20 weeks for PH in Manchester
that aside - these sharing of services - great idea huh?
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| Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi boss http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21669 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi boss |
Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi boss JOB seekers are missing out on work in Crowborough because of crippling council red tape, according to a town businessman. Taxi firm owner Donald Richards claims checks carried out by Wealden and Rother district councils for new drivers take so long it is almost impossible to fill jobs. The Ashdown Cars boss criticised delays of more than three months which he feared could cripple his business. He said: "I have got a business here that is offering jobs but I can't fill them. "I need another four to six drivers, but the process of getting them licensed now takes eight weeks longer than it used to." His frustrations have followed a deal between both councils to share the administration of taxi licensing services. Previously, new drivers in the area were only authorised by Wealden. Mr Richards added: "I'm struggling to get anyone and if I lose a driver I can't replace them. "We have got people ringing up and complaining they cannot ever get a taxi." Richard Parker Harding, head of environmental health for both councils, put the blame elsewhere. He said: "The paperwork has to be submitted to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea. "Unfortunately we have been experiencing delays of eight to nine weeks for the return of completed submissions, and we are investigating the possibility of using private agencies who offer a dedicated service to speed up DVLA applications." Mr Richards remained sceptical a solution would be found to the delays and said it was damaging his Pleasant View Road business, as customers unable to book cars would stop using it. He also complained licence fees had been hiked up since services were shared, with spiralling costs creating another barrier for new drivers. He fumed: "If you got made redundant from a job, could you wait three to four months for your new one to start?" "I can get a job in a nursing home quicker than I can get a taxi licence. "This threatens the future of my business and with today's job problems surely the authorities should be doing more." Fears over Crowborough jobs are nothing new. Traders have expressed growing discontent over development restrictions imposed to protect the Ashdown Forest, which they say is stopping growth and deterring new businesses from setting up in the area. Chamber of Commerce chairman Jeremy Woolger said: "We have written to MPs including Eric Pickles and Charles Hendry requesting discussions about our concerns." Read more: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Red-tape- ... z2OG2ITmHW |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
20 weeks for PH in Manchester that aside - these sharing of services - great idea huh?
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| Author: | Nidge2 [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
It shouldn't take that long, I know Swansea are lagging when it comes to the driver checks but that's just them all over. As for the CRB now the DBS it should be easier for Councils to check up on people when they apply for a badge. With the technology in place nowadays it shouldn't take more than a week from when the driver hands his application and medical forms in to when they issue him a badge. Twelve weeks IMO is well out of order. |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
True impact of efficiency savings... WEALDEN and Rother district councils claim they stand to jointly save £250,000 a year by sharing the environmental health services which include taxi licensing. But the difficulties faced by Donald Richard's in employing new taxi drivers for his Crowborough firm provide a worrying snapshot of the real effects of cost-cutting and also demonstrate some of the pitfalls of bureaucratic upheavals such as this. At a time when people are crying out for jobs it is simply unacceptable that Mr Richards cannot attract new staff, just because council checks are now taking more than three months. Those in charge have pointed the finger of blame elsewhere – but they can't have it both ways. Residents were promised shared working arrangements would ensure they received greater value for money. But at a time when unemployment remains high, there is clearly no value in operating a process which is stifling job growth, in an area already hampered by the Ashdown Forest directive. Both councils have promised to "investigate" the possibility of using private agencies to speed up licence applications. But it is this type of flimsy guarantee which exacerbates frustrations among businesses and provides little comfort to residents left with a taxi service which can't cope. From July another joint partnership will come into effect when rubbish collections are organised alongside other councils in an effort to save more money. Wealden is expecting changes to save around £750,000 a year. It remains to be seen whether these saving will be to the detriment of homeowners, many who have already expressed confusion over bin changes for new recycling rules. Read more: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/True-impa ... z2OGZLrQ5K |
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| Author: | billybobs [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
captain cab wrote: 20 weeks for PH in Manchester that aside - these sharing of services - great idea huh? Same in Bolton mate. Licensing have been strpped to the bone and yet fees haven't been reduced. Our self appointed reps don't relise what is going on because they don't know their arse from their elbow. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
The longer it takes new drivers to get licensed, the better. 
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| Author: | Nidge2 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
billybobs wrote: captain cab wrote: 20 weeks for PH in Manchester that aside - these sharing of services - great idea huh? Same in Bolton mate. Licensing have been strpped to the bone and yet fees haven't been reduced. Our self appointed reps don't relise what is going on because they don't know their arse from their elbow. Like I mentioned above, with the technology nowadays it shouldn't take more than 7 days from when the driver hands in all his papers to when he gets his badge. |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
Nidge2 wrote: billybobs wrote: captain cab wrote: 20 weeks for PH in Manchester that aside - these sharing of services - great idea huh? Same in Bolton mate. Licensing have been strpped to the bone and yet fees haven't been reduced. Our self appointed reps don't relise what is going on because they don't know their arse from their elbow. Quote: Like I mentioned above, with the technology nowadays it shouldn't take more than 7 days from when the driver hands in all his papers to when he gets his badge.[/ Thats all it takes here for a new driver, I have had mine in less than 10 mins while I waited, they still wanted £82 though, and they did not wear a mask, when taking the cash |
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| Author: | Nidge2 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
skippy41 wrote: Thats all it takes here for a new driver, I have had mine in less than 10 mins while I waited, they still wanted £82 though, and they did not wear a mask, when taking the cash  And that sir is how it should be done. |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Fri Aug 27, 2021 2:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
In 2013, Donald Richards of Ashdown Cars in Crowborough wrote: "I can get a job in a nursing home quicker than I can get a taxi licence." Suspect you won't get either now 
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| Author: | jimbo [ Fri Aug 27, 2021 4:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Red tape threatening town's jobs, says Crowborough taxi |
All of the above could have been written today, rather than 2013. |
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