Uber Application Approved To Operate In Fife

On Tuesday 22 September, Fife Council's Regulation and Licensing Committee called a special meeting dedicated to discussing the application of Uber Scot Limited to operate from Rosyth Business Centre in Dunfermline. The application has faced backlash, with 431 objections, all of which were deemed invalid during the meeting on Tuesday, resulting in the approval of Uber's application.

According to STV News, many of those who raised concerns were “taxi operators, drivers and associations from across Fife,” who highlighted that Uber’s arrival “could damage existing taxi firms and drivers already facing difficult trading conditions.” Around 25 people were supposed to present their concerns in person. However, the representative for Uber, solicitor Kevin Clancy, quickly halted proceedings by bringing attention to the legal invalidity of the objections.

Clancy explained that legally, the objections needed to specify the grounds for the objection, stipulate the names and addresses of objectors, and be signed. It was then confirmed by Council solicitor Kimberley Langer that none of the objections received were signed.

After a prolonged recess, Councillor Tom Adams motioned for the application to be approved, stating, “I will put forward a motion under the legal advice we have been given that we cannot take these objections.” Councillor Donald Lothian seconded the motion, and the application was approved

Since the meeting, concerns have been raised over how the situation was dealt with. Kirkcaldy North councillor Carol Lindsay, a member of the Regulations and Licensing Committee, told STV News: “Whatever the eventual outcome of an application, everyone should be able to have confidence that the process used to reach it was clear, robust, transparent and fair.”

Lindsay continued: “What concerned me was that we were being asked to determine whether a very substantial number of objections met the necessary legal requirements, while we were also told that there had not been sufficient time to carry out individual checks because of the volume involved.”

“If there are capacity issues in processing applications, this should have been raised long before we were advised today.”

The Courier reported that around eight taxi companies have already come together to consider legal action. East Fife Taxi Association secretary Linda Holt told The Courier, “We think it’s possible the way the council has behaved can be challenged.” She continued, “we have written evidence where someone has emailed their objection and asked if it was okay like that [unsigned]. They were told it [the objection] was fine.”

Holt also co-owns St Andrews Taxis with her husband James Glen. They told The Courier that they have already contacted a solicitor. Holt also added that other companies have also agreed to not hire drivers who work for Uber — “They will be black sheep,” stated Holt.

Image Courtesy of the Saint