Action taken after dispute between rival taxi firms

Fife Council's Donald Jenks was called in to intervene in "resolving a dispute" between two unnamed taxi operators who had fallen out. 

Both sides were given "verbal advice" about their conduct and told the friction between them had to stop. 

It was one of 71 enquiries he undertook into complaints, suspected non-compliance with licence conditions and other issues between December 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. 

This included taxi drivers and operators, window cleaners, second hand dealers, skin piercing and tattooing, street traders and market operators. 

Advice was issued in 24 of the cases, eight licences were applied for, three warnings were given and two police reports were made.

Councillors were told that Mr Jenks had issued advice to three cabbies who had "minor disputes" with other motorists and spoke to another two relating to unpaid fares. 

A member of the public was spoken to about a "verbal disagreement" with a taxi driver and another was advised on the rules relating to ice cream chimes. 

A ghost tour company was told which licence was needed and three members of the public and a cab firm were spoken to about parking issues involving taxis. 

During the five months, enforcement officers made 15 spot checks on street traders, tattooists, taxi drivers, a knife dealer and a second-hand goods dealer, with one cabbie sent off the rank for not having his badge. 

Mr Jenks also participated in joint inspections of 70 taxis at 13 locations, including the ranks at Carnegie Drive and Queen Anne Street in Dunfermline. 

There were no issues in the majority of cases, advice was given to 21 cabbies while six were sent off the rank for a list of misdemeanours. 

They included not carrying a licence, a tyre below the legal tread limit, damaged bodywork on their car, dress code and a dirty vehicle. 

Another taxi driver was referred to the regulation and licensing committee for failing to comply with the conditions of his licence.