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The Casey Column
By
Wayne CaseyThe views expressed in this column may not be those of the National Taxi Association
Reaping the whirlwind you created
Well, I guess a few of you will be surprised at me writing my diatribe once again, let alone any publisher wishing to publicise my illiterate offerings – obviously, you aren’t as surprised as me, but there you go.
For this month’s article, I am going to set my sights mainly at the government.
As everyone should know, I was very much opposed to changes forced upon the taxi and private hire trades by the deregulation bill – so much so (and unlike the majority of you), that I wrote letters to various MP’s and members of the House of Lords expressing my concerns.
Elements of the private hire trade welcomed and campaigned for the proposed changes – greedily eyeing potential new markets across district borders as well as additional drivers to hire radio equipment.
To quote some representative group;
“In a modern Britain there should be no "invisible borders" or "barriers to free trade", as protectionism and outdated thinking belongs to yesterday.”
Now I must admit those words above are mighty fine, and I know a bit about words because I have Irish roots and the country of my forefathers gave the world some of its finest writers and poets. They are very poignant, however, in terms of the taxi and private hire trade they are complete and utter rubbish.
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but the needs of the taxi using public in Shap are very different to the needs of a metropolis such as London. It’s quite inexplicable that a vehicle licensed in Shap should travel to London to work there basically all of the time and never see Shap again.
It isn’t protectionist to insist on standards, just as it isn’t protectionist to insist if you’re going to license yourself in one area that is the area where you should be working.
It’s quite ironic, the cross border private hire issue has actually aided that damned global app more than it will aid any run of the mill private hire operator. It’s also a matter of record that certain folk from the Private Hire industry are hysterically running around the country telling local authorities about the danger that damn app is going to bring.
Indeed the following statement was recently read by one council committee:
In addition to the above in London there is strong evidence that Uber PHV Drivers are travelling into the London Licensing Area (Cross Border) and parking vehicles without bookings
Oh the irony being is that these same operators have very few qualms about taking on ‘out of town’ hackney carriages – which facing facts are only entering areas to bypass standards, with the added bonus that they display huge illuminated ‘taxi’ signs on their roofs.
Its surprisingly amusing to witness minicab firms desperately scramble to get downloadable apps for their firms – in terms of the size of the fight they face it’s a little like Arkwright’s corner shop taking on Wal-Mart.
My grandmother may not be iphone savvy, she’ll continue to use her landline phone to call a taxi or minicab – but will it still be the same when the younger generation get a little older? Somehow, I doubt it.
Of course, when a body makes a statement like the following – believing London has the best licensing system in the UK – when that same licensing system granted a satellite office license to an address that was in fact an alley way, then you seriously have to question what the country will be like if these people get their own way.
We are talking of a regulator of such stupidity they employ a paltry four staff to deal with over 100,000 license applications and renewals – then wonder why driver licenses are delayed.
“London has shown that a larger body or Metropolitan Authority (like the GLA via TfL) is far better placed to regulate Taxi & Private Hire, than smaller Local Authorities whose other policies can sometimes get in the way of appropriate modern regulations and requirements.”
So after many months of arguing about the rights and wrongs of changing provincial taxi and private hire law the government eventually decided the 1st October 2015 would see the changes implemented.
You would naturally think they would then perhaps issue guidance to local authorities on how to implement the changes, you would think they’d give advice to those councils that issue 1 year licenses how to issue 3 year licenses, and more importantly to me and you, how they should charge for those licenses.
Well, that’s what they want you to think, because that would suggest someone in, presumably the DfT, knows what they’re doing.
The advice actually given to local authorities has been zero, zilch, nothing and nada.
Across the country local authorities are basically doing what they usually do, invariably this leads to me receiving calls about councils who intend to increase license fees by around 300 percent.
