Council back Covid cash for Brighton and Hove taxi drivers

The money would be shared between 1,300 cabbies in the city, after Brighton and Hove City Council backed the idea at a meeting yesterday.

It follows the news that three of the city's taxi drivers have died during the pandemic with others struggling financially and some using food banks.

READ MORE: Three taxi drivers die with coronavirus

Drivers will be able to apply for up to £400 as part of the scheme, intended to cover the cost of Covid safety measures, rather than subside lost income.

The details have yet to be finalised and it has not yet been announced how cabbies will be able to apply for money.

Green council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said an emergency meeting would be held to discuss the concerns of the city's taxi drivers.

He said the council was "working behind the scenes" to look at other ideas including ways to reduce the burden of costs, red tape and technical requirements at a time when takings have plummeted.

Councillor Mac Cafferty said his colleague were "hopeful that they are going to be able to come to the trade with the best possible package considering the circumstances”.

Taxi drivers have been demanding help from the council during the Covid crisis

Members of all parties have expressed sympathy for the plight of Brighton and Hove’s cabbies while trying to work out how to provide help within the rules set out by the government.

Councillor Mac Cafferty added: “We may be able to review what’s going on. Some of this depends on the national picture.”

He said that one of the frustrations was that the council had no way to prevent drivers who were licensed elsewhere from coming in to Brighton and Hove and “hoovering up trade”.

Labour opposition leader Nancy Platts and Conservative group leader Steve Bell praised the council for trying to reach drivers from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups with information about support.

The taxi trade had a high proportion of drivers from ethnic minorities and was a high-risk group for coronavirus infections and deaths.

READ MORE: Taxi drivers demand 'urgent' council meeting amid a 'catastrophic' loss of trade

Councillor Platts asked whether any other trades or business groups were still missing out on government support during the pandemic.

She referred to leftover grant money from earlier support schemes which had to be handed back to the government and said: “It was very disappointing that despite three requests of government before, we had businesses that desperately needed money to survive and then we were forced to hand back that money rather than switch it from one fund to another.

“I think a lot of businesses were very disappointed by that but obviously we don’t make the rules.”

According to Brighton and Hove Taxi Trade Forum, a number of drivers are currently suffering from the virus, as the third national lockdown continues

The council’s executive director for the economy, environment and culture, Nick Hibberd, said that many self-employed people, sole traders and directors of small limited companies were missing out because they did not have fixed costs.

He said: “We are taking the approach that wherever we are able to support businesses, we will.

“When we did some analysis of the discretionary grants, more than 20 per cent of those grants have been awarded to sole traders and the self-employed.

“We are trying to support businesses wherever the government guidance allows us to do so.”

Councillor Bell said that the grants would “lighten the burden” on families and businesses and he asked whether there was money left for other sectors where businesses are struggling.

READ MORE: Struggling taxi drivers could get £500,000 Covid lifeline from the council

The council’s acting chief financial officer Nigel Manvell said that there would still be funds to help other businesses.

Councillor Bell praised cabbies, saying: “The taxi drivers and all other businesses do so much in and around the city.

“It’s good to see some of them crowdfunding – so that we can contribute – so they are able to offer taxis free of charge to those who are getting their vaccinations.

“That takes away the angst from some people and the concerns they are facing when they want their vaccination and they can’t afford a taxi and it is difficult to get there.”

Money will also be made available for some nurseries and childminders who were not eligible for grants during the November lockdown but were currently allowed to open only for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

The meeting this evening agreed to budget between £60,000 and £75,000 in total, with officials expected to hand out between 45 and 65 grants.