticket, please go to www. prodrivermags.com/qsi-home We hope to see you at the QSi Awards, and meanwhile, here’s a gallery of images from the judging days.

AUGUST 2021

car of the year: judging day 2021

“The QSi Awards are the only awards designed specifically for you, the chauffeur, private hire and taxi operator. We look forward to seeing you there.

Entries are open until the end of September...”

AUGUST 2021

21

car of the year: judging day 2021

“We had a terrific selection of cars, including many of the latest plug-in hybrid and electric models, giving judges a chance to sample the cars that will form the future fleets for the PHV trade...”

22

AUGUST 2021

first look

Renault Mobilize Limo

Renault’s ride-hailing play gathers pace

Mark Bursa

R

enault is not the first brand that comes to mind as a taxi

provider – it’s been some years since it last offered cars such as the Espace MPV and Laguna saloon that did a job for the private hire sector.

But the company has for a long time been interested in the mobility sector, having invested in technology products such as Dublin-based dispatch systems provider iCabbi, and rescuing ride-hailing platform Karhoo after its initial failure. It also struck a deal with Uber for the supply of electric cars at discounted prices.

While it has so far done little to interfere with these businesses, or seek ways to integrate their offerings in any way, Renault chose the recent Munich Motor Show to reveal another, more traditional product aimed at the taxi market.

It’s called the Mobilize Limo, and it is a new car designed especially for mobility companies, such as ride-hailing and taxi services. The new, all-electric saloon has been developed by

24

Mobilize, Renault’s car-sharing sub-brand.

And you won’t be able to buy a Mobilize Limo -it will only be available through a subscription service. It also appears that the cars, which will be built in China, will not come in right-hand drive – so this particular car won’t come to the UK. But given the size and importance of the private hire and ride-hailing sector in the UK, it is likely that Mobilize-branded vehicles – possibly MPV-shaped – will be targeted at these shores.

A joint Renault-Mercedes platform will replace current Renault Kangoo and Mercedes-Benz Citan vans, and will result in a new electric MPV range for Renault as well as the new MercedesBenz EQT model, expected in 2022.

The Mobilize Limo is powered by a 60kWh

lithium ion battery pack, giving it a claimed range of 279 miles per charge on the WLTP cycle. The sedan has a 150hp (110Kw) single electric motor that offers 220Nm of torque and gives a 0-62mph time of 9.6 seconds, though as the car is aimed at urban use, top speed is limited to 87mph.

It is capable of charging on both AC and DC systems, and fast charging can add 155 miles of range in around 40 minutes. Tech features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, lane change assist, pedestrian collision warning and rear cross traffic alert.

Inside, the dashboard is all digital, with a 10.25in instrument panel and a 12.3in infotainment screen. The Munich show car had a couple of luxury touches, including a refrigerator between the two front seats.

Mobilize Limo is 4.67m long, 1.83m wide, and 1.47m tall, with a 2.75m wheelbase, making it close in size to traditional D-segment vehicles.

AUGUST 2021

first look

Renault Mobilize Limo

It only comes in three colours: metallic black, metallic grey and white. Features, include flush door handles that pop out when the vehicle unlocks, LED headlamps, scrolling indicators and 17in smoke-finish alloy wheels.

Mobilize says the Limo can comfortably fit three adults on its rear bench seat, with 288mm of knee-room. There are two USB ports in the rear of the vehicle, as well as a removable middle arm rest that includes two cup holders. Mobilize Limo has a large boot with a 411 litres of loading capacity.

Seats are upholstered with a soft-touch satinfinish TEP leather effect material that’s also easy to clean. The door panels feature a light strip with faux-metal inserts, with seven ambient lighting options.

Launch will be in the second half of 2022, but before then, a fleet of 40 cars will begin testing on the streets of a number of European cities.

AUGUST 2021

Renault sees the European ride-hailing market as a growth opportunity, with a value of €€28 billion today, which is likely to almost double to €50bn by 2030. And electric models are becoming essential for those wishing to access city centres facing traffic restrictions such as the low emissions zones (LEZ) that are being introduced across the continent.

The subscription service will be managed

by RCI Bank and Services. Mobilize rental agreements will include flexible mileage and contract durations.

For fleet operators running taxi or PHV services, Mobilize will leverage its network of start-up partner companies

to offer a complete solution for their activity (fleet dispatching, payment, vehicle charging, connectivity).

Casual drivers will have access to a pay-asyou-drive solution, while Mobilize packages will also include services such as manufacturerbacked warrantees, maintenance, insurance, and access to charging networks.

