How safe is your taxi? Lib Dems want stronger standards for MK passengers

The proposals aim to give passengers consistent protection and make it easier for the City Council to hold drivers regularly working in Milton Keynes to account.

Last year, Milton Keynes City Council received 89 complaints about drivers and vehicles licensed elsewhere. Officers also carried out 2,132 checks, with almost half of their enforcement time spent on vehicles licensed by other councils.

Drivers licensed in Milton Keynes must complete training covering safeguarding, equality and domestic abuse awareness, as well as White Ribbon training. Whereas requirements set by other licensing authorities can differ.

Although Milton Keynes City Council can check vehicles licensed elsewhere and prosecute certain offences, it cannot suspend or revoke a licence issued by another council. Any concerns requiring action against a licence must be referred to the local council that issued it.

A recent case at Milton Keynes Central Station highlights the problem. A private hire driver licensed by Luton Borough Council refused to provide his badge details during a routine check and drove away.

Milton Keynes City Council successfully prosecuted him for obstructing an authorised officer and he was ordered to pay £1,596. However, any decision to suspend or revoke his licence remained Luton’s responsibility.

The Liberal Democrat proposals call on the Government to:

• Give councils greater control over vehicles regularly working within their area.
• Link licences more closely to where drivers mainly work or live.
• Introduce more consistent safety standards.
• Strengthen licensing enforcement powers for councils and future strategic authorities.
• Make the authority issuing a licence responsible for enforcement costs.

Passengers would still be able to travel across council boundaries as they do now.

The proposals were put forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Crooks, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and seconded by the Leader, Councillor Jane Carr. They secured unanimous support across the Council earlier this autumn.

Councillor Sam Crooks, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:

“Whether you’re getting home after a night out or travelling to work, you should be able to trust that every driver working in Milton Keynes meets the same high safety standards.

“Our officers work hard to protect passengers, but the current system limits the action they can take against drivers licensed elsewhere.

“The case at the train station shows exactly why change is needed. We want consistent safety standards and stronger local powers so residents’ concerns can be dealt with.

“Passengers would still be able to travel across council boundaries. These changes would create a fairer system that protects passengers, supports responsible drivers and gives taxpayers better value for money.”