Taxi Driver Online

This questionnaire document was sent to TDO via email from a TDO subscriber. I understand it is the same document posted in another thread by Mr T by way of a url that didn't appear to work, (at least not for me).

Having read the document it would appear to be a questionnaire consultation process sent by the "Institute of Licensing" to certain taxi and private hire operator organisations, in order for it to be distributed to their membership.

I do not think members of these organisations have a divine right of participation over the 90% of Taxi owners and drivers who prefer not to join an organisation and are therefore excluded so I have made the questionnaire available to all those who feel the need to convey their views and opinion to the Institute of Licensing.

In order to make the document more user friendly I have added certain information for those TDO subscribers and visitors who might wish to complete the form. The form data has not been changed but I hope the additional information will help those who just want to complete the form at their leisure and on their computer. The questionnaire consists of 15 pages and takes about twenty minutes to complete. I found it easier to delete the questions I disagreed with, leaving only those questions that relate to ones own opinion.

The information is self explanatory.

The document can be downloaded here.

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/files/taxireformtdo.doc

Regards

JD

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I think the main points to consider are (A), the document was made available for anyone who wishes to participate, which understandably might not appeal to everyone but it might appeal to some? And the second point, is that the prospect of new legislation in this Governments reign is remote to say the least and anyone completing the form should be aware of that before they give up their valuable time.

I wouldn't put anyone off not completing the form, or even part of the form, for the simple reason that I have added an additional page and half so that anyone can give their own opinion of what they desire for change.

Regards

JD

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I posted the original form and sent a copy through e-mail to TDO... my reason was so that people could see the questions that were being asked.... but I think people should remember that this questionnaire has only been sent out to certain groups..

I would be hesitant to believe that if anybody else filled the questionnaire in it would be taken into account, but you never know...

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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!

Well tell me, who is the questionnaire designed for?

We know to whom it was sent, the NTA and the NPHA but who will the NTA send a copy to?

Will it be to all 60 or so of their affiliated "taxi owners associations" and will they in turn print out a copy for all their members? Did you get a copy from the NTA and did you print out a copy for all your members or did you just bin it?

Now we have the 24,000 dollar question who will Brian Roland send it to considering his association doesn't operate on a democratic membership structure? If he sent it to all those operators who pay him for an advice service, will they print it out and give it to the workers?

I would really like you to address this question because it is most important and eats right at the heart of democracy. Are you saying that if a taxi driver or taxi owner doesn't belong to a taxi association and that taxi association is not part of the NTA then their opinion is not worth consideration?

Can you please explain why you are hesitant to believe that the IOL would only consider replies from members of the NTA and an association such as the NPHA that nationally, represents no one.

Regards

JD

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I think as many folks as possible should fill in as much as they see fit.

And there is nothing stopping anyone forwarding it to the DfT.

Somethings need changing, drivers need better protection, and they need their earnings protected, both by new statutes.

We need to get away from councillors controlling taxi prices, and we need to get away from one person with the hump holding up a reasonable fare rise.

Also drivers know what makes them feel safer, not thick as pig s*** councillors.

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IDFIMH

JD.. you really must learn to control your temper.... if anybody wants to fill it in then they should.. It is just that I am not really sure anybody will bother reading them..

As for what other people will do or not do is not for me to guess.. but having read the letter accompanying the questionnaire it was designed at this moment to be answered by three certain associations. all of which work in different ways..

but I am inclined to think that if there was a new regime it would still be the same licensing officers wearing a different uniform.... and still interpreting the law in their own way.. after all.. we have laws now.. which they interpreter to their own ends....
PS ... do I think that the future of the hackney and private hire trade should be in hands of a questionnaire that has been constructed by an association of licensing officers........NO

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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!

I fail to see the correlation in this statement and the tone of my post. I thought my post was tempered with restraint and to the point, with not a hint of pique displayed.



Bother reading them all or just the questionnaires sent from TDO?



I'm going to ask the IOL to make public the number of replies received and who from?



And none are representative of the Taxi trade.



I disagree entirely.



Under new legislation one would hope and no doubt presume that the law would be free from manipulation with fixed legislative criteria administered by the Secretary of State, just like buses, planes and trains.



We have outdated laws dating back to 1847 and 1976 that contain certain ambiguous sections that afford councillors the right to chop and change conditions as they see fit, regardless of their legality. Under a new act it is hoped that councillors wont even be in the equation and there will be no more ambiguity and manipulation in respect of legislation and clauses such as, "AS THEY THINK FIT".



The questionnaire is only a part of an ongoing process and probably the main point in that questionnaire is the response to the question about "the need for change".