25

profile: Wheely

OLIVER JONES: “From a customer point of view, you download the app and can either pre-book or order on demand a business class, first class or XL car in central and greater London”

Luxury on demand Can a chauffeur service work like a ride-hailing minicab? Yes it can, believes ambitious Wheely

Mark Bursa

R

ide-hailing may have revolutionised the minicab

market thanks to the efforts of Uber, Bolt and others.

But high-end chauffeuring has remained largely out of bounds to the world of click-and-hail systems.

Wheely is here to change that – and it’s not planning to hang around, says UK head of operations Oliver Jones.

Wheely was born four years ago in Russia. It was the brainchild of Anton Chirkunov, a Swiss-educated Russian entrepreneur. Initially, it was positioned as “a Booking.com for ride-hailing”, says Jones. But over time, the concept changed and an opening in the market was identified: chauffeuring on demand.

“Nobody else has been able to do what we do,” says Jones. Even Blacklane, the closest competitor, is not an on-demand service.

Blacklane cars have to be pre-booked; Wheely “rides” can be hailed direct from an app, just like Uber.

26

“From a customer point of view, you download the app and can either pre-book or order on demand a business class, first class or XL car in central and greater London,” Jones says. In simple terms, business class means a Mercedes E-Class; First is an S-Class and XL is a V-Class.

In central London, the car should be with you in less than five minutes, and the benchmark in the greater area is 10 minutes – impressive for a premium service. “It’s better than Uber,” Jones says, gleefully. Fares to airports are fixed too, to make the system simple to understand.

At present, Wheely is still quite Russia-centred, with operations in eight cities. “We are in London and Paris, and we’re launching in Dubai this month,” says Jones. The worldwide fleet – mainly owner-drivers – is more than 6,000 cars.

In London, Wheely had quietly developed a book of 1,200 cars pre-Covid, though this has fallen to 600 now. Extending the age of admissible cars by 12 months has brought more drivers back into the fold, providing they upgrade in due course.

AUGUST 2021

profile: Wheely “We are exclusively self-employed, and if we have the odd partner on there we contract directly with the chauffeur. But we’re looking at the area for the future, to make it easier for us to scale up.”

The ambition is to get back to the 2019 position as quickly as possible. “We’re looking to double our chauffeurs in the next six months,” Jones says.

One way of doing that is to build infrastructure to allow new chauffeurs to get up and running – helping them find finance, or suitable cars. Jones calls this “The Wheely Pathway” and it’s seen as a way of speeding up the post-Covid rebuilding process.

With business travel on its knees, Wheely has focused on a private customer base of high net worth individuals and big corporates, such as private equity and venture capital firms.

Travel patterns are changing in the postpandemic world. “We’ve seen a trend toward executives moving out to the home counties but wanting to commute in to the City one or two days a week – and it’s an area we’re looking to develop.

Why not spend a similar amount as a daily rail commute but travel in luxury?”

It’s a big opportunity, and Wheely is looking at the best way to serve it, which could involve some form of loyalty scheme, fixed pricing or a subscription model. “Why don’t we make it easy for people who book with us, for example automated repeatable bookings, if someone does the same journey every day.”

Wheely also holds monthly chauffeur engagement sessions where chauffeurs can discuss issues and problems with the company.

And a quality assurance team tries to check in with all chauffeurs at least once a quarter.

“Coaching and feedback helps us to maintain our standards.”

Jones says the main competitors for Wheely’s services are “private chauffeurs and private cars”.

The idea is to provide more flexibility that a single, employed chauffeur could offer.

Training plays a big role. “If you’re dealing with five-star hotels, you have to hit the highest standard every time.” Wheely has opened a training academy at Syon Park in West London, where new recruits are given intensive training under the steely glare of lead trainer Peter Curley – an experienced trainer with a Royal Marines background. A number of Wheely’s staff – including Jomes himself – have a military background.

When we visited, Curley was in full flow, training new recruits in Covid protocols – how to handle awkward customers who refuse to wear masks, for example. It’s thorough and highly professional.

“I’m also a trained cab driver who’s done the knowledge,” Curley says. And the role at Wheely combines his training skills with his driving experience. “I can relate to everyone –

AUGUST 2021

PETER CURLEY: “I’ve got a good success rate with people who’ve come to us [for training] – failed the first time, gone away and passed the second time. Most of them pass.”

I understand their problems.”

