By ANISAH ARIF
The waiting time for taxi appointments has been reduced after changes were made to services.
Desired taxi drivers in Kirklees can now book their appointments after 3 days, the licensing team has revealed.
The licensing team has managed to bring down the taxi appointment waiting time from 3 weeks to only 3 days after changes were made As a result of self-introspection and a constant desire to improve systems and procedures. The team have resourcefully improved the services.
This was achieved by making a small change to the way appointments are made for booking taxi vehicle renewals.
Prior to this, taxi drivers had to book an initial 15 minute appointment with Licensing to submit their renewal application forms, produce valid vehicle insurance and registration documents, and book the vehicle compliance test with Transport during this appointment.
They then would attend the vehicle compliance test which would be approximately 2 weeks later. After completing the compliance test, the drivers had to book another 15 minute appointment with licensing to complete the process by producing their compliance test passed certificate and getting their licence, plates and door signs. There was another 2 week wait for this last appointment.
Now drivers are not required to attend the first appointment with Licensing. In order to start working smartly, as an alternative, they have to complete the vehicle compliance test with Transport followed by booking a 15 minute appointment with Licensing to submit the application form and all the necessary documents to get their license and signage.
Labour Councillor Naheed Mather of Kirklees said: “”A turnaround time from 3 weeks to 3 days, to renew your taxi license is great news for the trade, who can go about their business of earn a living and demonstrates the service’s responsiveness to meeting the need”.
This new method of working has not only reduced the appointment waiting times dramatically for taxi trade customers, but has also provided motivation to the licensing team to constantly question and examine current procedures to improve efficiency in service delivery and resource management.
This is also an excellent example of working together cohesively with internal partners (transport) without whose support and enthusiasm this would not be possible.
