AN updated policy governing taxi drivers in Mid Devon has been delayed because it contains errors.

The revised policy that sets the rules cabbies must adhere to was meant to be implemented last month, having already been approved by the council.

But issues with the proposed updates to the policy now mean it won’t be in effect until January.

The new policy stated that drivers with six or more penalty points on their licence may be referred to council, but the existing policy had said this would happen when seven points had been accrued.

“This change was not fully identified and consulted on and we don’t have evidence that we want to reduce the threshold, as we would potentially see more referrals due to the lower trigger value,” said Harriet Said, a member of Mid Devon District Council’s public health team.

“This means we are proposing to bring it back to seven points.”

The new policy had also not included an existing element allowing taxi drivers to preserve the anniversary of their vehicle test if this was done within 28 days of it expiring.

This is like motorists getting an MOT earlier than necessary, but retaining the same date for their vehicle’s next annual test.

“We will accept the test being done 28 days prior and still honour the due date,” Ms Said commented.

“It allows for proprietors to make sure it is done in proper time.”

A report for councillors blamed the errors, as well as other smaller administrative ones, on a “high summer workload” coinciding with changes in the council’s licensing team.

“These have led to a lack of resource to carry forward the significant work that is involved in bringing in the scale of changes in the new policy within the original timescale that was proposed,” it said.

Ms Said stated that the number of points is just “one of the triggers” that could result in taxi drivers being referred to the council, but it could also be for fewer points, depending on what they had been issued for.

The council has contracts with four garages to carry out MOT-style checks on taxis: one in Crediton, another in Cullompton and two in Tiverton.

Ms Said explained: “We are looking to offer it out to others in the district that are authorised to deliver MOTs, as we have had interest over the years from other garages but we are working with our legal department on how to do it.”

She said a workshop would be held with taxi drivers next month to talk through changes – some of which are alterations to individual words in the policy – as well as delivering training about disability awareness and safeguarding.

The regulatory committee voted in favour of the recommendations, which included the new prospective implementation date of January and the various changes.

The existing policy will remain in force until the new one is adopted.

Bradley Gerrard