Taxi Driver Online

Taxi groups fail to give council proof of drivers they claim to represent



TAXI associations, which have failed to prove to the council that they are representative of drivers in Derby, may no longer be consulted by the authority.

The Derby Hackney Union and Derby Area Taxi Operators' Association both claim to speak for drivers across the city.

But, when asked by Derby City Council to provide details of membership numbers, their structure and meetings, neither complied.

The chairman of the council's taxi licensing and appeals committee, Councillor Sean Marshall, said this raised concerns about how the authority should be communicating with the sector on matters such as licence fees and changes to policy.

"I have no problem if they say they only represent themselves and three others, I just need to know so that when we consult and we are talking to them we know who they represent.

"I have given them ample time to provide that information but they have not."

Research ordered by Mr Marshall showed that 68% of drivers who attended the committee meetings said they were not a member of any association.

Javed Khan, chairman of DATOA, who claimed his association had 160 members, said he could provide the information needed but did not see why he should.

"We've been in operation for 30 years and I don't see why the council is only asking for this information now. I have all the information but I don't see why we should provide it," he said.

When the licensing committee meets on Wednesday it will decide whether the organisations should legitimately continue to be recognised as trade associations.

If they are not, they would not be consulted with and the council would, instead, have to try to contact individual firms and drivers.

The dispute is further evidence of tensions between the council and the taxi sector in Derby.

Last month, more than 400 letters from drivers opposing an increase in their licence fees was presented to the council but officers decided to press ahead with the rises, which they said were needed to cover costs.

And at the next meeting of the taxi licensing and appeals committee on Wednesday, members will consider banning drivers from operating any mobile technology while they have fee-paying customers in their cars.

Mr Marshall said: "This is about safety for passengers and drivers not being distracted by calls coming in or trying to punch in addresses to a sat-nav while they are driving."

source: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/

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

Last month, more than 400 letters from drivers opposing an increase in their licence fees was presented to the council but officers decided to press ahead with the rises, which they said were needed to cover costs.

local democracy in action then !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

good point.....but why didnt they produce what the council requested?

CC

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

Is there any sensible reason why they shouldn't?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Maybe when he says he has 160 members that means over the 30 years.

Of course, another problem with many associations is that they may have the members, but there's little in the way of democracy and communication, so effectively the top dogs decide things and in effect the hoi polloi don't have a clue what they're being represented about.

This is particularly so when PH and taxi offices and props are members of associations and claim to represent everyone operating under their business name, which can be a bit misleading in that context.