With so many new-to-chauffeuring recruits – Wheely is adding 15-20 people a week – Curley’s job is often a case of “back to basics”. Sometimes the culture shock is too great at first. But if you don’t succeed… Curley says: “Seventy percent pass first time, but I’ve got a good success rate with people who’ve come to us, failed the first time, gone away and passed the second time. Most of them pass.”

What are the most important issues? First impressions are vital, then understanding the customer. Driving is not being evaluated at present, but it’s in the plan.

The rewards of completing the courses are good.

“The accredited training gives them a trade,” says Jones. “Top-end chauffeurs can earn £1,800 a week by putting in 50-60 journeys a week. But I’d like to be able to say ‘work less and earn more’, as we are more expensive and we do have higher quality standards. But the earning potential is 100% there. The algorithm automatically allocates the job based on distance to the job. There’s no controller, so it’s a much fairer system.”

There’s also a loyalty incentive programme called the Diamond Programme, where chauffeurs can earn “diamonds” for doing jobs and use the earned “currency” to bid for other jobs. And before the end of the year, a tier-based loyalty structure will be put in place, including discounts for essentials such as tyres, car washes and the cars themselves.

At the moment, Wheely specifies Mercedesonly. But the lack of a plug-in S-Class at present means Wheely is looking to cast the net further.

As the company is in a “scaling-up phase” it may not be possible to achieve the goals with a single brand, especially with the need to move to electric

vehicles. And the current global shortage of microchips is compounding the issue. Jones would like to add BMW and Audi to the approved list.

Moving into 2022, innovation is key to growth, and to managing the growing numbers of chauffeurs on the platform, says Jones. One idea is a fairer way of allocating jobs at “honeypot” destinations such as Heathrow Airport. “We’ll have virtual queues at airports so it’s not a case of the nearest chauffeur wins the job. Chauffeurs in the area are held in a queue and allocated jobs as customers request them – allowing them to wait in the dedicated AVA carpark at Heathrow until the job is booked.

And long-distance journeys will also be marketed to customers later in the year. “We’ve built the systems to support this, and we just have to develop the pricing and marketing,” Jones says.

It will be launched alongside a “chauffeurfor-the-day” service, allowing customers to book a driver for a set time period rather than an individual journey. “It’s something our corporate clients have been screaming for,” he says. “We want to cover every base, and keep it supersimple,” he says.

And next year Wheely will be pushing to become the go-to company to run events during “the season” in London. The trick is to be able to support the events on top of the regular work, so there is no drop-off in the standard service.

“So if we put 50 chauffeurs on to an event, we still have ongoing availability for our existing customers. At that point, it may be necessary to have fleet partners to help support the event to work with us and support the event under one banner. We want to differentiate ourselves from being a ride-hail to being a chauffeur on demand service,” Jones says.

27

Have you signed up to the Safe Taxi & Private Hire Charter?

Option to pay by card through the app, to avoid drivers and passengers using cash.

Hand sanitisers will be provided to all drivers and customers.

Drivers will sanitise their hands regularly.

No physical contact with the passenger unless in an emergency situation or if a passenger requests assistance.

Drivers will wear clean clothes each day, be well-presented and maintain impeccable personal hygiene.

Vehicles which have a shield installed will be regularly cleaned and sanitised.

The passenger area of the vehicle will be wiped down and cleaned with sanitiser regularly.

The driver will conduct a weekly inspection and deep clean of their vehicle.

Signage to be displayed, (where available and where licensing permits) to convey safety and sanitation messages in and out of vehicle.

Social distancing guidelines will be followed by the driver.

Drivers will wear PPE in line with the latest government guidelines.

Sign up to get your pack, adopt the guidelines and promote one message

to get the UK moving again

#GoSafeGoTaxi

200+ signatories and counting

200 sign-ups in 2 weeks! Huge thanks to all the operators nationwide for taking the time to sign up and support the #GoSafeGoTaxi campaign and the launch of the Safe Taxi & Private Hire Charter. It’s wonderful to see the industry working together. Join the movement - Sign up, share and get involved at: https://gosafegotaxi.com/

running report

BMW 745Le xDrive MSport

Plugging back in to the real world Mark Bursa

I

f you attended our Professional Driver Car

if the Year judging event at Epsom Racecourse, you’d have spotted these two elegant machines outside the main entrance to the event hall.

We’ll be putting this pair of BMW 745Le saloons through their paces over the next six months – with lockdown over, my co-director Paul Webb and I can get back to doing our business the way we like it – face to face, not via Zoom on a overworked PC and a shonky broadband line.

So expect some motorway miles to be covered. And we’ll bring you regular reports of what it’s like living with a petrol-electric hybrid luxury saloon rather than a diesel. Because there are issues that we all need to get to grips with as we transition from a fossil fuel environment to an electric one.

