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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:15 am 
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Nothing particularly new here, but makes a difference I suppose for a licensing chair to take up the cudgels. Doubt it'll make a blind bit of difference, though :roll:


Coronavirus Scotland: Scottish Government urged to help Glasgow taxi drivers amid financial plight

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... d-19270907

The chairman of Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee warns 'the financial impact of Covid for these drivers and their families has been severe and is continuing with no immediate prospect of improvement.'

The chairman of Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee has written to the Scottish Government to highlight the financial plight of cab drivers during Covid-19.

Councillor Alex Wilson has asked for the opportunity to discuss with officials the possibility of greater financial assistance being made available to the trade, to support this part of the city’s transport network and the livelihood of its drivers and operators.

The letter highlights that financial aid is vital to help the in this situation to help the industry survive the pandemic.

In it Mr Wilson says: “While the trade as a whole has been badly hit across the country as a result of many people working from home together with the restrictions on hospitality and socialising more generally, it is increasingly clear that the combined impact of the virus and the restrictions required to suppress transmission are having a hugely differential impact on those working within Scotland’s cities.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that Glasgow’s taxi and private hire car trade has been particularly badly hit as it relies so heavily on our vibrant night-time economy, commercial sector and on our major sporting and cultural events calendar.

“Without this activity and the need to transport people across the city, the trade has been left with very little business to sustain what was once a thriving sector – and one which will be vital to restarting and supporting our city’s economy once restrictions begin to ease.”

The letter also stresses that the curfews put on pubs and restaurants have also had a negative effect on the taxi and private hire trade with fewer people requiring transport home at the end of a night out.

Mr Wilson added: “There has of course, rightly, been a huge amount of focus on the impact on the hospitality trade as a result of curfews and restrictions on the selling of alcohol.

“But what has been less well publicised and discussed is the indirect impact this has had on the taxi and private hire car trade. which has been decimated as a result of the lack of a night-time economy in the city.

“While the licensing authority in Glasgow has put in place a number of measures to support the trade through lockdown and the ongoing restrictions, such as a six month extension of licences which were due to expire between March and August, allowing for the temporary suspension of vehicle licences while not in use, changes to our vehicle inspection regime and a pausing of policies for the undertaking of driver training and the renewal of older vehicles, it is increasingly clear that further financial support for drivers and operators is absolutely vital to their survival over the coming months.

“As you will no doubt be aware, the taxi and private hire car trade in Glasgow is a diverse one, supporting a huge number of drivers from an older age profile who have only ever worked within the trade – or our many drivers who come from different ethnic backgrounds and have found challenges in accessing other career opportunities.

“The financial impact of Covid for these drivers and their families has been severe and is continuing with no immediate prospect of improvement.”

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:18 am 
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Quote:
The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.

Pretty pointless, I'm guessing.

Recall a similar article a few weeks ago - '10pm curfew driving Glasgow trade into ground'

Scottish Government's statement in response to that was just pointless boilerplate nonsense:

Quote:
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said Glasgow City Council was “best placed” for taking the local circumstances into account.

She said: “The Scottish Government appreciates that taxi and private hire cars provide a valuable service to both residents of and visitors to Scotland.

"The day to day responsibility for the licensing of taxis and private hire cars is devolved to local authorities and any decision regarding the practical operation of the licensing regime for taxis and private hire cars and their drivers is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

“Local authorities are best placed to take local circumstances into account in the decision-making process and are directly accountable to the communities they serve.

“Throughout this unprecedented economic crisis we have listened to businesses and acted quickly to offer support, which now exceeds £2.3 billion. We would encourage eligible self-employed taxi drivers to apply to the UK Government’s self-employed scheme.

“Taxi companies who have staff on furlough can continue to claim through the Job Retention Scheme until October 31, after which the new Job Support Scheme will be in place.”

