Medway Labour will ask Medway Conservatives to take action on Uber, who are currently operating in Medway without a license.
Cllr Dan McDonald, Councillor for Gillingham South and Medway Labour spokesperson for licensing said, ‘The fact is that Uber currently operates illegally in Medway, and this undermines the hard work and livelihood of licensed taxi drivers in Medway.
‘Taxi companies in Medway are rapidly modernising – Vokes-Windmill now have an Uber style app which allows passengers to book and pay for their journey online.
‘Currently Uber does not have an acceptable level of safety for its passengers and is well known for exploiting their workers. While Uber is skirting their responsibility, licensed taxi drivers in Medway are being punished for playing by the rules.
‘I want to send a strong message to Uber that they need to play by the rules or get out of Medway.’
Medway Labour Group motion to Council:
Enforcement of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 46 (1) (d).
Council acknowledges the document recently submitted by the Medway Licensed Taxi Driver Association (MLTDA) to Council officers.
The 15 page report contains legal opinion on the operation of Uber within Medway.
Council instructs officers to:
- Seek their own independent legal opinion on the operation of Uber in Medway;
- Meet with the MLTDA to discuss these legal opinions in a constructive manner;
- In the event of broad similarity in legal opinion, to take the appropriate action to cease and desist operations which are not in accordance with Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 46 (1) (d)
'Uber does not have an acceptable level of safety for its passengers and is well known for exploiting their workers. I want to send a strong message to Uber that they need to play by the rules or get out of Medway.' - Cllr Dan McDonald, Councillor for Gillingham South and Medway Labour spokesperson for licensing
