Taxi Driver Online

youve done 459 posts, youve posted about a week,
most in reply to Mick, and youve mentioned his product fast tan, not once.

Are you saying it would be better if I mentioned the fast tan?

I've spent most of my spare time on here this week, but it's a one off, so I wouldn't worry too much.

BTW, apart from Sussex I suspect you've posted the most, but lots as guest, so they don't show on your total

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I've always been curious about the 'causes' of part-time drivers, so your comments are clearly interesting in this regard.

A paper on the Dublin taxi trade written by economists at Trinity College Dublin said:

In London, where entry is not regulated but fares are controlled, all drivers must take the same "knowledge" test. The market is supplied by a large proportion of part-time drivers.

A footnote to this says:

Beesley & Glaister (1983) report that 15 per cent of all London taxi drivers have other full-time occupations.

To me 15% doesn't seem that much, but on the other hand B&G's definition of part-time cleary isn't the same as your own.

Also interesting was a report in the Evening Standard at the time of the firefighters' strike which said that 500 London taxi badge holders were firefighters.

I found this figure amazing, but the article wasn't clear whether this was just green badge holders or included yellow as well - incidentally, how many yellow badge holders are there?

But intuitively I've always assumed that the harder it is to get a badge then the fewer part-timers there will be, since people would be less likely to do the KOL to work 15 hours a week than do so in an LA without a knowledge test at all.

But of course the KOL might deter people with current full-time jobs that they have no intention of leaving (like the firefighters, say) but clearly wouldn't be a deterrent to those who have worked full-time as a green badge holder but then work part-time while 'semi-retired' as you describe them.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Hardly

You might have noticed numerous criticisms of the OFT report by TDO elswehere on this forum and on the articles accessible from the homepage.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

The differences as I see them include:

- The boost to earnings provided by the KOL is EARNED, whereas plate restriction provides an UNEARNED windfalls to those who control them. All plates in restricted areas were issued for free, but it's claimed that the total UK value is around £1 billion. Of course, some have gained more than others from this, but it's just not those who got a free plate who have gained by selling it on (and making excess profits while they hold it) but also the many others who have made gains from a plate they purchased. Of course, some have lost out by buying a plate in an area which has soon after de-restricted, and it's the inherent political risk that makes many people reluctant to buy one.

- The restriction of the KOL is also at the driver level, and not at the vehicle level and is to that extent fair. Plate restrictions are on the vehicle, and there is no control on driver numbers in numerical terms. Thus the journeyman driver earns at the rate he would without plate restrictions - he may get more work and/or higher fares, but this is lost in the inflated rentals paid to hire the taxi. In places like Brighton and Edinburgh journeymen far exceed plate holders.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

t. d .o. bus drivers far exceed buses....mr t

as I say you are an irritant I hope the taxi is mended soon.

yes he does wrote thier judgement on taxis, and some background papers did dusty

Updated list of Authorities who restrict H/C Vehicles by number:


1. Ashford. Restricted, to be reviewed early 2005.
2. Aylesbury Vale. Restricted
3. Babergh. Restricted
4. Barnsley. Survey commissioned on unmet demand for the services of Taxis.
5. Barrow in Furness. Restricted
Basildon. Implementing new policy of no restriction 1/4/05 Quality control.
6. Basingstoke. Restricted
7. Bath and North East Somerset ua. Two Zones. Bath city Restricted Plate Value 20k.
8. Bedford. Restricted.
9. Blackburn Darwen ua. Consultation on deregulation underway, scheduled to finish end Nov.
10. Blackpool. 256 hacks, 44 horse drawn. Intention is to keep a numbers policy.
11. Blyth Valley. 41 hacks, decision on change of policy early 2005.
12. Bolton. Restricted.
13. Bournemouth ua. Restricted
14. Bradford. Restricted. Policy to be reviewed Before Jan 2005
15. Braintree. Restricted
16. Brighton and Hove ua. Voted on 6/01/05 to retain current policy and Survey in 1996.
17. Burnley. Moving to a restricted growth policy.
18. Calderdale. Zoned area, only Halifax remains restricted.
19. Carrick. Conducting a survey.
20. Chelmsford. Recommendation to lift numbers, decision to be made on January 26th 2005.
21. Cherwell. Policy currently under review.
22. Chester. Undertaking unmet demand survey 2005.
23. Chester le street. Restricted
24. Chorley. Review of policy early 2005.
25. Colchester. Restricted
26. Congleton. keeping a Restricted numbers policy but will allow 16 new licences for wavs.
27. Conwy. Restricted
28. Copeland. Restricted
29. Corby. Restricted
30. Denbighshire. Restricted
31. Dover. Restricted. Unmet demand Survey.
32. Durham. Restricted. Recently issued a quota of new licenses. Policy continually under review.
33. Easington. Restricted
East Riding. Restricted lifting numbers on April first 2005.
34. Eastbourne. Restricted
35. Eastleigh. Internal report under consideration.
36. Ellesmere Port. Restricted
37. Exeter. Undertaking unmet demand survey.
38. Fylde. Restricted. Unmet demand survey to be carried out, consultation process to follow.
39. Gosport. Restricted
Great Yarmouth. Voted to remove limit on numbers 22/12/04 Quality control.
40. Gwynedd. Restricted
41. Halton ua. A Recent licensing report stated that local plate values stood at 10/12k and this indicated no unmet demand. Possible flawed logic, which does not address DFT guidance.
42. Harrogate. Restricted
43. Hastings. Restricted. Policy change under review, decision imminent.
44. Havant. Restricted
45. High Peak. Restricted
46. Huntingdonshire. Restricted
47. Hyndburn. Restricted
48. Ipswich. Restricted
49. Kings Lynn. Restricted
50. Kingston upon Hull. Restricted
51. Kirklees. Restricted
52. Knowsley. Undertaking unmet demand survey
53. Lancaster. Restricted to 105 H/C/V
54. Leeds. Consultation on policy change currently underway.
55. Leicester. Restricted
56. Lincoln. Undertaking unmet demand survey.
57. Liverpool. Restricted Plate Value 40k
58. Luton ua. Restricted
59. Maidstone. Restricted
60. Manchester. Restricted. Has a policy of issuing 20/25 new licences annually. Plate Values 50k.
Merthyr removed restrictions 1/12/04 new policy Quality control.
61. Mid Sussex. Restricted.
62. Mole Valley. Restricted
63. New Forest. Report for consideration to be presented to committee members in January 2005
64. Newcastle on Tyne. Restricted.
65. Newcastle under Lyme. Restricted
66. Nottingham. Undertaking an unmet demand survey.
67. Oldham. Restricted.
68. Oxford. Restricted. Recently voted to retain a restricted numbers policy.
69. Pendle. Restricted
70. Penwith. Restricted
71. Plymouth ua. Legal Challenge on refusal to issue H/C licence, Court hearing 2005.
72. Poole ua. Restricted
73. Portsmouth ua. Restricted
74. Preston. Restricted
75. Reading ua. Restricted. Policy change unlikely.
76. Reigate and Banstead. Restricted
77. Restormel. Restricted
78. Ribble Valley. Restricted.
79. Richmondshire. Restricted. Undertaking unmet demand survey. Halcrow.
80. Rochdale. Restricted
81. Rotherham. Restricted. 48 H/C. Currently undertaking an unmet demand survey.
82. Rugby. Conducting an unmet demand survey to consider options.
83. Salford. Presently addressing Government guidance could possibly commission local survey.
84. Scarborough. 97 H/C/V review in Early 2005.
85. Sefton. Restricted
86. Solihull. Stated numbers limit will be removed in 2005. Confirmation early 2005.
87. South Bedfordshire. Restricted. Policy currently under review.
88. South Ribble. Restricted
89. South Tyneside. Restricted
90. Southampton ua. Restricted
91. Southend on sea ua. Restricted
92. St Edmundsbury. Restricted
93. St Helens. Unmet demand survey being conducted early 2005.
94. Stevenage. Restricted
95. Stockport. Restricted. Commissioning a Mori survey to determine future policy. P value 22k
96. Stoke on Trent ua. Restricted
97. Sunderland. Restricted. 308 H/C/V
98. Swindon ua. Policy under review, consultations being conducted with relevant parties.
99. Tameside. Restricted
100. Teignbridge. Undertaking unmet demand survey.
101. Test Valley. Restricted to 34 H/C, policy to be reviewed shortly in line with DFT request.
102. Thanet. Restricted
103. Thurrock ua. Restricted
104. Torbay ua. Restricted
105. Torfaen. Restricted.
106. Torridge. Decision on quotas imminent.
107. Trafford. Restricted.
108. Tunbridge wells. Restricted
109. Wakefield. Undertaking unmet demand survey.
110. Walsall. Review expected on 25 November 2004 Licensing Committee meeting.
111. Wansbeck. Policy under review. 30 H/C vehicles.
112. Warrington ua. Restricted
113. Watford. Preference to maintain a managed growth policy, next survey scheduled 2005/2006
114. Welwyn Hatfield. Re Restricted late 2003. Were previously unrestricted.
115. Weymouth. Restricted
116. Wigan. Restricted
117. Windsor and Maidenhead ua. Restricted
118. Wolverhampton. Decision on quotas imminent.
119. Worthing. Managed growth policy. Wav only. Conducting survey to measure demand.
120. Wrexham. Restricted.
121. Wyre.160 H/C/V Survey commissioned for Jan 2005 final report to committee, Feb 2005.
122. Wyre Forest. Provisional decision to de-restrict numbers, ratification imminent.
123. York ua. Policy under review. Plate values 40k


Plate Value Database.

