Runnymede Taxi Forum Meeting October 2024: Key Updates for Taxi Drivers

The Taxi Forum, held on 30 October 2024 at the Civic Centre in Addlestone, brought together key stakeholders, including taxi drivers, a retired driver, representatives from South Western Railways (SWR), and members of the Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) Licensing Team.

This forum covered significant changes in taxi rank management, upcoming licensing fee adjustments, policy updates, enforcement actions, and other issues impacting the local taxi trade.

Railway Stations – Hackney Carriage Rank Permits

SWR representatives, Andrew Bryant (AB) and Louise Harley (LH), informed attendees that SWR would resume control of hackney carriage rank operations at railway stations within the borough, starting from 1 January 2025.

This change means that SWR will oversee the supervision, control, and contract management of taxi ranks previously managed by RBC. One of the main implications is a shift in how drivers acquire permits for station ranks and the associated fees.

Under SWR’s new permit system, RBC-licensed taxi drivers who wish to use the Egham station rank will need to obtain a permit through SWR.

A website link will be provided in early December for drivers to apply.

The annual fee for a permit at Egham station is set at £200, with an alternative quarterly payment option at £55. Notably, for the first half of 2025, permits for other station ranks, including Chertsey, will be free.

This initial grace period will end in July, and drivers will be given two months’ notice before charges apply. Additionally, SWR is considering a combined permit option for drivers operating at both Egham and Chertsey, depending on demand.

In the case of vehicle replacements, drivers will not incur extra fees if they promptly inform SWR of the change. This policy aims to prevent ticketing issues due to unregistered vehicles.

Although RBC will no longer provide Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) support for Egham Station from January, SWR noted that the fee structure is still relatively affordable compared to neighbouring boroughs with similar schemes, and fees will be reviewed annually.

Attendees raised concerns about misuse of rank spaces at Addlestone and the need for more rank spaces at Egham and Chertsey. SWR acknowledged the feedback and explained that the future of the Addlestone rank is under review.

Moreover, SWR assured that ongoing construction around Egham station will not affect the number of taxi ranks, though more disabled parking spaces will be added. SWR is also exploring ways to improve enforcement by enhancing signage and increasing targeted patrols, which currently take place weekly. Drivers were encouraged to provide photographic evidence to aid enforcement, though such photos cannot independently lead to penalties.

RBC confirmed that from the 2026/27 period, RBC vehicle licensing fees will decrease, reflecting the transition of station rank management to SWR.

Fee Adjustments for 2025-2026

The forum reviewed the annual license fee adjustments for the 2025-2026 period. These proposed increases will undergo scrutiny by the Regulatory Committee on 6 November for final approval. The fee increases aim to align with legislative requirements, allowing councils to recover the costs associated with licensing, administration, and compliance monitoring.

The new fee structure is as follows:

• Vehicles: 7-10% increase
• Drivers: 16-17% increase
• Private Hire Operators: 14-16% increase

In addition, there may be increases in fees for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, subject to Parliamentary approval in early November. The updated DBS fee structure, if approved, would include a charge of £49.50 for enhanced checks and £16.00 for the update service.

Taxi Licensing Policy Consultation

The forum emphasized the ongoing public consultation for the proposed Taxi Licensing Policy, which covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030.

This policy is subject to a five-year review and includes several updates to reflect current standards and regulatory guidance. The consultation is open until 3 December 2024, and feedback can be submitted via email to RBC.

Key proposed changes to the policy include:

• Compliance and Enforcement: A new section dedicated to compliance, aiming to improve accountability.
• Driver Licensing Requirements: Updates around work area declarations, certificates of good conduct, medical fitness standards, language proficiency, and a comprehensive assessment approach.
• Vehicle Licensing: New safety requirements for carrying children, fire extinguisher availability, and provisions for CCTV installation.
• Emission Standards: Starting 1 January 2030, only Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) meeting Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) standards will be licensed. Currently, 84% of the borough’s taxi fleet already meets these standards.
• Operator Licensing: Requirements for health and safety management, disability awareness training, and the location of operator offices.
• Convictions and Endorsements: Revised standards for addressing convictions, cautions, and endorsements, in line with national standards.

The policy also provides updates to the Knowledge Test. Strong opposition from drivers to mandatory electric vehicle requirements was noted, with drivers advocating for less restrictive measures.

Enforcement Operations

The forum highlighted recent joint enforcement operations led by the Licensing Team, Runnymede Police, and other agencies.

In October, approximately 40 vehicles, including 14 taxis, were inspected at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds. The operation checked compliance with licensing standards, fuel usage, and road safety. Among the inspected vehicles, a substantial portion of taxis had licenses from Transport for London (TfL).

Illegal “Ghost Plates”

An ongoing issue in the area is the illegal use of "stealth" or "ghost" plates, which use reflective materials to evade detection by ANPR cameras.

RBC reminded drivers of regulations mandating visible, unmodified number plates, as per the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.

Drivers caught using illegal plates may face fines up to £1,000, and such plates lead to automatic MOT test failures.

Two drivers in Runnymede have already been cited for using these plates. Drivers were advised to check their plates if they suspect any non-compliance, as unrecognizable plates often trigger ANPR camera errors.

7. Guidelines for Assistance Dogs

The forum reviewed guidelines for transporting assistance dogs, emphasizing the need to prevent distractions.

Assistance dogs are trained to sit quietly by their owner’s feet and should remain under the owner's control. Drivers should ask passengers where they would like their assistance dog positioned, either in the footwell next to them or in the back of the vehicle, depending on the vehicle’s design.

If the dog is in the front footwell, the passenger airbag should not be disengaged.

Forming a Private Hire Partnership

In additional discussions, drivers expressed interest in forming a private hire partnership to help reduce operational costs.

They also highlighted the lack of hackney carriage ranks in the borough, an issue compounded by limited jurisdiction due to county-level control over public highway ranks.

RBC confirmed that they have made several unsuccessful attempts to establish ranks at Egham and Addlestone. The lack of accessible ranks impacts drivers’ ability to earn fair wages, especially those working long hours.

Finally, the forum acknowledged the contributions of administrative staff, specifically complimenting Nicola Clarke’s support to drivers.

Next Meeting

The next Taxi Forum is scheduled for February 2025, with the specific date and location to be confirmed.

Please read taxi-forum-notes-october-2024 at council website for more details