Taxi Driver Online

Just to keep all you lovely people up to date with current events the meeting of the licensing committee was held on Tuesday the third of February and was deferred for at least another three weeks because apparently the committee had problems downloading the reports to there council issue iPads
They did not receive the hard copy's until the day before the meeting giving them not that long to read and digest them, will let you all know when the next meeting is as soon as we know

if my memory serves me right, with the exception of Cardiff all the others plus Coventry, Birmingham, Milton Keynes have all gone back to limited numbers because the free for all that you want doesn't work in reality.




i suppose you neglect the fact that in free for all land, the fares are considerably higher.

When you people get your free for all, you'll be the first to start crying when theres no work mate.

Cardiff re-regulated as well

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I would say there's nothing like a completely unbiased report - and that report hasn't disappointed

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Exeter taxi drivers condemn council meeting 'farce'



Hassan Al-Seaidy, who owns two Hackney license plates in Exeter

A decision on plans to deregulate the number of hackney carriage taxis in Exeter has been delayed.

Councillors were due to decide on proposals to de-restrict the quantity of cabbies allowed to collect passengers from the city’s 10 taxi ranks and be hailed in the street.

But the verdict was postponed at a licensing committee meeting on Tuesday, because some members had not read a report on the matter.

Hassan Al-Seaidy, who owns two hackney carriage plates in Exeter, described the meeting as a “farce”.

“This policy would kill the livelihoods of at least 60 drivers, because it would open the floodgates for people to get hackney plates,” he said. “But half of the councillors didn’t prepare for the meeting, so they were didn’t know what they were voting on.

“Our fate is in their hands of the councillors. We will try to explain our plight to them, but it will be difficult to change their minds.”

Some existing drivers fear they would not be able to make enough money to stay in business, because custom would be spread more thinly.

The Exeter St David’s Taxi Association has pledged to seek a judicial review in court if the committee rules for an increase on the current limit of 66 licensed hackneys.

In a letter to the council, Terry Falcao of Stephens Scown solicitors, said: “The council should think carefully before it changes a system for which there is no evidence that it is failing, that it does not pass the public benefit test, or that there is unmet demand.”

The licensing committee was also due to decide a related bid to impose new quality criteria for taxis, including a red colour scheme.

The council says enhancements would improve standards and prevent any negative impact from de-restriction. If approved, the new policies would come into effect on May 4.

A council spokesman said: “At the licensing committee meeting on 3 February, some members of the committee requested that the discussion of the report on hackney carriages be deferred to allow more time for them to give proper consideration to the report. The report and accompanying documentation ran to several hundred pages.

“This request for a deferral was put to the committee who decided to postpone the matter to a later date, which is likely to be in a few weeks' time at a special meeting of the committee.”


Read more: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/E ... z3QzGJc2Wx

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What a load of bullshit. Have they forgotten that the council do not have to restrict and must justify any decision to do so? Mr Two Plates' difficulties in extorting excessive rents from his drivers wouldn't qualify as justification IMHO

TBH This lot come across as a bunch of wankers who just want to protect their own arses.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

just say what you mean

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What's a public benefit test?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I asked the same question on 30 Jan 2015, 22:39

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Did you get an answer?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

no

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/F ... dOUCtcb.14


What a very interesting meeting last please see above link


Furious Exeter taxi drivers accuse council of 'killing' jobs as members vote to remove hackney cap



Members of the Exeter St David's Taxi Association were angry at the city council's decision


Taxi drivers were left upset and angry last night after Exeter City Council approved plans to remove restrictions on the number of hackney carriages.

Councillors voted to de-restrict the number of cabbies allowed to collect passengers from city taxi ranks and be hailed in the street.

At a special meeting of the licensing committee members also decided to enhance quality controls, including a distinctive colour scheme for city taxis.

Robert Norley, the council’s assistant director of environment, said: “What we are trying to do is to enhance the taxi fleet in Exeter. We want to see a viable and dynamic fleet. The quality controls have been crafted to achieve that.

“De-restriction would support those who genuinely want to offer a good service and are willing to invest vehicles to a high standard. I can only see that as a positive step forward.”

The proposals were given the go-ahead, despite opposition from Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, Lord Mayor of Exeter Percy Prowse and dozens of existing taxi drivers.

The verdict was met with fury and consternation by drivers at the meeting who accused the council of “killing” their livelihoods.

Halil Shafi, 32, who has been a taxi driver for 4.5 years, handed over the keys to his vehicle at the end of the meeting.

He said: “I am really upset because I earned the money to buy a taxi from working in two chicken factories. This decision will kill our jobs and kill our livelihoods. I feel like I have lost my backbone.”

Exeter St David’s Taxi Association had promised to seek a judicial review if the committee ruled for an increase on the limit of 66 licensed hackneys.

The outcome was postponed at a meeting last month, because some committee members had not read a 591-page report on the matter.

The decision was made without the commission of a survey into unmet demand, which taxi drivers had offered to fund.

Councillor Gill Tippins said: “At the end of the day we’re trying to look at the public interest; we’re not really looking at the interests of the taxi drivers and whether or not they will survive and make a good living. That’s not our priority; our priority is the public interest.”

A report published by the Law Commission last year concluded there was a “lack of empirical evidence” of the benefits of de-restriction.


Read more: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/F ... dOUCtcb.14#ixzz3UctSiier

Is that him who rents his cars out and who's never driven a Taxi?

No he is a owner driver but he soon pick his keys up to his 13 plate registered fiat Doblo as soon as the press left