For the time being, it’s not possible to buy a fullelectric chauffeur car of this standard. And with Mercedes-Benz only just announcing a new S-Class PHEV for delivery early in the new year, right now the BMW 745Le is a car you can buy and licence in London – since last year, it’s not been possible to register a pure diesel or petrol car of any type for private hire

30

(except for some wheelchair-accessible vehicles).

There are compromises that we have to live with.

A diesel 7-Series had sufficient fuel tankage to get you from London to Glasgow without a pit stop. But the PHEV has to trade some fuel tank space (and a little of its boot capacity) to make room for the battery pack.

So longer-distance travel involves more stops to refuel, though this can be minimised through the act of plugging in the battery and taking advantage of the allelectric range. With careful driving and judicious use of regenerative braking, we suspect the performance in operating terms will be at the very least comparable to diesel.

That’s one of the things we intend to find out. And it will give us further opportunities to test out the electric recharging infrastructure – a cause for concern at the moment, but in the process of some major upgrades. Our previous experiences have been a mixed bag, so we’ll be reporting on how the networks are improving too. So far the cars haven’t done much work – though they have proved to be efficient workhorses transporting some of our equipment away from Epsom at the end of our event. Who says you can’t use a chauffeur car for goods deliveries?

BMW 745Le xDrive MSport £90,465

price

C

ved band

36 months /

warranty

unlimited mileage

performance 3.0l inline, 6-cyl, petrol

engine

transmission

w/electric motor 8-speed steptronic, AWD

power

394hp

torque

600Nm

combined fuel economy

134.5mpg 52g/km

co2 emissions zero emissions range

32-34 miles

dimensions length

5,260mm

width

1,902mm

height

1,479mm

wheelbase

3,210mm

loadspace

420 litres

AUGUST 2021

Chabé add 27-07-2021.pdf 1 27/07/2021 17:42:31

C

M

READY TO JOIN A PARISIAN LUXURY BRAND NOW OPERATING IN LONDON ?

J

CM

MJ

CJ

CMJ

N

by airlabs “Here at EA Chauffeurs we felt that the Airbubbl from Airlabs was the only item on the market at the moment - combined with our existing sanitizing measures that would instil complete confidence in our customers that we were doing everything possible to protect their health during this unprecedented period.”

Ed Halil, Managing Director EA Chauffeurs

For more information contact: info@airlabs.com or call on +44 020 3947 8194 www.airlabs.com

Protect against airborne coronavirus with the powerful AirBubbl in-vehicle air cleaner More than just a filter …

The AirBubble removes more than 95% of airborne viruses.

+

Floods your vehicle with over 30,000 litres of clean air every hour.

Protect your drivers, give your passengers confidence and Get Back to Business Safely.

the knowledge

Driver shortage or pay shortage?

M

uch indignant, hot air is

money. Yes, the very people who not so long being directed at TfL and other ago would have considered becoming PH regulators concerning the current drivers. ‘driver shortage’. But the facts (an What happens if people e-shop, e-eat, often-neglected concept in this industry) do not e-work and e-live? They use fewer cabs. in my view apportion any blame on regulators Therefore, demand is not going to move back for this particular predicament. to normal levels any time soon. I know we I would go so far as to point out that in most all like to think we have been clever, but we areas of the UK, licensed PH driver numbers are have in this industry enjoyed the luxury of Dr Michael Galvin being able to quickly access a pool of people at historically high levels. We have seen over the past five years or so licensed drivers increase by who needed or wanted to earn some extra https://mobility a quarter and in some areas by more. Whatever money quickly when demand flexed up. We serviceslimited is causing driver availability to appear elusive have been able to see supply return to normal .com it is not the number of licences that is the levels when demand diminished, either problem. So, let’s agree there are a deeper issues at play seasonally or cyclically. here.

Well, that ship has sailed and we are now facing a world of fighting for flexible resources along with freight SO, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? companies, goods delivery companies, grocery stores and Before we talk about ‘the problem’ let us consider the food delivery. And this is not going to change any time soon. operating environment. Fares are at levels not seen in this The wiser operators have always recognised that finding industry for probably 40 years. At the same time, the surfeit and then holding on to good drivers was the key to their of cheap labour and labour with relatively low earning business growing sustainably. Well, nothing has changed expectations is waning fast, mainly due to Brexit. except that some previously wise operators have allowed That pool of labour, which was the source of many PH themselves to get sucked into reducing rates paid to drivers, is in more demand than has been the case for drivers. many a decade thanks to the way we now live, work, shop The outcomes are clear. We are in an inflationary cycle. and eat. Our industry has been disrupted in recent years.

