GA wrote:
Is a level playing field not one that provides the same opportunities for everyone.
Is it not the case that anyone wishing obtain a HC plate in this area has to pay a fee to a current owner.
JD wrote:
Which area? If you mean Gateshead the answer is no they don't. I'm not aware Gateshead has changed its policy to quantity controls, are you?
So you think you can get a Hackney Carriage plate in Gateshead .............. did no-one tell you that there is a temporary restriction in place, and that it has been in place for 5 months.
GA wrote:
Is it not the case that current owners offer for sale their plates, and therefore no one is forced to purchase?
JD wrote:
Gateshead has a policy of no quantity controls so I suppose you are referring to the 80 or so vehicles that have grandfather rights? You never were one for clarity.
I wouldn't assume that just because Gateshead are reviewing their policy on so called quality controls that they intend to return to a policy of quantity control.
GA wrote:
Is it not the case that price for such a plate is determined by how much a person is willing to pay?
JD wrote:
The price of a plate is determined by the seller and the three main factors for calculating plate values are, earnings potential, the cost of rent and stability. Ask Burnley cab drivers about plate values and stability? When stability went out of the window so did their plate values.
Is it not the case that a person would view the potential earnings, consider the cost of rental and then stability before they decided how much they would be willing to pay for a plate. The price is determined by the purchaser, if they are only willing to pay a certain amount for a plate. If the plate is sold it is sold to the person willing to pay the most money.
GA wrote:
When the issue of fairness is raised it is only relative to the perspective of the writer
JD wrote:
Is this what you perceive about Fairness? I must admit, "you never seem to amaze me" and it's no wonder you are nearly always in a minority of one? It's patently obvious from the postings on this topic that most people see "Fairness" as meaning, "everyone is treated alike." You can put whatever spin you want on the word "Fair" but perhpas you should remember from time to time, that you are talking to adults with a brain and not a bunch of primary school children.
I think most, if not all, will understand the meaning of "right and wrong", "good and evil" and what is "fair and what is unfair"? When you say, "the perspective of fairness is only relative to the writer" I must admit, that what really comes across from your statement on this particular issue, is that "the perspective of fairness" is only relative to you and that in your opinion, Fairness means exclusion?
The rest of us know the meaning of the word "fair" and we can choose to be either fair or unfair but please don't categorise your prefered policy of "EXCLUSION", with the word "FAIR."
So what you are saying is that a person who has invested £50,000 should loose that investment in the name of fairness .............. do you not consider that he may consider that to be unfair. You may say that its tough .................... but you disagree that he has the right to say that its tough that you can't get for free what he paid £50,000 for.
If it suits you its fair ............. if it doesn't then its unfair.
GA wrote:
Mr Jasbar believes that it is not fair that he cannot get a plate for free but believes that it is fair for someone to lose £50,000 as long as he gets his free plate.
JD wrote:
Perhaps the price for fairness and equality is imeasurable? After all, Edinburgh council has recently spent in the region of one hundred thousand pounds in order to restrict that very same commodity. If someone is willing to pay 50 grand for something that could be worthless overnight then they are rather foolish for parting with 50 grand in the first place. You forget that over 70% of councils in England and Wales already practice a policy of "fairness" therefore it would seem you are fighting an uphill battle in order to achieve your dream of "unfairness."
It doesn't matter which side of the fence you sit on, if over 70% of councils practice a policy of fairness by not restricting entry into the Taxi market, what do you call it when a person like you wants to reverse that policy and exclude people from entering the market? Some would no doubt think that you go from a level playing field policy, to a policy of exclusion. Therefore the balance of the playing field becomes somewhat "tilted", don't you think?
Again you misuse the word fairness .................. they operate a policy of not restricting numbers with no consideration to those who have invested in plates .......... not that the councils should show them any consideration, but I do believe that as members of the same profession we should.
GA wrote:
I believe that we need to seek a way that safeguards everyone's interest and the attitude of Jasbar that he couldn't give a flying fook about anyone else does not bode well for the future of our trade.
JD wrote:
Perhaps it is people like you harbour thoughts of an eqaul world based on restriction, that don't give a flying ???? or Whatever you wish to call it? Is Mr Jasper not advocating a level playing field, while you advocate the exact opposite? You have a level playing in Gateshead now, but you prefer to make it unlevelled by asking the council to once again restrict licenses.
I assume you do understand the meaning of the word RESTRICTION, if not the word FAIR?
Regards
JD
It appears to me that Mr Jasbar has had an opportunity to have a HC plate ................. and then chose to sell it at the market rate (thats the rate decided by the market which is purchasers). Therefore his playing field tilts the way he wants it to TO BEST SUIT HIM.
We have a policy of temporary restriction in Gateshead and the playing field is fair because we are seeking a way to introduce a policy which is fair to everyone.
You suggest that opportunity is fairness, but as I have pointed out many times if the council choose to remove restrcition of numbers but impose a policy of brand new TX4's the number of people able to enter the trade is far less than in Gateshead where a plate and a brand new saloon can be purchased for less than a TX4.
You say Gateshead had a level playing field ................. but they never ever stopped restricting the number of saloon vehicles, so those were still in demand with prospective purchasers being willing to pay even more for a plate following deregulation of numbers because of the running costs of WAV's.
I don't agree with plate values ................. what I believe in is the RIGHT PEOPLE DRIVING THE RIGHT NUMBER OF VEHICLES. With numbers based upon the demand of the local community and the capability of the council to enforce the regulations.
You have stated many times about a councils ability to run taxi licensing ................. but is that not because people like you push for more and more vehicles and the licensing departments are not set up to deal with the numbers.
Maybe your motivation is more personal .................... maybe you seek to rent out vehciles to those who cannot afford to buy .................. but we will never know because we don't know who you are and therefore in what capacity you are involved in the trade.
B. Lucky