In the past month or so we have seen the following headlines from local papers;
Taxi drivers could go on strike as council raise licence costs
Derby cabby sees Christmas hit by licence rule changes
Taxi driver travels 200 miles to warn council about Uber
Taxi fees to rise despite widespread opposition
Taxi drivers’ licence cost faces substantial hike
Cabbies feeling the pinch over new licensing rules
Minicab strike action delayed for "at least two weeks" after council talks
I did warn anyone who would listen what the effect of these changes would lead to without the necessary government advice, so please don’t say you weren’t warned.
It is a true irony in respect of the laxer cross border rules that the proponents of the changes have seemingly gone a little quiet about what they have actually brought about – the most alarming uncertainty is the one of enforcement.
As many of you will be aware, the law commission (remember them?) did actually take on board trade concerns and suggest a licensing officer should be able to have some kind of jurisdiction over any licensed vehicle entering their area. The current cross border situation has zero (save for Murkyside where they did have the genius idea of actually working together across district borders in terms of enforcement).
What the government appears to have done, is exactly what I predicted. They have embraced the free market, which means drivers can bypass local regulations and find a less vigorous licensing area to use as a flag of convenience. A system where a driver can work elsewhere, safe in the knowledge they can stick two fingers up at any enforcement officer that approaches them. Strangely, this is what elements of the private hire trade wanted – oh but then entered that damn global app – can you remember me saying be careful what you wish for?
All very good for my rather large ego – but zero good for the travelling public – nor you in the long term.
NTA News
As members will be aware, this year’s AGM saw John Kemp of Falmouth given honorary membership.
Members were made aware of John attending 30 AGM’s and 50 years in the cab trade by the association chairperson Paul Brent – he was given the honour in a unanimous decision.
Of course, there’s a fine line between commitment, and needing committal – but my opinion is my opinion 
NTA Conference
Well, what can I say – we held the AGM in Didsbury and nobody was murdered. This is much to the credit of the administration officer, who truly loves his members as much as he loves his own family.
The open session saw presentations from James Button, a well known chap with immense knowledge, who the NTA membership have warmed to after rather frosty beginnings.
The United Cabbies Group, departed the metropolis that is London to advise the NTA membership of the situation in London. I sincerely hope the UCG achieve their goals, goodness knows, those GBC’s out there have dedicated enough of their lives for that reason. (and thats still a becks you owe me GBC).
NALEO, this year represented by John Thompson gave an excellent address as usual, demonstrating a commitment to work with the cab trade.
Tony Porter, the governments North West CCTV commissioner advised delegates on the lawful use of CCTV – the highlights being on what councils could and couldn’t insist upon.
Star Anderton, UKIP’s disability spokesman gave her experiences with disabled travel, sympathising with cab drivers in a very human and kind way. To be perfectly honest I thought this lady made the conference.
Finally, a Brummie copper came along and basically stole the show. If councils want enforcement done properly and lawfully, please call this guy, or tweet him. If coppers were all like this chap, you wouldn’t mind being arrested.
NTA AGM & Conference 2016
At the time of writing next year’s conference (and AGM) will coincide with the taxi and PH exhibition in Milton Keynes – it is an opportunity to meet me. That in itself will instantly increase attendance – as my loyal followers will in no doubt use this once a year opportunity to castigate and berate me.
The NTA Chairman usually holds a dinner after our AGM (which is for members only) – but the dinner can be attended by anyone who is willing to give us money.
Yes, this opportunity means you can do exciting things like bathe before you turn up and you can – nay - must wear a suit!
Good stuff.
In future issues I will advise which branch of Matalan you should go to, as well as the best kind of aftershave and deodorant to use.
I will also advise on decent conversation, without grunts – and how to pay attention to conversation, even when bored.
Till next month
Have a lucrative chrimbo, and a prosperous new year, keep safe, be lucky.
Wayne Casey
_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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And those differences would have influenced the rest of the Country .....................shamefully only 27% of the electorate voted...........and weve paid the price no homes for workers no fire engines and very soon no coppers .......................a thieves and spivs paradise ....................and just as likely a JIHADIST ONE TOO 