Taxi Driver Online

Err, if you read my posts you should be more than aware that I have not tried to say that you didn't admit to your mistake - indeed, it was me that underlined that you had stated that you were mistaken.

But the fact that you're now denying that I acknowledged that is symptomatic of the problem.

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

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Zat the best you can do?

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

Because the NTA have a wealth of talent, unlike the GMB who have talent less wealth.

1. Free copy of chairman Mau’s little red book
2. Russian 'lesbian' shot-putters section
3. 103 free MP's (cash without question!)
4. 13 MEP's (buy one get one free)
5. Free weekend in their care for the elderly residential home in Eastbourne
6. Free skoda octavia (made in Czechoslovakia special edition)
7. Free copy of anti fascist weekly
8. Free dartboard with Mrs. Thatcher’s face
9. Free Royal Family scrapbook (celebrity It's a Knockout special)
10. Free flared trousers
11. Free edition of Carry on at your Convenience

CC

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

Excuse me for being pedantic, but isn't the Eastbourne hideaway the T&G's?

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

Tell me about it, the NTA conference is there next year

CC

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

Whoa there CC ...................... you mean we're going to Sussex ............... and we only have to wait a year.

I only find that amusing cause I'll be taking my taxi to Eastbourne before Sussex has his.


B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Just tell me where and when, and I will do my best to make sure the fire alarms are checked throughout the night.

But as the Eastbourne cab trade is run by a bunch of fools, the NTA should be in good company.

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IDFIMH

I like this LO's optimism that he might not need anymore surveys? lol

9.5 With regard to the commissioning of future unmet demand surveys it is considered that, especially given the OFT’s and to a lesser extent the government’s objections to local authorities maintaining quantity controls, that unmet demand will become less important in the consideration of such issues. It is therefore proposed that a range of local indicators is developed to monitor the situation on an ongoing basis to ensure that any limit is to the benefit of customers.

This may obviate the need for a future unmet demand survey, and even if one is required will allow a more targeted approach reducing costs substantially. Any indicators would be developed in consultation with the Hackney Carriage Federation.

If members agree to this proposal there is then no requirement for substantial fee increases. Any proposed fee increase will be subject to a separate report.

And Me? I just like this LO.

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Former taxi driver

This is the representation put forward by the head honcho of the Basingstoke Hackney carriage Federation. He infers that all you guys in derestricted authorities are runnng around in sheds and can't afford to mainatian your vehicles. It makes for interesting reading if only for the novelty value. At first I thought he was talking about restricted Blackpool when he launched into his appraisal of delimited areas but I soon realised I was wrong. lol
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Melvyn Leaman Hon Sec BHCF

Chair, Councillors

You have tonight before you the final draft TPI report of the unmet demand survey for the Basingstoke Hackney Carriages. The trade fully agree with the reports findings of no significant unmet demand.

After the last TPI report 9 new licenses were issued as recommended. There was a lot of Councillors throwing the amount of licences to be issued ranging from delimiting the numbers to 27 licences in 2 batches of 6 months to the 9 licences recommended.

The report went from Licensing Committee to Full Council to the Overview Committee to Full Council to the Licensing Committee before the Council accepted the 9 new licences recommended.

The 9 new licences were issued because of the expected extra demand for taxis from the opening of Festival Place. This work never materialised.
No provision was made for the explosion in work buses ie Sony Motorola Chineham Bus, Lillies Industries buses and the pink shuttle to name but a few. These buses have hit the trade hard.

Also there was no consideration given to Winchester/Hampshire Council consolidating the school runs using buses instead of taxis. Comparison of the 2 reports show each taxi was doing 117 runs a week this is now down to 81, some 36 runs less, the average run is approximately 3 miles. This equates to each HC being £75.00 per week down or £3,900 per year since the 9 new licences were issued.

The report shows the average wait for a HC is now down to 54 seconds, one of the best in the country. The average wait by the taxi driver is 24 minutes. In the case R v Brighton B Council Mr Justice Kennedy ruled a waiting time of up to 10 minutes was reasonable and the point was made that consideration of significant unmet demand should not include times of sudden peak demand and such as pub/club closing times.

As a point of interest of the 9 new licences issued in 2002 only 5 are still in the hands of those issued with them. 4 were passed on as the licence holders could not make the trade pay so cut their losses.

Basingstoke and Deane correctly high standards of entry level and cost aspect make the trade almost impossible to pay at the present in particular to younger entrants who have mortgages and families to support. Older prospective drivers again do not want to enter the trade because of the costs but also because of the abuse and violence at night when the real money is earnt.

The report gives you 3 options:-

1) issue the number of licences you see fit. As you commissioned the report it shows you there is no significant unmet demand. Please lets not start plucking figures out of the air like last time. Any more licences at this moment would be disastrous for the trade. The waiting time for the drivers would be considerable making the trade unsustainable.

