Taxi Driver Online

I haven't had time to read this properly as yet but at first glance there may be a licensing issue here in respect of licensing and hire or reward. We shall see?
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Leicester Mercury

August 11, 2006 Friday

HEADLINE: Deal may cut £1m from transportation budget

BYLINE: Tom Mack

More than £1 million a year could be saved on the cost of transporting children and the elderly after a landmark deal was struck.

Leicester City Council was paying up to £3 million a year in taxi bills, mainly on youngsters going to special schools and taking pensioners to day centres. It hopes to cut the bill after striking a deal with St John Ambulance, which said it could offer a specialist service.

In September, Leicester City Council leader Roger Blackmore said the bill had to be slashed after the Leicester Mercury revealed overspending in the council's transport service.

Transport costs rose unexpectedly by £600,000.

Taxi fares make up about £3 million of the annual £7 million city council transport budget. Mr Blackmore said that in some cases, the council was paying £30 for journeys as short as three miles.

Costs also rose sharply where taxi companies were asked to provide an escort to help a disabled person get into and out of the cab.

Under the new deal, the average cost of a trip will drop by £4.

Coun Blackmore said: "My hope is that we ought to save something in the range of £1 million for the same amount of trips. However, it is likely demand will rise, so it is hard to predict."

The council said it hoped using one organisation - and which is already involved in caring - would improve services and help cut administration costs.

St John Ambulance will run the passenger service for three years, with the option to have it extended by a further two.

A spokesman for St John Ambulance in Leicestershire welcomed the contract. He said: "We are delighted to have won this important contract and look forward to working with the city council."

Cabinet member for environment, transport and culture, John Mugglestone, said: "It is a tremendous business boost for St John Ambulance.

"We hope it will be a long and happy partnership."

A phased handover to St John Ambulance will take place over the next six months. The council's budget watchdog, the resources scrutiny committee, has been concerned about the over-running budget in transport.

Chairman, Labour councillor Ross Willmott, said the contract would provide a good saving if it worked as planned. He said: "It is good news that it has been sorted out, but it's a pity it's taken them so long.

"This has been going on for three years, costing taxpayers £3 million a year."
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Our council have been using Dial a Ride for school contracts for the last couple of years. Perhaps we could all become charity transport during the week to make ends meet; we could just work at the weekends to take the non charity cases home. Sixty or Seventy hours per week NO eighty hours plus per week to earn a crust.

And are St John's going to have drivers who can only work an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon?

And who will be willing to not earn a bean during school holidays?

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IDFIMH

The latest on this developement.
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Leicester Mercury

August 23, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Transport contract will save money, say councillors

From next year, St John Ambulance will ferry children and pensioners to and from special schools and day centres on behalf of social services.

Taxi drivers said the award of the three-year-contract, worth £6.9 million, would put many of the them out of work.

The National Private Hire Association questioned the tendering process, which was dealt with by purchasing company Espo on behalf of the council.

Bryan Roland, the association's general secretary said: "If St John Ambulance meets all the same safety criteria as required of our members, then that's fine, but if not, then that's very unfair on taxi drivers."

A council spokesman today said: "When we put this contract out to tender we were looking for a very specific service to be provided.

"This includes the collection and transportation of some very vulnerable people, including elderly people and children with special needs.

"We went through a formal tendering process, which was operated by an independent organisation.

"Everyone who bid for the tender was required to meet the same criteria.

"The contract was finally awarded on the basis of quality of service, as well as cost. St John Ambulance already provides this service for hospitals and primary care trusts and its drivers are trained in dealing with vulnerable people, as well as in first aid.

"We're very pleased we are going to be able to provide an improved service and also save taxpayers money."
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Another timley reminder of how vulnerable cabbies really are to an unprovoked attack? I thought I had a good idea of the probable level of violence on a national scale but reading all these stories of violence committed against cab drivers, makes me realise that perhaps I under estimated the gravity of the situation?
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South Wales Evening Post

August 23, 2006 Wednesday

HEADLINE: Taxi stab trial adjourned

A Swansea man accused of stabbing a taxi driver has been remanded in custody.

Mark Lewis is alleged to have carried out the attack near Yates's, at the top of Wind Street, in the early hours of August 13. Taxi driver Richard Davies, aged 33, was allegedly stabbed through the window of the vehicle.

Lewis, aged 42, of Penmaen Terrace, Mount Pleasant, appeared at Swansea Crown Court. The case is adjourned for nine weeks.