Taxi Driver Online

GMB calls for Chelmsford council action to prevent taxi strikes

Trade union GMB has called on Chelmsford Council to introduce a freeze on taxi licensing in order to prevent a repeat of recent strike action.

Hackney taxi drivers across the area ceased work between midnight and 03:30 over concerns that business and livelihoods are being threatened in an overcrowded market.

The union stated that the strike was supported by the majority of the local public and revealed that there is "no doubt" that further industrial action will take place unless the council reconsiders its stance.

Terry Flanagan, secretary of the GMB Professional Drivers branch, said the union will be willing to talk with the authority if it wishes to back down from its "vindictive and malicious" position.

He said: "Clearly, the responsibility lies squarely at the feet of the council."

Last month, cabbies in Elgin told the Press and Journal that their local authority is making a mistake in refusing to cap the number of taxis permitted to operate in the area.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Will a strike sort it out??

Without a doubt

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi strikes: Council to hold review

CHELMSFORD Council has announced it will carry out a review of taxi provision in the new year.

Following taxi drivers’ anger at the council’s refusal to stop issuing Hackney Carriage licences, the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Monday agreed to hold a special meeting in the new year with stakeholders to hear their views on taxi provision in the borough.

The move has been met with a lukewarm response from the drivers. Terry Michel, chairman of the Chelmsford Taxi Association, said after the meeting: “We are holding a mass meeting of drivers early next week to see what our next move will be.

“One of the councillors at the meeting did suggest a temporary freeze on issuing licences, which we have asked for, but the committee was told this would be illegal. It is open to challenge, but not illegal.”

Mr Michel said he feared the timescale following the review would be such that no decisions would finally be made until March 2011. He added: “If they have a review and an unmet needs survey – which is what we are calling for – we could be looking at a final decision in March 2011, which will be too late for some drivers.”

The main objectives of the review will be to examine the number of taxis operating in the borough, review taxi provision and fare structures within Essex and to identify the effects a policy of limitation may have on the taxi trade.

The council’s cabinet member for safer communities, Cllr Ian Grundy, said: “The council has no legal power to limit the number of licensed taxis to help protect current taxi drivers.

“The council constantly monitors the number of licences issued to taxi and private hire trade operators in the borough to ensure the shortage of taxis, as experienced before the limits on numbers of taxis was removed in 2005, is not repeated.”

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IDFIMH

Any council can either issue a license application, refuse a license application or defer a license application.

The first two options are quite clear, the third can only be done lawfully if there is a survey process in place. IMO a survey company must have been contracted to do that survey for a council to legally defer an application.

Clearly that councillor hasn't got a f***ing clue what he is on about, something shared by many involved.

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IDFIMH

It seems to me that the review is a good idea; how many taxi licenses are going to be issued in the next 4 months?

If the place has been deregulated for a while.....and there is a decent standard on first application......cant see it making a tremendous difference.

The Middlesborough and Ghafoor cases allow a council to defer an application pending the result of a SUD......however as Sussex points out....in those cases I understand the survey process was in progress.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

That lot go in wind the councillors up.
and now they want us to have a Saturday night of.
Thank but no thanks.
Idiot drivers being led by idiot brothers,

who are you saying are the idiot brothers the taxi assoc or the gmb

I think he's suggesting there's two sets of idiots and you are about right

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I would like to point out for clarity that Terry Flanagan is the London Region GMB Professional Drivers Secretary, each region of the GMB has its own Professioanl Drivers Branch with its own Secretary.

Regards

BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Thanks for pointing that out BB

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

BB... don't be shy... you forgot to mention he also has a certain claim to fame.... as a film extra..... hope you're well.... and are looking forward to Christmas....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Hi Trev,

I'm well and happy, hope all yours are to.

Regards

Mick

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Why cant they all sit around a table and be happy.....its nearly christmas ffs

That aside......why cant the drivers contact their councillors? (and by that I mean local councillors and not the other types )

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin