Taxi Driver Online

I noticed in one of the recent articles that they were effectively exempt from the licensing legislation because their customer base is set up as a club rather than the usual one-off transaction between cab and driver.

This is a similar set-up to the one we discussed at length a few weeks ago - the vehicles are exclusively working for the club, thus they are can take advantage of the contract hire exemption.

At least, that's what I'm assuming, and I'm not sure if they're set up this way everywhere.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

The way I read is it that the 'club' issue exempts them from any legislation relating to the women only side, not the licensing side.

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IDFIMH

When I read this in the Carlisle story I assumed that they were trying to use the same loophole as our friend with the CRB problems (?)

But because they are run on a membership basis, Pink Ladies do not need to be licensed by Carlisle City Council like traditional taxis.

The cars will be advertised as chauffeur-driven limousines that are pre-booked and paid for.

As for the discrimination issue, I'm not sure exactly what the relevance of the club is, although several of the stories seem to say that the club is used to get past the law on this point.

But as far as I know the if the firm is employing the drivers the club is irrelevant - the sex discrimination is relevant to employment (ie the firm's relationship with the drivers) and not regarding the firm's relationship with the passsengers, which is conducted by means of the club mechanism.

According to the Warrington story the taxi firm got round the discrimination laws by virtue of the fact that they were providing a personal service, and the club factor was irrelevant. (For example, if a disabled women advertised for a personal carer then she could specify a female because of an exemption from the Act - the article does state that in the case of the Pink Ladies this point is being stretched a bit):

"The ladies from the job centre and their head office in Sheffield deemed that we were sexist and that they wouldn't let us advertise," grumbles Dutton.

A fair point, perhaps? Within a flash Winters starts quoting the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act. That stipulates that an employer can refuse to offer someone work on grounds of their sex if "the holder of the job provides individuals with personal services promoting their welfare". The Equal Opportunities Commission approved this canny interpretation of the law and the job centre was forced to take the Pink Ladies' listings.

Women's welfare, Dutton insists, is at the heart of Pink Ladies. The service offers greater safety for the fairer sex, be they enjoying a night on the town or behind the wheels of one of the Pink people carriers.

Complicated, innit?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Well when even the PCO call them taxis, you could well be right.

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IDFIMH

Ive heard their setting up a executive division, heres a preview of their new motors

Found this on the letters page in the Glasgow based rag the Evening Times

New taxi firm is welcomed

I was glad to read (Evening Times, February 16) that Pink Ladies private-hire cabs will soon be available in Glasgow city centre. Hopefully it will make the city's present private hire firms sit up and take notice.

I was in Glasgow on Saturday night and approached the black taxi rank at Savoy Centre/Hope Street at about 1.30am. Despite the fact there were six cabs sitting, with all drivers standing talking, not one of them would accept my hire to Cumbernauld - it was too far away. They were just not interested in a distance hire, leaving my friend and I to walk the streets till a local Cumbernauld cab could come and collect us.

Good luck to Pink Ladies, I'd rather pay the extra charge to charity than give tips to lazy men who just want to make a quick buck.


CATRINA McGARRY Via e-mail

Why do the public regard private hire as the same as public hire ?

Usually it's the other way around.

But have I missed something, is that mush saying the lads didn't want the long job?

I wish they would swop with me, and I could give them all the crap I had today.

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IDFIMH

I think they didnt want the job because it would have been getting busy around that time in the morning & the hire was going to a neighbouring council area which would mean no hire most of the way back

Having said that surely a boundary charge would have compensated ?

Now I don't know what the out of town rate is up there, so maybe they could earn more around the town. But I would much prefer a long run that time of night and not have to fight the p***heads.

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IDFIMH

I've seen the ones licensed in London today, and they all have the PCO badges front and back.

Ollie

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Happy to be legit.

I suppose that if there is mileage in the club exempting them from licensing, then presumably each LA may take a different view on it.

And perhaps the provincial loophole was plugged in London?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I thought you liked the shopping bag runs?

But I suspect that the Glasgow hacks just weren't offered enough rather than brooming the job full stop, since anyone will go anywhere as long as the price is right?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

And so they should have !

I dont see why they would be exempt, if I come to an arrangement why a local supermarket & transport only their customers whould this exempt me from licensing ?

I dont think so..... but Renfrewshire Council licensing dept would probably say yes