In article ,
JNugent wrote:
On 17/06/2014 09:06, Roland Perry wrote:

They clearly have the power to change traffic laws, and have lots of
discretion for taxi licensing (who they allow to become drivers, what
the tests are for vehicle and drivers, who they'll permit to be
"authorised" to use the rising bollards etc). This would simply be a
small change in the conditions for a City hackney licence that would say
"only hailable in the City *but also at the taxi rank at Science Park
Station*")

Refusal or revocation of a taxi-driver's or taxi-proprietor's licence on
the "fit and proper person" grounds (which must be what you mean when
you say that councils have power over "who they allow to become
drivers", etc) is appealable to the magistrates' court.

The implication is that the council must act reasonably (in the
Wednesbury sense) and must not act capriciously or in furtherance of an
unspoken agenda which disadvantages licence-holders or applicants.

Yes. And one cannot reasonably claim that Roland's proposal fails
on those grounds. I really can't see the problem, provided that it
were negotiated properly and all relevant parties were given a
chance to object. Nor can I see them doing so, as all relevant
parties (i.e. the landowner, Highways Authority and taxi drivers)
would benefit from the rule.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.