It might not be the 26% inflation of yesteryear, but it is Not, as many, frankly ill-informed pundits may claim there and it is clear every time you fill up. The inflationary through disruptive technology, but through disruptive cycle on pay is moving up significantly, albeit distorted by money. And it is now being impacted by the EU referendum, furlough, additional universal credit payments and so on. demographics, and behavioural and lifestyle changes.

But as labour shortages begin to bite, inflation will bite Before the pandemic, we had previously respected further. consultancies, who should know a great deal better, An industry with mileage rates at 40-year lows in a standing up at transport conferences and presenting what market where the very resources they need are in high they describe excitedly as “awesome disruptive business demand and where demand is pedestrian has a systemic, models”. In reality these were “profit prevention schemes”. maybe even an existential, problem.

We had car makers buying anything that had a hue of Mileage rates are going to have to go up and go up ‘mobility’ about it for vast sums. And we had venture significantly if you are to retain your drivers. Will customers capital companies that are happy like it? Probably not, but in the to subsidise private hire journeys words of John Griffin, a man by up to 60%. who knows a thing or two about There was a clear bandthis industry: “Good service is wagon rolling – but that was remembered long after price is only ever going to end in tears. forgotten.”

It’s interesting to note that If people want service, they the same accolades quickly are going to have to pay for it. As moved to food deliveries and are operators, your service will need now “transforming” to be sufficiently good for them grocery deliveries. to feel comfortable doing so.

So, what do these forays by The alternative is bookings but VC companies, clapped and no drivers and another heated applauded by consultancies and meeting with the regulator who financial page scribblers, have in has no mandate to run your common? They all dip into the pool business for you! n www.mobilityservices of people who are looking at lowlimited.com entry, flexible opportunities to earn

“So, what do these forays by VC companies, clapped and applauded by consultancies and financial page scribblers, have in common? They all dip into the pool of people who are looking at low-entry, flexible opportunities to earn money....”

32

AUGUST 2021

the advisor

Taxing times in the post-pandemic world

W

e have been talking about

Act 1998 first came into force, and driver details were harvested by HMRC. Even then the sense of fear and confusion was palpable, but at that time we were predominantly a ‘cash’ business, and drivers were a-plenty.

Nowadays, the industry is populated by savvy operators unafraid of tech and plenty of savvy drivers that are more interested in how to reduce their tax liability in smart ways than whether to avoid doing a tax return. However, post-pandemic the timing could not have been worse, with many drivers on the missing list or delivering anything but passengers. The loss of even 20% of untaxed drivers would be felt more acutely.

the implementation of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital since 2017, but post-pandemic finally we have a date of 2023 for its implementation.

Tax returns are mainly filed online anyway, but with the onset of the need for digital bookkeeping, which will be needed for the change from once-a-year to quarterly tax returns, many Gary Jacobs accountants feel that they will no longer be able to service their clients. That’s you, folks.

Gary Jacobs Some believe that MTD is really about the runs Eaziserv, an hidden economy. Everyone already has a accountancy firm personal tax account (PTA) with HMRC that lists specialising in everything that is known about them. If you want the taxi and private to see yours, your accountant can show you how MORE SEISS PROBLEMS hire business to access it. All of our clients are ‘encouraged’ I have mentioned many times before that much to get it as soon as they join us, as the more eaziserv.co.uk of the Covid regulation was of course enacted you know the better we work. Once the books as an emergency and so we should be gentle and records are harvested monthly and shown with Whitehall. However, the list of problems and quarterly, there will be chance no of ‘manipulating’ the figures. issues continues to grow and many people including myself are There are some positive aspects to this. The good thing for starting to lose our patience. us number-crunchers is that it will weed out accountants with Inflated figures have been received on tax returns by those poor systems that don’t service the client. We will have the who have received self-employed income support grants. It chance to collaborate more with our clients and make better seems the gremlins are back in the system. decisions with you and for you.

There is a bug in HMRC’s self-assessment application However, there is a quiet revolution happening among programming interface (API) that is corrupting figures entered accountants who feel that you guys won’t be able to cope on 2020-21 returns for SEISS grants. There have been reports with feeding us accountants your information within this in the accountants’ media platform Accountingweb of: new timeframe. Many also believe there may well be a mass u Million-pound SEISS claims appearing in tax returns, and retirement of traditional accountants unable to keep up with reports of ‘crazy’ figures being sent to accountants by technology.

