Taxi Driver Online

On the 3 May 2006 a senior licensing officer and members of the
Transport and General Workers Union, both Liverpool Branch and
national level officers, attended a meeting in London held with
senior civil servant at the Department for Transport responsible
Taxis.
At this meeting representations were made outlining the nature of
the level of private hire vehicles licensed by other district councils
waiting in Liverpool to be assigned calls. Issues of illegality
associated with private hire vehicles plying for hire were also aired.
During the meeting, copies of the full report considered by the
Licensing Committee and recommendations for changes in the law
concerning private hire activity were submitted to Mr David Farmer
the Head of the Bus and Taxi division of the DfT. Mr Farmer noted
the proposed change requested in the legislation by the
Committee and committed himself to speaking to Members of
Parliament and Ministers over the proposal.
Both the Union representatives and licensing officer discussed the
recent Office of Fair Trading report in to the taxi and private hire
trade in the UK and Mr Farmer stated that Liverpool had made “A
compelling argument in maintaining limits on hackney carriage
vehicle licences locally”. However the DfT remained committed to
district councils demonstrating the need and consumer benefit of
maintain any set limits.
Mr Farmer further stated that he did not foresee the Office of Fair
Trading revisiting the subject of taxi deregulation in the near future.

They went to London on the pretext , of trying to put an end to Sefton PH sitting in Liverpool waiting to be hired . They spent most of the time talking about , the OFT report. It seems they have got what they wanted from Mr Farmer, that the subject of Taxi deregulation will not be revisited . Mr Farmer stated that (Liverpool had made a compelling argument in maintaining limits on hackney s ) Why does he think that all those sefton PH are sitting in Liverpool . I give up. streetcars

Interesting, VERY interesting.... if true...

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Former taxi driver

Oh its true alright Jimbo. So it’s the end of the road for any body who wants to own a Taxi in Liverpool without taking a giant risk, in Liverpool its 50,000 to 65,000 plus for a cab and plate. It looks like yet again the vested interest of a few, wins over the poor down trodden many. How did they do that ?, go to London to discuss cross border hireings end up, talking about the OFT report clever . Streetcars.

From my experience civil servants will say what the person/people opposite want them to say.

And the person/people opposite the civil servants hear what they want to hear.

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IDFIMH

Don't under estimate David Farmer, the DfT or the OFT. If you need to quote from any of those sources then it might be wise to quote from what is already in the public domain?

David Farmer does not make policy and he cannot change legislation. The representatives from Liverpool might think he can but they are sadly mistaken. If the same representatives think David Farmer can speak for John Fingleton of the OFT then again they are sadly mistaken.

From the DfT's previous correspondence in respect of those councils who still retain numbers control and their published consultation document on Best practice, it is quite clear where the DfT stands.

Regards

JD

OK, JD, No need to shout!

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Former taxi driver

The source of Mr Farmers comments ,are on Liverpool councils web site, i suppose, in the public domain, admittedly in the agenda for the next committee meeting . Are you saying that you dont think, these are the veiws of Mr Farmer . Regards Streetcars .

Without taking a trip over to the Liverpool website myself, is it possible for someone who has already been there, to divulge the SOURCE of Mr Farmers comments?

I find it hard to believe that even Liverpool council would contemplate admitting hearsay comment from a taxi driver or drivers in respect of a Civil servent? The only true statment that can be relied upon is one written by Mr Farmer's own hand?

Regards

JD

Perhaps members of Liverpool’s Taxi licensing committee may feel there being cynically manipulated by the vested interest in Liverpool. You would think they might find it strange that they approved a meeting with Mr. Farmer to discuss Sefton P H shafting Liverpool, they go down there. Then spend most of there time talking about a completely different subject . Are the people on this committee completly stupid. I will try to E-mail Mr Farmer to find out if these comments attributed to him are true. Perhaps these people may feel, they not only have the right to change the Law of the land, but can tell a load of lies as well.streetcars .

I seem to feel a deep seated mistrust of DELTA?



Errm, you ever watched 'Yes Minister' JD?

Captain cab

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

Well according to June's Taxi'talk' a top bod at the T&G had a meeting with the DfT and was told the government supported deregulation/delimitation.

So either the T&G are lying about the first meeting, or they are lying about the last one.

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IDFIMH

Of course, we can't forget that, as ably demonstrated by JD's avatar, the T&G didn't seem to actually read the Govt's response to the OFT (and the NTA didn't read it properly), which perhaps explains some of the confusion.

It might be instructive to underline that the Govt's response said:



I make that about spring next year

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

only took ten days to reply to this thread

hehe

sudden impact

Captain cab

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

Problem was that it wasn't interesting enough to reply to (same old, same old) until the possibility of a contradiction arose.

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

We seem to have two differing things here, PH sitting in Liverpool (licensed in other districts) and Illegal plying for hire.

Changes in the law? shum mishtake shurly

Captain Cab

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