Future taxi drivers to take English test

All aspiring taxi drivers in Bath and North East Somerset could soon have to pass an English test in order to obtain a licence. The speaking test would be compulsory for all new applicants after a review of the council’s taxi policy. A consultation about the review started on Monday and is set to last six weeks. During a Bath and North East Somerset Council licensing committee meeting on Wednesday last week members were told the policy needed to be aligned with proposals for Bath’s Clean Air Plan - which could see a congestion-style charge introduced in the city. Members were also told that proposals to introduce an English speaking test for all taxi driver applicants were a matter of “public safety”. Cathryn Brown, environmental protection and licensing manager for the council, said: “Drivers need to be able to communicate with their passengers, especially if there is an emergency. We want to make sure our drivers have a good grasp of the English language.” She added that a number of other local authorities in the country have already introduced similar tests. The licensing committee was told the test would be part of the application process and would be conducted over the telephone by an independent assessor. “Applicants will be asked a number of questions, to which they will have to answer over the phone and they will also be asked to construct sentences,” added Ms Brown. “Each applicant will be given a score at the end and it will be either pass or fail.” Ms Brown said that as part of the review she would be meeting with the Independent Equalities Group to discuss the proposals. Following the review taxi drivers will also have to undergo specialist training so they can spot the signs if a child is being sexually exploited. Both Hackney carriage and private hire cabbies will have to complete the training on safeguarding children and child sexual exploitation (CSE). During the meeting members of the licensing committee were told the CSE training was a recommendation made by Ofsted following an inspection of services for children in need of help last year. Currently drivers on school contracts have to complete the training - but following the review this would be rolled out to all 600 drivers licenced by the authority. Ms Brown told members of the licensing committee that the training was just as much about “supporting the drivers” who are in a “position of responsibility”. She also explained the decision to make the training compulsory to all drivers was because of problems in other areas of the country where “children have been trafficked in taxis”. “We want to give them support so they know what to look out for and how to report it,” added Ms Brown. When the consultation ends on September 15 officers will prepare a report taking into account the responses and bring it to the licensing committee in October. A final decision on the review will then be made by cabinet.