Spring 2012 Newsletter - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

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Public awareness roadshowIn the run up to Christmas, in partnership with the Hackney CarriageFederation, the licensing team participated in a ‘Who’s Taking You Home?’public safety awareness campaign urging people to check the car they aregetting into is suitably licensed.Although we have not had reports of bogus drivers in the borough, reportsfrom London and other areas have led to the team warning residents of theneed to stay vigilant.At our roadshows in Festival Place,Basingstoke College of Technology andQueen Mary’s College, information andadvice was provided to students andmembers of the public about gettinghome safely after a night out and usinglicensed services.Who’s taking you home?A passenger’s guide to taxis and private hirevehicles in the boroughFeedback from people highlighted alack of understanding about licensedvehicles and what passengers shouldlook for before they get into a car. Mostpeople thought that both vehicle typesare simply ‘taxis’ so can be hiredimmediately by asking the driver.Travel tokens7476 Taxi leaflet.indd 1 22/11/2011 12:16:12Hampshire County Council (HCC) now process travel token claims andhave assured officers all claims are promptly processed. There may bea slight delay however if you submit a claim but still have to set up youroperator details with them which takes about a week.HCC advertise a list of operators in the Borough which accept thevouchers. Details of the participating operators in Basingstoke andDeane can be found online at: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/concessionarytravel/disabledtravel/travelvouchers/cfbasingstoke.htmHCC propose toundertake a review of the scheme shortly so please pass any feedback totheir Concessionary Team at (address to be confirmed).122 Taxi and Private Hire News
The Equality Act 2010The Equality Act 2010 bought together in one Act several pieces oflegislation concerning discrimination including the Disability DiscriminationAct (DDA) 1995. It includes many of the taxi and private hire provisionswhich were in the DDA 1995 and also some important changes.The duties on drivers relating to carrying assistance dogs with theirowners in the passenger compartments plus associated exemptionscertificates came into effect on 1 October 2010, these remain the same aspreviously under the DDA Act 1995.The Equality Act 2010 proposes to place duties upon drivers of‘designated’ wheelchair accessible licensed vehicles to provide physicalassistance to passengers in wheelchairs. At the time of writing thisnewsletter, central government are still considering a commencementstrategy for these duties. We will continue to update you when furtherannouncements are made.As a general guide wheelchairs must never face sideways and must besecured using the correct straps. Once in position, the wheelchair brakesmust be on. If it is a powered wheelchair, the power unit must be switchedoff and should never be left in freewheel mode.The Department for Transport has urged licensing authorities to maintaina list of ‘designated vehicles’ which is a list of wheelchair accessiblevehicles licensed in the area.The consequence of being on this list is that the driver must undertake theduties detailed under section 165 of the Act in relation to the carriage ofpassengers in/with wheelchairs.Hospital spacesBasingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital have recentlyaltered the provision of parking spaces they provide for licensedhackney carriage and private hire vehicles. We regret we werenot aware any amendments were being made. We hope therevised provision is working well and are happy to pass on anyfeedback you may have following these amendments.Taxi and Private Hire News 23
Page 1 and 2: Taxi and private hireSpring 2012 ne
Page 3 and 4: Licensing Committee updateThe Licen
Page 5 and 6: Reporting accidentsIn line with the
Page 7 and 8: Renewal licence applications on tim
Page 9 and 10: Insulin controlled diabetesRules re
Page 11 and 12: ApplicationPhotosThe council’s fr
Page 13 and 14: We have also had cause to suspendse
Page 15 and 16: PassengernumbersThe Licensing Commi
Page 17 and 18: Seats and upholsteryIt’s very ple
Page 19 and 20: Have your circumstanceschanged?Plea
Page 21: Southampton AirportSouthampton Airp

Spring 2012 Newsletter - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

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