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36181#p403736


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:02 am 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
Quote:
Councillor Alex Wilson has asked for the opportunity to discuss with officials the possibility of greater financial assistance being made available to the trade, to support this part of the city’s transport network and the livelihood of its drivers and operators.


that's positive isn't it ? :roll:

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:28 am 
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edders23 wrote:
Quote:
Councillor Alex Wilson has asked for the opportunity to discuss with officials the possibility of greater financial assistance being made available to the trade, to support this part of the city’s transport network and the livelihood of its drivers and operators.

that's positive isn't it ? :roll:

Fine words, perhaps.

But with the chancellor extending the SEISS grants for three months (and at 80%), and another three months after that, I can't see much in the way of any more specific help for the trade, other than perhaps some sweetie money for masks and sanitiser.

Of course, the SEISS far from perfect, but compared to what some are getting (ie, zero), maybe we should be thankful.

Funny the way the SEISS is rarely mentioned in stuff like this. You'd think we were getting jack.


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:48 am 
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In fact another version of this article on the Glasgow Evening Times website does include a statement from the Scottish Government, and that does mention the SEISS extension [-(

Quote:
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We thank the convener for his letter and we fully appreciate just how difficult the pandemic has been for taxi drivers and their families.

“We welcome the extension of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme so drivers can obtain 80 per cent of previous earnings.

“The Economy Secretary has written to the Chancellor calling for this to be extended to the recently self-employed.


“We are currently considering further support for fixed costs pressures on self-employed taxi drivers and others, as well as providing the new Strategic Framework Business Fund.

“Throughout this unprecedented economic crisis we have listened to businesses and acted quickly to offer support, which now exceeds £2.3 billion.”

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/188 ... e-drivers/


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:08 pm 
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Quote:
with no immediate prospect of improvement

Is that pessimistic view shared by many on here? It's certainly not a view I share.

Come Dec 2nd shops, pubs and restaurants will open.

Come middle of Dec old folks will be getting the vaccine, and early next year millions more will.

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:12 pm 
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A Scottish Government spokeswoman said Glasgow City Council was “best placed” for taking the local circumstances into account.

Does the Scottish Government take the responsibility for anything?

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 6:18 am 
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Sussex wrote:
Quote:
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said Glasgow City Council was “best placed” for taking the local circumstances into account.

Does the Scottish Government take the responsibility for anything?

No.

Some of the Twitter wags call Sturgeon 'Elsie' (well, that's one of the nicer things).

Derives from something like it's 'always someone Else's fault'. Pretty poor wordplay, but there's certainly more than a grain of proof in the political point.


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PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:50 am 
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Sussex wrote:
Quote:
with no immediate prospect of improvement

Is that pessimistic view shared by many on here? It's certainly not a view I share.

Come Dec 2nd shops, pubs and restaurants will open.

Come middle of Dec old folks will be getting the vaccine, and early next year millions more will.



figures are not coming down so i personally think lock down till about 14th 15th Dec or risk overwhelming the NHS which might already be happening in some parts

Vaccine will be NHS and politicians first then the elderly and the vulnerable Jan/feb . It is estimated that it could take up to 2 years to vaccinate everyone in the UK and we are assuming that the UK will get it's supplies first ? Remember the yanks have gazumped everyone by rushing their vaccine out first but have they really got production going fully yet ?

I am more cautious and think the vaccination program could be well into next year before it is in full flow

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:55 am 
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StuartW wrote:
Sussex wrote:
Quote:
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said Glasgow City Council was “best placed” for taking the local circumstances into account.

Does the Scottish Government take the responsibility for anything?

No.

Some of the Twitter wags call Sturgeon 'Elsie' (well, that's one of the nicer things).

Derives from something like it's 'always someone Else's fault'. Pretty poor wordplay, but there's certainly more than a grain of proof in the political point.



She always blames the English or should I say Westminster for everything so perhaps "pow" would be a better acronym ( P**s Off Westminster)

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