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Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fees
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Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 9:27 am ]
Post subject:  Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fees
Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fees


ANGRY minicab drivers are taking to the streets today in protest at a hike in licensing fees of more than 25 per cent.

Private hire operators are furious that the annual vehicle and driver licence fees charged by Birmingham City Council has risen from £380 to £478 for a new one-year licence.

The fee for renewal licences, which affects existing cabbies, has also increased from £190 to £240.

While the official Private Hire Association remains in talks with the council over the hike, a group of drivers will protest outside the licensing department’s Crystal Court office in Rocky Lane, Aston, from 11am today.

Driver Abid Hussain said: “The country is in recession and the council has increased fees. Drivers are fuming.

‘‘We have decided to hold a peaceful demonstration.”

Three years ago private hire drivers, those who run minicabs not the big black cabs, brought the city to a standstill when they held protests over a proposal to make all their cars one colour.

More than 2,000 of them stormed into Villa Park where the licensing committee was hosting a public meeting over the proposal.

But the official Private Hire Association, which represents 2,200 drivers, said there is unlikely to be a repeat demonstration at this stage.

Manager Shakeel Asghar said: “A few drivers are organising a protest but we have not decided to take any action at this stage.

“We are still in talks with the council over the fees.”

The city council has defended the fees saying that they are cheaper than or similar to charges in other major cities and neighbouring boroughs.

He also pointed out a driver can get a three-year driver renewal.

He said: “The renewal cost is rising by just £1 per driver per week. Compared to other expenses drivers incur, such as radio hire, fuel, insurance and vehicle servicing, this still represents a very small proportion of their total expenses.

“All money gathered through licence fees is invested directly back into the service.

“This rise is necessary partly due to fees having being artificially frozen or increased only marginally over the past five years, and therefore not covering costs.”


source: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... z1tbYCK6iO
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
the last protest, a failure to accept a PHV is always a PHV

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birm ... -29597822/

a protest in birmingham regarding PH working conditions (presumably the missed the point they work for a PH Operator?)

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -29567351/

and a protest from Brum taxi drivers before that;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi5fggZdHyM

another protest from brum private hire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWL3vbJ2KDY
Author:  Sussex [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
I think this council is taking the pi** big time.

How can they justify a £120 driver's license renewal?

Does it take more than an hour to process? Is the cost of plastic badge and bit of paper more than a fiver?

I suggest the trade don't strike, they just contact the District Auditor, cos at present they are being mugged.

Not the first time I have typed this, but I hope the Law Commission sort out this kind of council scam.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Sussex wrote:
I think this council is taking the pi** big time.

How can they justify a £120 driver's license renewal?

Does it take more than an hour to process? Is the cost of plastic badge and bit of paper more than a fiver?

I suggest the trade don't strike, they just contact the District Auditor, cos at present they are being mugged.

Not the first time I have typed this, but I hope the Law Commission sort out this kind of council scam.



you are of course correct.....and this is the area the moan about out of town vehicles ffs
Author:  Sussex [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
captain cab wrote:
you are of course correct.....and this is the area the moan about out of town vehicles ffs

Reading between the lines, in the report to councillors, it appears Birmingham LOs have got the hump that so many vehicles are licensing elsewhere.

To be honest when the council is mugging off the drivers in such a way, it's no surprise to me that they license elsewhere.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Birmingham minicab drivers protest at 25% hike in licence fee


Image


Birmingham's minicab drivers have staged a protest in the city against a hike in licensing fees of more than 25 per cent.

Private hire operators are unhappy that the annual vehicle and driver licence fees charged by Birmingham City Council has risen from £380 to £478 for a new one-year licence.

The fee for renewal licences, which affects existing cabbies, has also increased from £190 to £240.

While the official Private Hire Association remains in talks with the council over the hike, a group of drivers protested outside the licensing department’s Crystal Court licensing offices in Rocky Lane, Aston, on Tuesday.

Driver Abid Hussain said: “The country is in recession and the council has increased fees. Drivers are fuming.

‘‘We have decided to hold a peaceful demonstration.”

Three years ago private hire drivers, those who run minicabs not the big black cabs, brought the city to a standstill when they held protests over a proposal to make all their cars one colour.

More than 2,000 of them stormed into Villa Park where the licensing committee was hosting a public meeting over the proposal.

But the official Private Hire Association, which represents 2,200 drivers, said there is unlikely to be a repeat demonstration at this stage.

Manager Shakeel Asghar said: “A few drivers are organising a protest but we have not decided to take any action at this stage.

“We are still in talks with the council over the fees.”

The city council has defended the fees saying that they are cheaper than or similar to charges in other major cities and neighbouring boroughs.

A spokesman said: “The renewal cost is rising by just £1 per driver per week. Compared to other expenses drivers incur, such as radio hire, fuel, insurance and vehicle servicing, this still represents a very small proportion of their total expenses.

“All money gathered through licence fees is invested directly back into the service.

“This rise is necessary partly due to fees having being artificially frozen or increased only marginally over the past five years, and therefore not covering costs.”


Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west ... z1tdPDoiMT
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top- ... -30878468/

theres a vidoe above and a few juicy comments'

Birmingham taxi drivers threaten to bring city to a standstill

A one-day strike could also be on the cards
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Sussex wrote:
I think this council is taking the pi** big time.

How can they justify a £120 driver's license renewal?

Does it take more than an hour to process? Is the cost of plastic badge and bit of paper more than a fiver?

I suggest the trade don't strike, they just contact the District Auditor, cos at present they are being mugged.

Not the first time I have typed this, but I hope the Law Commission sort out this kind of council scam.

I can't believe some of your comments.
Author:  edders23 [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Birmingham taxi drivers threaten to bring city to a standstill

Yes that will get the message through hopefully

A one-day strike could also be on the cards


NO all that will do is annoy customers the council won't give a monkeys about drivers going on strike
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
The trouble is that Brum did not put up fees for some four or more years.

That resulted in a £125K deficit at the end of financial year 2011/12.

Then they have a big rise likie this.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
The trouble is that Brum did not put up fees for some four or more years.

That resulted in a £125K deficit at the end of financial year 2011/12.

Then they have a big rise likie this.



which suggests bad management?
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
captain cab wrote:
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
The trouble is that Brum did not put up fees for some four or more years.

That resulted in a £125K deficit at the end of financial year 2011/12.

Then they have a big rise likie this.

which suggests bad management?

It was the licensing officers listening to the trade [except me] & one guy in particular, saying that there was no need to increase fees as there was a surplus.

I always advocate a small surplus at the end of each year.

That way you don't get huge shocks like this.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
It was the licensing officers listening to the trade [except me] & one guy in particular, saying that there was no need to increase fees as there was a surplus.

I always advocate a small surplus at the end of each year.

That way you don't get huge shocks like this.


You're right of course.....its just the others around the table are morons :lol:
Author:  edders23 [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
those fees still seem very high are you sure the loss isn't down to the cost of pension provisions ot licensing volunteer drivers etc etc being added in
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fee
edders23 wrote:
those fees still seem very high are you sure the loss isn't down to the cost of pension provisions ot licensing volunteer drivers etc etc being added in



unless of course your's are very low?
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