HMRC. There are a lot of new online apps that are offering easy u Grants being deducted or added because the system ways to do your tax return, but my experience is that people showed them as not paid or overpaid. can be trained to adopt new ways of working like ‘data capture’ An HMRC spokesperson confirmed: “We are aware of a (a posh way of saying photograph your invoices and store problem with the way that SEISS grants received in the 2020them), but they still need a real accountant either on the end 21 tax year are being presented on the individual income API. of a phone line, face to face, or at worst at the end of a piece of Figures are being presented in pence rather than pounds. This chat software instead of a ‘Bot’. This fine line between the old is impacting individuals who use commercial software. We and the new is what I believe will keep us hybrid accountants apologise for the inconvenience this is causing.” in the game both for MTD and the impending introduction of I believe this is the first tranche of a lot of problems Conditionality. emanating from software issues and staff shortages and CONDITIONALITY disruptions within HMRC. So beware, speak to your accountant This is the obligation of drivers to prove they are tax payers and check your returns. before receiving or renewing their license. I participated in the n Gary Jacobs is a director of Eazitax an industry consultation as far back as 2019, and knew it was on the cards, specialist accountancy service. If you have any problems but in terms of its publicity, it fell through the cracks between with the current issues discussed Gary can be contacted private hire and accountancy. at Eazitax.co.uk or via LinkedIn I actually remember when the Private Hire Vehicles (London)

AUGUST 2021

33

the negotiator

T

NR3: close, but no cigar? he launch of the national register of taxi and

Private Hire Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3) is a good start but may need tweaking.

Introduced without much fanfare, NR3 actually went live three years ago in July 2018. This August, Transport for London adopted the use of the database as part of its local authorities taxi and private hire driver licensing process. But what is NR3 and what does it do?

BACKGROUND

any subsequent licensing decisions to refuse an application or revoke a licence will be regularly added to the database.

The circumstances leading to a licence refusal or revocation is not identified on the database. In such a situation a number of licensing authorities have stated that they will, as a matter of practice, contact the relevant licensing authority to establish the basis of the refusal or revocation. The relevance of the reason for the refusal or revocation will form part of the consideration as to whether an application is granted.

Full disclosure is expected by all licence applicants, as failure to do so will be considered by the licensing authorities that the applicant is not a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence.

Licensing authorities have stated that they will notify licensees of use and interaction with the database.

In 2018 the Department for Transport’s Task and Finish Group on Dennot Nyack future taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, chaired by Professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq, published its report entitled ‘Taxi and The union view private hire vehicle Licensing: Steps towards a safer and more from our GMB robust system.’ representative The report requested, among other things, that the government DEALING WITH CONVICTIONS AND COMPLAINTS should: “Issue guidance, as a matter of urgency, that clearly TfL has, along with other authorities, stated that refusals and specifies convictions that it considers should be grounds for refusal or revocation revocations will be registered on the database. The primary reasons for refusals or of driver licences and the period for which these exclusions should apply. revocations are likely to be complaints or criminal history. These could be: Licensing authorities must align their existing policies to this ahead of inclusion u Any conviction for a major violent offence (murder, manslaughter, etc.) in national minimum standards.” u More than one conviction of any violent offence in the past 10 years Additional recommendations supported this demand. Recommendation 24 u Serving of a custodial sentence, even if the applicant has been released early called for, “as a matter of urgency”, the establishment of a mandatory national on licence or the sentence was suspended database of all licensed taxi and PHV drivers, vehicles and operators, to support u Convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for a serious sexual stronger enforcement. offence (rape, indecent assault, trafficking, possession of indecent images etc) Why was a Register needed? The need for passenger safety when using personal u Convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for more than one transport services is essential. The use of the database will further professionalise sexual offence of any type, irrespective of age the taxi and private hire industry. The adoption of the Register is an important u Listed on either the Children’s or Adults’ barred list step in overcoming the issue of individuals making applications to different u Convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for touting in the past licensing authorities following a refusal or revocation. Previously, some applicants 12 months or have more than one penalty for touting in the past five years. did not disclose a previous revocation or refusal of a licence, so there was often no TfL has stated that this list is not exhaustive and they may, on a case to case way for a licensing authority to find out this information. basis, refuse application on other grounds not listed above.

This meant that vital intelligence about an applicant’s past behaviour was CONCERNS missed and an individual might be able to get a new licence in another area, As stated above I welcome the use of the Register by licensing authorities. despite having their licence taken away elsewhere.