The information compiled in the plate value database reflects the values of plates in just 29 of the 123 authorities. This leaves 94 authorities that still have to be surveyed.

The highest accurate plate value so far obtained, is that of the controlled zone of Halifax in the District of Calderdale. Halifax has 37 Hackney carriages with a plate value of seventy thousand pounds. Plates have been known to change hands for eighty thousand pounds but the general consensus in the Halifax Taxi trade is that the plate values range between 70 and 80k, with this in mind the lower figure of 70k was used as the assessment for the plate value.

In 2003 Stockport plate values where 28k but because of uncertainty they are currently changing hands for 22k. It is estimated that the value will increase to at least its 2003 level should the council decide to keep its limitation policy.

Manchester's plate value of 50k has remained constant because of the council's current policy of restricting licenses to approximately 25 per year. This gives stability to plate values as long as that policy remains in force. Surrounding Authorities who have never in the past measured demand, such as Trafford, Salford, Tameside and Stockport have plate values in the low twenties.

Brighton & Hove voted on the 6th January 2005 to retain its numbers policy, the current plate value is 45k, this figure may well exceed 50k in the coming months.

Chelmsford's plate value two years ago was 40k but because of uncertainty it is now down to 20k.



Council Plate value Quota Total value
Liverpool £40,000 1417 £56,680,000
Manchester £50,000 890 £44,500,000
Brighton and Hove ua £45,000 479 £21,555,000
Newcastle on Tyne £25,000 819 £20,475,000
Bradford £55,000 224 £12,320,000
Blackpool. £45,000 256 £11,520,000
Leeds £20,000 402 £8,040,000
York ua £40,000 158 £6,320,000
Knowsley £15,000 240 £3,600,000
Sefton £13,000 271 £3,523,000
Wigan £25,000 136 £3,400,000
Halton ua £12,000 267 £3,204,000
Tameside £20,000 143 £2,860,000
Calderdale Halifax zone £70,000 37 £2,590,000
Stockport £22,000 114 £2,508,000
Trafford £22,000 103 £2,266,000
Eastbourne £25,000 84 £2,100,000
Chester £25,000 73 £1,825,000
Bath and North East Somerset ua £20,000 90 £1,800,000
Salford £22,000 78 £1,716,000
Oldham £20,000 85 £1,700,000
Chelmsford £20,000 82 £1,640,000
Warrington £15,000 109 £1,635,000
Blackburn And Darwin £20,000 64 £1,280,000
Worthing £20,000 60 £1,200,000
Bolton £11,000 104 £1,144,000
St Helens £12,000 63 £756,000
Hastings £15,000 48 £720,000
Ellesmere Port £13,000 40 £520,000

£757,000 Total value £223,397,000

Manchester should read 854 cabs not 890 and total value 42,700.000 not 44,500,000. I keep forgetting to update the old Manchester stats on the database, it is now done. The overall total is 221.597.000

Best wishes

JD

Bath have two zones, of which one the city zone, is regulated. Bath licensing told me they have 90 Hackneys, however the DFT say they have 148. Perhaps the DFT figures include both zones.

Best wishes

JD

Again I have to apologise, Brighton should read 484 cabs £21,780,000.

Total overall value 221,822,000.

Best wishes

JD

I dont believe a Halifax plate has gone for £70,000 LET ALONE £80,000

THIS HAD A NEW TX2 ATACHED!

I suspect that's easily remedied, the next time you have cause to venture into Halifax why not ask a Cabby if he would like to sell you his cab and plate for 70k.

Best wishes

JD

I suspect if you approached any cabby with such an offer he would accept, so your argument is pointless.

Still no continued acceptance that following derestriction plate values are retained.

Still misleading statements like all plates are issued free are wrongly quoted.

All I'm asking for is fairness of statements here, plates have in most cases been sold by the person who recieved it free and the prices quoted were certainly not charged at that time. I'm not requesting that this information be included, as it would be impossible to collect, however proper representation of the correct facts is essencial to ensure the credibility of the piece if published.

B. Lucky