Taxi Driver Online

There are several Benefits for Local Authorities if this method is used:
(A) The need to maintain and prioritise a waiting list would no longer be necessary.

(B) A Local Authority's justification, under proposed DFT guidelines, for maintaining quantity restrictions, would only be challenged where significant unmet demand was apparent. The incentive for any individual to take legal action for personal gain, thereby incurring significant legal costs for the relevant local Authority would be removed.

(C) As all applicants would have been treated equally, no individual would feel justly aggrieved, if as an eligible applicant he or she had been unsuccessful in obtaining any new licence issued.

I don't know what the criteria should be for issuing plates but I do know that some on here have expressed strong opinions on what criteria should be used.

To show you how opinions vary, I would like to let you know how the recently formed Taxi Trades Group, views the criteria for issuing licences.

The Taxi trades group was formed a few months ago by the Liverpool and Manchester Taxi associations. I understand several other associations such as Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford etc have also have joined. It is a growing organisation which I understand has about 14 committee members.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that the Manchester Secretary of the TODA was of the opinion that the best way to issue Taxi plates was by ballot.

At the time, I said it was the Chairman but I really meant the Secretary. However, it seems that the view of the secretary may have filtered down to the rest of the TODA committee because the National taxi trades group Which the Manchester TODA is a senior member, has come up with the suggestion that A Ballot is the best way to issue plates.

They have even produced a blueprint "for what they perceive" as being the best way forward for the Taxi Trade. This Blueprint I assume was drawn up and sanctioned by all those involved in the NTTG, so I therefore have to assume that the Manchester TODA agrees with its content.

The assistant Treasurer of the NTTG is our very own and well respected Secretary of the Manchester TODA. The NTTG secretary is a well known member of The Manchester TODA committee. The NTTG Liaison officer is another well respected Manchester GMBU Member.

As you can see Manchester is well connected in the NTTG. So where did the idea of a Ballot system originate?

Having read the whole blue print I must admit that it is disappointing. It is lacking in substance and direction, it raises points but like most protectionist blue prints it doesn’t provide answers.

Here's what it says about Ballots which can be found under Driver Ratios.

Driver Ratios:

Quantity controls, when used properly, assist the taxi trade in providing a cost effective 24/7 service for the members of the travelling public.

It is clearly demonstrated within Jacobs Consultancy's "Evaluation of Taxi service policy" that the issuing of new licenses, if not controlled, can significantly disturb the equilibrium between the number of vehicles and drivers, to the serious detriment of the night time service. This driver ratio element needs to be evaluated in any taxi audit.

The NTTG believes that drawing Ballots for any new Taxi Licences, after Local Authorities have determined their policy for the criteria of eligibility for a new licence, would be beneficial giving an equal opportunity to all parties.

There are several Benefits for Local Authorities if this method is used:

(A) The need to maintain and prioritise a waiting list would no longer be necessary.

(B) A Local Authority's justification, under proposed DFT guidelines, for maintaining quantity restrictions, would only be challenged where significant unmet demand was apparent. The incentive for any individual to take legal action for personal gain, thereby incurring significant legal costs for the relevant local Authority would be removed.

(C) As all applicants would have been treated equally, no individual would feel justly aggrieved, if as an eligible applicant he or she had been unsuccessful in obtaining any new licence issued.

End of Quote.

http://www.taxitalk.co.uk/pages/issue125/nttg.htm

You may be able to get the Blueprint from the link below but if you can't, I'm sure TDO will get one soon and perhaps give it their expert critique.

http://handsoftaxis.moonfruit.com/

Best wishes

JD

What has this to do with "scumbag of the year".
Why is it every topic or posting anywhere on this forum is reduced to "why can't "sussex" have a plate."
It is like try to have a conversation with a spoilt brat child in the room who constantly demands attention and screams down everyone that tries to talk. I don't wish to interfere with his right to free speech and he is entitled to his opinion, but please does the whole formum have to evovle around his pet topic. I am sure he deters a lot of people from posting.
Please "sussex" accept people have opinions other than yours, if you want a plate buy one, the choice is yours. Stop condeming your collegues at every oportunity, highlighting and celebrating others mistakes does not make you look any better.

Keep proding, Sussex will respond.
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The issue was raised about the questionable nature of Ballots. It would appear Mr Davies expanded on the issue by elequently posting the nttg view on Ballots. I expect not many people in this Forum are aware the nttg even exists, I certainly didn't. Did you????
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What has this to do with "scumbag of the year".

Why is it every topic or posting anywhere on this forum is reduced to "why can't "sussex" have a plate."

Please "sussex" accept people have opinions other than yours, if you want a plate buy one, the choice is yours. Stop condeming your collegues at every oportunity, highlighting and celebrating others mistakes does not make you look any better.

A reasonable question. However from experience when a group of people chat, they seldom stay on the same subject throughout the night. I assume forums are much the same.

That's is not the case, and you know it. Didn't someone put a football post up a few days ago.

I doubt I will buy a plate, but wait until all licensed drivers are able to get them for what they are worth i.e. nothing.

"sussex" does not respond he just whines and whines and whines and whines and so on for ever or until he gets a plate. No one cares. The trade is better off without him and so would this forum.

I do not doubt that you will never buy a plate, you are a leech, a parasite that takes and puts nothing back. Truly a product of the welfare state, expect everything on a plate, the ever grasping grabbing hand. No-one owes you a living, you want something buy. If plates are worth nothing why do you crave one so much ?

The leeches you talk about, are those you wish to defend, those that take vast sums of money out of the trade by either selling something they got for nothing, or sitting on their fat bums whilst those not lucky enough earn their livings for them.

You still don't get this do you Sussex.

Even though you've been told countless times, the majority of H/C plates are held by people who BOUGHT THEM.

Some buy them to rent out to drivers who couldn't afford a plate of their own and as far as I'm aware its a arrangement that suits both parties.

What you fail to acknowledge is the greater number of leeches at work within the P/H sector.

Think about how much P/H drivers have to fork out before you use your normal "whats that got to do with it" reply.

Dream your dreams

B. Lucky

Surley people who pay for plates have thought it through and have some business plan, they are far more likely to make a success of it than someone who cannot budget enough to buy one. They are demonstrating a degree of business acumen.

You still don't get this do you Sussex.

Even though you've been told countless times, the majority of H/C plates are held by people who BOUGHT THEM.

They are demonstrating a degree of business acumen.

So you would recommend (oh, you already have) someone new to the trade buying a plate for £30,000 tomorrow?

Is that the sort of business acumen you are talking about?