However, there are some concerns that arise over its use.

Last year, the DfT published statutory standards for taxi and private hire Firstly, in coming to their decision to refuse or revoke a licence some licensing, which advised authorities to use the NR3 database to strengthen their authorities use information provided by operators without questioning its licensing processes. veracity. I personally know of drivers who have had complaints made against them HOW DOES THE REGISTER WORK? which were never properly investigated by the operator but placed on their file; Commissioned by the Local Government Association the National Anti-Fraud complaints which were stale; and complaints that were, if so serious as to merit Network (NAFN), a shared service hosted by Tameside council, developed the the drivers licence being revoked or refused, did not lead to them being suspended Register, which supports public authorities to tackle fraud and share intelligence. by the operator at the time.

To access the Register, authorities are required to be members of NAFN and For the Register to be fair and to be seen to be fair the “upstream process” of around 90% of local authorities have already joined. Licensing authorities will be complaints has to be strengthened before its reliance by authorities. responsible for adding basic details of drivers who have had applications for a Secondly, while there is an appeal process against the refusal or revocation of a licence either refused, revoked or suspended. licence, based on information obtained via the Register, such an appeal is by way When a licensing authority receives an application for a licence, the applicant’s of an application to a magistrates court with a further appeal to a Crown Court. details will be checked on the Register to confirm that there is no record of them This is an expensive process that can place applicants, particularly private hire having being revoked or refused elsewhere. Details contained on the Register will drivers who are often financially challenged, at a disadvantage. be limited to information that will help to identify an individual to a certain degree This is not to take away from the benefit of NR3 but rather to strengthen it. So, of accuracy, but will not give a reason why actions were taken.

I presume that the policy and the database will be subject to review from time to The Register went live in July 2018, and guidance has been developed that time.

—Dennot Nyack sets out the steps authorities will need to take to use the Register in a way that complies with the data protection requirements, as well as with human rights law. n Dennot is a AGM trade union member and was a former representative of The database will allow licensing bodies record details of when a taxi or the GMB’s professional drivers. He is also an author and broadcaster with a private driver application has been refused or a licence revoked, wherever that strong knowledge of the private hire industry and an equality and diversity has occurred. NR3 will provide details of all taxi and private hire driver licence specialist. revocation and refusal decisions, effective from January 2018. As a consequence, email: dennotnyack@yahoo.com — mobile: +44 0740 625 276

34

AUGUST 2021

the insider

The rover’s return – but with limited opening hours

O

f the many great things I will take from my three-

harder than “sixteen hours a week, closed on Wednesdays and month sabbatical, alongside stellar ideas like ‘teat out Sundays!” to help out’ (special thanks to those who got in touch We, Nicola and I, have had to cut short our travels by a couple to offer seed funding), is the undeniable fact that all we of weeks and part of the reasoning for heading back to the land of SMEs, trading as Limited companies, were not merely ignored by reliable Wi-Fi and mobile signal early (it might sound a romantic this government throughout the pandemic. Rather, we were royally notion to live in an unconnected world but it gets very annoying, shat on from a great height from the lofty towers of parliament. very quickly) is because business is slowly returning and we might And before all those self-employed eyebrows are raised in my actually be seeing the green shoots of recovery. direction as you look to twitter on about how “we” pay minimal tax Fingers crossed, insh’allah. So, in preparation, we order a brand so only have ourselves to blame, (while you look out on the financenew Mercedes V-Class to keep up with the competition and, if I am Kevin Willis free vehicle you purchased with the grants that kept coming), honest, because I cannot shift the distinctive smell of camping from please remember that for the most part, it was businesses like these my current van despite now owning shares in Febreze. Foolishly I that you relied on to provide you with work, pre-Covid.