2) To delimit the numbers of licences

The majority of Councils who have gone down this line have reverted to setting limits again once you lose what you have got you cannot regain the same standards again. Basingstoke currently has one of the best newest well maintained fleet of HC in the South. Delimiting leads to older vehicles, drivers do not change them so often.

Less maintenance the “oh I will make that tyre last another couple of weeks” or maybe, “can skip that service it will save me £150” scenarios.
Higher fares especially outside the Borough I’ve got him – he is stuck and I can legally charge him what I want.

I’ve got to make my investment pay maybe if I make my night driver redundant I can make up my money by double shifting.

The Borough has already lost a driver to double shifting this time no passenger was involved. Delimited and next time we might not be so fortunate.

The way the trade is at the moment I can honestly say that delimited Basingstoke could end up with less HCC than at present. Drivers could sell their HC give the plate back to the Council, buy outright a £10,000 Skoda Octavia and licence it as a private vehicle instead of buying a new £30,000 HC.

Now I realise that the Federation have a time limit tonight and I believe you will not be making a decision on the report tonight. The Federation are willing to meet any of you or all of you to discuss the merits or demerits of delimitation or any other aspects of the trade at anytime.

On the public consultation of the report we would ask you to take it with a pinch of salt. The Federation still have strong feelings that the HC and PH trades been confused. The public do not really know the difference. Taxi has become a generic term for both trades.

The report is supposed to be H/C only responses like more disabled access HC we are all 100% wheelchair friendly. HC are in the majority rank cars and do not take as many phone/office bookings as indicated in the report. Do the public really know the cost of investment and running costs and ergo qualified to make comment.

Where do you think we should have new ranks How can you collate information on flag downs etc etc

The sample used was very small bearing in mid the size of the town ask another 1500 people and you would get a completely different result. If you pick through the bone there is nothing in it other than is already in progress ie ranks at the hospital, Liquids and St Michael’s slope. The Federation would like to take the opportunity to thank Linda Cannon and Andy Wake, for not taking the report at face value, for the liaison with the trade, for getting the report to the trade as soon as it was out and for questioning certain parts of it with TPI.

This never happened with the last report. We thank you.

Finally the Federation urge you to accept the report unreservedly and issue no new licences until the trade picks up or the exercise is repeated in 3 years. Please do not hold the Sword of Damocles over the trade.

Thank you.
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One reason for restricting numbers in Basingstoke is to ensure Private hire drivers service the public outside the town centre. Perhaps there is no unmet demand in the Town centre but plenty outside? I notice the LO has the mentality of a 19th century mill owner when he states "Quantity controls on hackney carriages ensures private hire drivers remain in that trade".

I asked this particular LO about the councils hackney carriage vehicle age policy? He said he didn't have a clue? What does that tell you? I wasn't put off by the LO's lack of knowledge about vehicle policy but considering they only license 55 Hacks you would have thought he would have been more up to speed? Undaunted I consulted the report that has a great deal to say about qaulity standards of Hackney carriages but alas it has nothing to say about vehicle age policy? I still wasn't unbowed so I concentrated my efforts on the hackney carriage vehicle application form but guess what? Yes, you guessed it....no mention of vehcile age policy? Still undaunted I downloaded what looked like the real deal? And no, "you didn't guess right his time" because, "it was" the real deal? lol And whatsmore, here it is?

5) a Hackney Carriage three years of age and over shall be licensed for six months only.

6) a Hackney Carriage must be less than three years of age on first licence.

7) a Hackney Carriage eight years of age and over shall not be relicensed.

So if anyone would like to email this to the Basingstoke official who wrote the report I'm sure he would be most grateful?

Here is the section about keeping private hire in their place!

6.1.6 Private Hire Vehicles Quantity controls on hackney carriages ensures private hire vehicle drivers remain in that trade, consumers benefit from an adequate supply of private hire vehicles for pre-booked work. This is especially important for the areas outside of the Town which are not serviced significantly by the hackney carriage trade.

By the way? I also aksed the LO why he didn't put the plate values of Basingstoke hacks in the report? He said he didn't know. I said they are reputed to be as high as 40 grand and thats if you can get hold of one. He said he thought they may be a little lower than that but he could not confirm it?
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Regards

JD

F***ing [edited by admin].

Doesn't he realise the reason the good folks in Basingstoke have to rely on PH to service the outskirts is because of the restricted numbers policy?

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IDFIMH

Sussex .......... are you expecting there to be ranks on every street corner, or available to be flagged from the front gate ?

Or are you claiming that the public would be better served if when they phone to book a journey a HC turns up instead of a PH vehicle ........... and if so how ?

I think your more concerned about whats best for you ............. and not whats best for the public.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Maybe you and I could go for a pint

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Question is, a pint of what?

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