Posted on 2019-05-13 | 02:38

That this House acknowledges the vital contribution that Birmingham’s black cab drivers make to providing safe and accessible transport, including for the city’s 98,000 disabled people; notes that black cab drivers are undertaking go-slow protests in the city centre as a consequence of being forced to pay the City Council’s Clean Air Zone Charge while simultaneously carrying the bulk of the costs associated with ensuring that their cabs meet the City Council’s clean air objectives; recognises that taxi drivers do not oppose either the Clean Air Zone or the council’s air quality objectives but have asked for more resources and more time to introduce such changes in recognition of the impact on their livelihoods; supports the RMT union’s view that the Council’s current programme is flawed, with inadequate financial support to fund the costs of converting vehicles, only one outlet authorised to conduct the work and an unrealistic deadline for compliance of the end of this year; further notes the contrast between Birmingham City Council’s approach to the concerns of taxi drivers and that in London, whereby taxis are exempted from the Ultra Low Emission Zone; and supports RMT’s call for Birmingham City Council to negotiate a support package and a timetable that will help the Council achieve its clean air objectives without causing unnecessary damage to the livelihoods of its black cab drivers.