Everyday problems had assumed delivery would be in or around September 1, for the Travelling through the school holiday month of August was hell. from the operator’s new plate launch, so was knocked off my seat when told “sometime Literally every pub, hotel, B&B, restaurant and even campsite pitch next year”. Apparently, I missed the news that the world had point of view... was booked solid, some through until Christmas! Initially I enjoyed stopped turning because of the poor Wi-fi connection in North West seeing ‘SORRY FULL’ and ‘NO VACANCY’ signs posted along the Wales. quaint High Streets I strolled along, as it signified an end to the depressive lockdowns And this is my point, during any travels we have attempted in previous years over as people looked to travel and give businesses the opportunity to earn money. the duration of our business, our SME, we were always interrupted by customers’ However, it soon became apparent that a lot of places were only full because enquiries, drivers’ problems or drunk Russians asking me to put in a call and get them they couldn’t be bothered to open six days a week. One pub I walked into couldn’t into Ministry of Sound at 2am. We field constant emails that “need an answer ASAP” accommodate me because they only catered four nights a week, in August! So what only for that person to then go missing for three days when we need a response from happens in November? So help me God, I will explode if I hear one more excuse of “a them. And now the knows-no-boundaries WhatsApp messages sound with impunity. lot of our staff have been pinged” and/or “due to a lack of staff” as being the reason So yes, I employ an accountant to mitigate my tax returns and I do take advantage for them limiting numbers and running a reduced menu. of lesser-rate dividend payments. But I do so within the law and transparent scrutiny Turn off the bloody app, as like most things this government has done during of our tax officials. So I get very frustrated when around 3 million of us have had to the pandemic, it is not fit for purpose. Oh, here’s another great idea I won’t need personally finance a Bounce-Back loan to survive, not to stay in business mind you, investment for, how about you appreciate your staff by paying them more than but survive, survive to pay mortgages, car payments and the like. minimum wage over a zero-hours contract, you greedy leeches?

Why? Well I believe it is because we come under the all-encompassing banner of Hotel and bar owners get more TV airtime than those “comedians in a camper van” “entrepreneur” so will surely have the wherewithal to work it out somehow? I feel programmes, and are frequently popping up on low-news days crying on about how confident enough to speak for all those companies, just like ours, when saying we they had to ‘let go’ their workers, leaving the owners to bravely struggle through on definitely wouldn’t be closing early or taking days off at the height of the busy season furlough pay and quarterly handouts. and would never contemplate turning customers away with a ‘SORRY FULL’ notice.

Yet they still do not comprehend why those same workers haven’t come crawling Pubs, I am reliably informed, laid off staff, took furlough wages and then grants of back begging for their anti-social hours job back. They have been closed for 18 months up to £55.000 during lockdowns, tax-free and not repayable. That is all we ask! and now want to work only part time? Can you imagine any chauffeur company not The car hire company LCH, known to many of you, has recently coupled up with grabbing every single booking available to them in an effort to right the sinking ship as that other well-known industry face Ethos Finance to launch a scheme that rents quickly as possible? Utter madness! vehicles to chauffeurs as a way for them to build back up enough of a credit score in Even those great cuckoos over at National Trust and English Heritage are guilty order for Ethos to get drivers back into vehicles they might have lost or surrendered of limiting their properties. Open at 10am (Garden only, Castle opens at 11am) then due to Covid. Brilliant guys, I love it. as soon as I’ve consumed a scone costing four quid they deploy an aged volunteer to Sam McCarthy at Tasker insurance who answered my call on a Bank Holiday follow me around reminding me that Lord and Lady InBred would like me to piss off in Monday waving away my apology with a “that’s what I am here for” attitude, thank half an hour for early closing as per their tenancy agreement. you. I must also applaud the ingenuity of Castle Point Council, Essex who have taken If any of us at SME Ltd owned a castle we wouldn’t let those eager punters leave! more business (in the way of registered drivers) from the blood sucking, incompetent Breakfast served from 7am, then archery, scones, cup of tea, dog kennels while TfL, who sit in their ivory tower congratulating each other for ‘clearing’ the polluted looking round the castle (another business idea of mine), creche, pub, camping in the streets of London of professional drivers, totally unaware that the same amount of grounds, cup of tea, half marathon in the grounds, jousting, cup of tea and a game of cars are coming into town but no longer funding the coffers of Mayor Khan. ‘groom the stool’ for the kids while dad gets the chance to grope a lowly maid in the These concerns are the perfect examples of the kind of attitude and forward scullery. Who says history can’t be fun? Lord and Lady Incestuous wouldn’t get back thinking needed to make a business successful. I am inspired and rejuvenated and, into their East wing apartment until late November.

NO, I might not be able to get you or your clients into Ministry of Sound any more. But The British went from a nation of shopkeepers to rule over an Empire the sun I can however get you a table for lunch at a pub I know as long as it is Wednesday to refused to set upon. Despite the rumours, I wasn’t actually around then but I’m pretty Saturday, 1 to 3pm (last food orders 2.30) anytime in November. Now to discover how confident that we didn’t achieve any of this by working part time and shutting early tight the suit is on me… n Kevin Willis runs Chirton Grange, (though some of our methods were, at best, questionable). The Industrial Revolution contact@chirtongrange.co.uk was instigated from these small islands and the working week was a damn sight

AUGUST 2021

35

Eb

Google maps integration