CABBIES have raised allegations of “mismanagement, poor communication and bullying” within Bradford Council.

The concerns were made by private hire operators during a round table event hosted by Bradford West MP Naz Shah today.

The Council has responded saying it takes all mismanagement allegations seriously and said Chief Executive Kirsten England had met with Ms Shah to discuss the issue.

Today's meeting highlighted complaints by cabbies over “unprofessional and unacceptable behaviour” toward them, with Ms Shah acknowledging correspondence she had been shown confirmed the allegations.

The Labour MP told the Telegraph & Argus the meeting was attended by some of the city’s largest private hire operators who were all distressed by the way they say they were being treated.

“I was shocked and appalled by what I was told,” she said.

“The clear consensus that emerged from my discussions with private hire operators is that there is a need for investigation into serious issues stretching back years.

“Operators described to me the inconsistent enforcement of regulations, poor communication, needless bureaucracy and a culture of disrespect and bullying toward operators and private hire drivers.”

Ms Shah said she had been shown correspondence and spoken to eye witnesses which confirmed “absolutely unacceptable behaviour”, suggesting a pattern of behaviour and a model of management that is not consistent with the Council’s public commitment to equality, dignity and respect.

Zabeer Hussain, of the firm Shipley Central, said: “We are not treated like professionals and officers are condescending and rude."

He said the Council constantly changed the goal posts to suit senior managers, "rather than working with us to improve the service".

Ken Ives, the director of Euro Cars, added: “I don’t even raise questions at the Council seminars for operators as we are just talked down to.”

A spokesman for the Council said: “Bradford Council’s Chief Executive Kersten England has met with Naz Shah MP to discuss this issue and following this meeting has asked the authority’s Strategic Director, Place, Steve Hartley to look into the allegations."

Mr Hartley said: “We take seriously any allegations of mismanagement by Council services and will meet with Naz Shah MP next week so that she can share her concerns and any evidence she has.”