The NTA and the NTTG have already said they are happy with current legislation but 60 or so local associations amounting to a handful of members in the grand scheme of things, doesn't amount to a great deal.

The bottom line is that we need new legislation starting from scratch. We need to forget all about the horse and cart as though it never existed and approach the hire and reward business as it stands today.

The chance of legislation in this Governments reign is non existent but no one knows what might happen in two years time when a new Government takes control.

This meeting of minds exercise has shown that you lot haven't got what it takes to effect meaningful change for the taxi trade because out of all the things that needed changing all you could come up with was an agenda to remove certain freedoms currently enjoyed by hackney carriage drivers and not only in England and Wales but also in London and Scotland.

I'm afraid the dinosaurs have had their day and we need to rid ourselves from the shackles of inept politically motivated and blinkered councillors. The only way we can do that is by new legislation.

Regards

JD

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We already have a single tier system in over two hundred local authorities, its called "deregulation". How does one propose to get rid of private hire when hackney carriages or taxis as they will probably become known already operate as private hire albeit unfettered by outdated legislation namely the 1976 act which fails to take into account modern technology. Changing the license status of private hire to hackney is not going to remove the private booking system.

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Its a biased Questionaire and Just seems to smack of More needless regulation rather than less.

Which questions do you think are biased?

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The Institute of Licensing are obviously very Smart in asking a question in a manner that leaves the real Question unasked

In that case advise us of what you believe to be the real questions?

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and aimed at getting the answers the want rather as an answer that would more likely have been given had it been better posed.

Hasn't the IOL given you the opportunity in that questionnaire to submit your own interpretation of what you believe should be required in any new legislation?

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looks like they want Taxis to be Taxis with no room for PH whatsoever.

I don't think that has been established but perhaps their logic is based on the fact that considering both sides do the same job, which is transporting the public, then why have two separate licensing regimes? Like I said previously, hackney carriage drivers are equally at liberty to undertake private hire bookings in exactly the same way as private hire operators but with more flexibility. The problem with some people is that they don't want change because they fear the removal of section 16. In the case of private hire operators they fear the freedom new legislation might bring to existing private hire drivers, especially those who operate in restricted areas. Removing section 16 is the main reason the restricted side of the hackney carriage trade doesn't want change. They have a point mind you but in my opinion it doesn't outweigh the need for change.

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so I for one will not be Participating in filling it in just to hasten my own PH demise.

I would have thought the majority of private hire drivers would have welcomed the flexibility that a one tier system brings. That is certainly the case in the majority of authorities that operate a system of no numbers control. Your response as a private hire driver would seem to be at variance with statistics. Which ever way you look at it private hire will remain the same and all that will be changed is the word "private hire driver" to "Taxi Driver".

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However they also realise that by the likes of me not filling it in that they will get more chance of the result they want by way of it being completed by operators of metered taxis.

At this stage of the game I don't think results are what the IOL are looking for. What they are looking for is feedback and whether or not there is an identifiable consensus on the points raised?

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I don't see the relation between the two, the IOL is a body that is trying to bring about change for the modernisation of an industry plagued by outdated legislation. It cannot impose legislation, it can only propose it, the final detail rests with the Government of the day and in which way they wish to take it.

I must say that for a private hire driver I'm surprised at your opposition to change because all we ever hear from the the majority of private hire drivers is that they want to be able to pick up off the street legally, the same as hackney carriage drivers.

You will have to forgive me for feeling a little sceptical at your private hire credentials.

I'm sure that point hasn't been missed by those reading this thread.

Regards

JD

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JD.As per usual you cannot see the wood for the trees... the meeting of minds is about getting people talking together, and more.... and you do not do not believe legislation should be flexible..... interesting..... most people think it should.... comrade.

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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!

The meeting of minds exercise is about certain people promoting their own agenda, at the expense of the hackney carriage trade. Your perceived observation regarding flexible legislation is meaningless and out of context.

Regards

JD

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JD.. I can just see the new act now.... anybody in any member state as long as they are licensed in their member-state can work in England. licensing of cars and drivers in Poland and company in Poland and work Brighton...... be careful for what you wish for you just might get it and more,, and by the time you realise you will be well and truly F*****

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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!

I expect a new act will introduce a higher standard of entry than is the case under current legislation. I think as per usual you have failed to grasp the point that under the current system it is common practice in some authorities for someone who cannot communicate a word of English to obtain a license. The driver quality control barriers are non existent under the current system.

Regards

JD

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JD, you missed one point, any person requiring a taxi must take the first one from any rank

I haven't failed to grasp anything... I think you are the short-sighted one ....

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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!