Latest news with #DarenHale
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Hull City Council calls for end to 'out-of-town' taxi licensing
Calls have been made to close a legal "loophole" that allows taxi drivers licenced in other areas to operate in City Council members have unanimously called for new government legislation to bring to an end "out-of-town" taxi licensing, which they see as a safeguarding application process for getting a private hire vehicle licence differs between councils, with the fees and the level of vehicle standards set by each Dolman, chairman of the city council's licensing committee, said the current system meant the authority was left "with a lack of control over who operates on our streets and who transports our residents". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, at this month's full council meeting Labour Group leader Daren Hale brought forward an emergency motion calling for government action to close the "loop hole", which he described as an "absolute travesty".Similar concerns have been raised in Lincolnshire recently by South Kesteven District motion in Hull follows the release of the recent Casey Review on grooming gangs, which included the tightening of taxi licensing rules as one of its hackney carriages, private hire vehicles are not confined to operating within the borders of the authority where they are licensed. Safeguarding concerns Hale's motion specifically referred to City of Wolverhampton Council, which has made headlines due to its licensed drivers popping up across the country on a seemingly disproportionate motion stated it should be a mandatory requirement for licensees to operate within the areas where their licences are who seconded Hale's motion, said: "Without a doubt the largest issue our fantastic drivers raise is that of Wolverhampton taxis and the safeguarding concerns that come with them."A spokesperson for the Wolverhampton council said safeguarding was "our number one priority in taxi licensing".It said it was the only local authority that checked the Disclosure and Barring Service database every day and it was the first authority to offer driver licence checks by smartphone, allowing passengers to verify a driver's status and identity before getting in."We welcome any measures from government to help tackle the important matter of safeguarding," the spokesperson added."We work in partnership with Hull City Council and have carried out 23 operations over the last three years, checking 206 vehicles."They added that it was illegal for the council to refuse an application for a taxi licence on the basis of where they live and for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences issued. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City council tax will rise by 4.99%
Council tax in Hull is to rise by 4.99% this year, the maximum amount without a public vote. It means owners of a Band D property in the city will be paying £1,784.42 in council tax, £84.81 more than the previous year. The increase includes 2% to pay for adult social care. Council leader Mike Ross said: "This is a budget that is designed to work for the city and that is what the voters of Hull elected us to do, and that is what we are doing with this budget." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, more than £28m has been earmarked for fixing Hull's bridges. Other capital expenditure includes £10m to Hull Maritime Museums, £2m for the Guildhall roof and £2m for the Albion Square development (£16m over next four years). The budget also sets out plans to expand a Domestic Abuse Victim Support Team. The Labour opposition group proposed amendments to the Lib Dem budget, including free parking on Sundays in December, the doubling of the funds for Warm Spaces and increased library opening times. Described by the Labour leader Daren Hale as "brilliant initiatives", the proposals were rejected in a vote. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Council tax in Hull to rise by 4.99% again Hull City Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hull council tax will rise by 4.99%
Council tax in Hull is to rise by 4.99% this year, the maximum amount without a public means owners of a Band D property in the city will be paying £1,784.42 in council tax, £84.81 more than the previous increase includes 2% to pay for adult social leader Mike Ross said: "This is a budget that is designed to work for the city and that is what the voters of Hull elected us to do, and that is what we are doing with this budget." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, more than £28m has been earmarked for fixing Hull's capital expenditure includes £10m to Hull Maritime Museums, £2m for the Guildhall roof and £2m for the Albion Square development (£16m over next four years).The budget also sets out plans to expand a Domestic Abuse Victim Support Labour opposition group proposed amendments to the Lib Dem budget, including free parking on Sundays in December, the doubling of the funds for Warm Spaces and increased library opening by the Labour leader Daren Hale as "brilliant initiatives", the proposals were rejected in a to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pier work delays 'cultural vandalism'
An opposition councillor has criticised Hull City Council for not carrying out repairs to a 200-year-old pier. The Liberal Democrats-led authority said it was exploring options for the future of Victoria Pier, which was closed to the public about five years ago for safety reasons. Labour's Daren Hale, who previously led the authority, said it was "only ever meant to have been shut temporarily" while repairs were carried out. The Lib Dems, who took control of the council in 2022, said they had inherited "many half-finished and unplanned projects". Speaking to BBC Look North, Hale described the lack of action as "cultural vandalism". "This [pier] is part of Hull's history," he said. Hale insisted the money was there to carry out the repairs, but said "you've got to have the will to do it". "This is 200 years of history and it must be saved," he said. In a statement on Friday, the council said: "Sadly, the previous Labour administration under Daren Hale left so much of the city to decay and rot. "The Lib Dems deeply value our infrastructure and cultural heritage, but we inherited many half-finished and unplanned projects from Labour. "We are moving forward with plans over the future of Victoria Pier, alongside other investments in the budget proposals." Labour was yet to put forward a "credible plan", the statement added. The authority previously said it had secured a specialist contractor to "inspect and assess the possible future options for the structure". However, it has not confirmed whether one of the options would be to demolish it. The pier, originally known as the Corporation Pier, first opened as a ferry terminal in 1825, linking Hull and Lincolnshire. It was renamed following a visit by Queen Victoria in 1854. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Council considers options for 200-year-old pier Drone footage shows revamped maritime museum 'Massive' £42m flood defences officially opened Hull City Council
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hull Victoria Pier work delays 'cultural vandalism'
An opposition councillor has criticised Hull City Council for not carrying out repairs to a 200-year-old Liberal Democrats-led authority said it was exploring options for the future of Victoria Pier, which was closed to the public about five years ago for safety Daren Hale, who previously led the authority, said it was "only ever meant to have been shut temporarily" while repairs were carried Lib Dems, who took control of the council in 2022, said they had inherited "many half-finished and unplanned projects". Speaking to BBC Look North, Hale described the lack of action as "cultural vandalism"."This [pier] is part of Hull's history," he insisted the money was there to carry out the repairs, but said "you've got to have the will to do it"."This is 200 years of history and it must be saved," he said. In a statement on Friday, the council said: "Sadly, the previous Labour administration under Daren Hale left so much of the city to decay and rot."The Lib Dems deeply value our infrastructure and cultural heritage, but we inherited many half-finished and unplanned projects from Labour. "We are moving forward with plans over the future of Victoria Pier, alongside other investments in the budget proposals."Labour was yet to put forward a "credible plan", the statement authority previously said it had secured a specialist contractor to "inspect and assess the possible future options for the structure".However, it has not confirmed whether one of the options would be to demolish pier, originally known as the Corporation Pier, first opened as a ferry terminal in 1825, linking Hull and Lincolnshire. It was renamed following a visit by Queen Victoria in 1854. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
