Taxi Driver Online

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

The latest news on Oldham is that the task and finish group has done its report and it will now go to the overview and scrutiny committee on Monday. Their recommendations will then go to the full council. The Task and finish group consisted of four councillors from the overview and scrutiny committee..

The Report outlining a phased removal of numbers.

http://decision.oldham.gov.uk/DET07010025.Doc

The Task and finish report

http://decision.oldham.gov.uk/DET07020008.Doc
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1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

The Regeneration and Environment Commission are requested to consider the findings of the Taxis Task and Finish Group, as documented within this report.

2. RECOMMENDATION

The Regeneration and Environment Commission is requested to endorse, for submission to Council, the recommendations of the Taxis Task and Finish Group, as detailed in paragraph 5.

3. BACKGROUND

The Taxis Task and Finish Group was established by the Regeneration and Environment Commission held on 18 December 2006 (EDRS Reference Number 6120084), to examine the proposed changes to Hackney Carriages and Private Hire licensing conditions, with the following Terms of Reference and Membership:

Terms of Reference:

a) to review the Executive Director of Environmental Services draft report to Council, having regard to the consultation exercise, the legal advice, the Secretary of State’s Best Practice Guidance and any other relevant material;
b) to invite and consider oral and written evidence from key consultees and interested parties; and
c) to prepare a report for the Commission by 5 February, on the recommendations set out in the report.

Membership:

Councillor Abdul Jabbar (Chair), Councillor Asaf Ali, Councillor Steve Bashforth, Councillor Mike Buckley

Co-opted Member Mrs J. Connolly, Hackney Carriage Association, Chair of National Taxi Trades Group (NTTG), Co-opted Member Mr Nawaz, Private Hire Association

4. CONSULTATION

The Task and Finish Group at a public consultation exercise on 30 January 2007, consulted with the following witnesses:

a) John Rice (Interim Service Director, Environmental Protection)
b) Tony Allen (Group Manager, Trading Standards & Licensing)
c) Superintendent Stuart Harman (Greater Manchester Police)
d) James Button (Independent Solicitor)
e) Harry Burns (Member of the Public)
f) John Dinsdale (Principal Environmental Health Officer)
g) Caroline Greenen (Senior Environmental Health Officer)
h) Andrew Shaw & Steve Morgan (London Taxi International)
i) Members of Public (Taxis Drivers)

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

As a result of the public consultation exercise, the Taxis Task and Finish Group agreed the following recommendations:

a) That a survey be undertaken by an Independent Professional, not during religious periods, to ascertain unmet demand, the requirements for type, design and accessibility of vehicles and quality of service and that the Council should respond to the results of the survey, it being noted that London style taxis and advertising proposals would not be implemented until the results of the survey were known;

b) That all vehicles be of Euro I emissions standard from 1 September 2007, Euro II emissions standard from 1 September 2008 and as from November 2007 a tariff change of 10p be added as an environmental charge to all journeys, to assist in paying for these higher emissions standards;

c) That taxi maximum fares be implemented with immediate effect;

d) That a taxi dispersal scheme in Oldham town centre be implemented with effect from 1 April 2007;

e) That the CabSafe Scheme be strengthened with effect from 1 April 2007;

f) That amendments to Private Hire conditions, including the requirement of door signs to be permanently affixed, be endorsed;

g) That minor and consequential amendments for Hackney Carriage Vehicle Conditions, Private Hire Vehicle Conditions, Private Hire Operators and Private Hire Operators be implemented;

h) That a revised Driver’s Proficiency test with verbal and practical tests in English and written multiple choice test in alternative languages be implemented with effect from 1 April 2007.

6. LEGAL SERVICES’ COMMENTS

An independent survey will only be required if it is the Council’s intention to maintain limits on the number of hackney carriage licences it issues. If the Council wishes to remove the current restriction on the number of hackney carriage licences issued, it requires no evidence of unmet demand to do so and hence it would not require any survey to be carried out.

If an independent survey is to be undertaken, it must establish whether and to what extent there exists significant unmet demand for hackney carriages within the Borough, as it would be the evidence which the Council relied upon to maintain any restrictions on the number of licences issued. The cost of conducting this aspect of the survey can be met from the hackney carriage trade via an increase in licence fees.

Due to the short timescale for the preparation of this report, it has not been possible to give proper legal consideration to the other recommendations of the Task and Finish Group. Any further appropriate legal comments will be made at the meeting of the Commission. (AE)
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WTF has it got to do with them?

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IDFIMH

Well obviously if quantity controls are replaced with quality controls, LTI will be providing the benchmark for the quality of vehicles with the TX4. Surprised you missed that, Sussex.

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Former taxi driver

Never have, nor never will, put LTI and quality in the same sentence.

Oh I just have.

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IDFIMH

And not before time.

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Former taxi driver

On Wednesday 21st February 2007, Oldham MBC Councillors unanimously voted to retain limitation of licence numbers pending the outcome of an independent survey.

Oldham TOA were successfully represented in this matter by the Chair of the National Taxi Trade Group and her Officers.

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Former taxi driver

This was already determined at the start of the of the month by the Task and Finish group. All it needed was the rubber stamp of the council to hold a survey?

Regards

JD

Yes, but only because Oldham TOA was successfully represented by the Chair of the NTTG at the previous meeting of the Task & Finish Group, as the minutes you have posted show. She was co-opted onto the panel by the Chairman. (But then you know that don't you, because you were there - fighting for delimitation)

lol yes I was there were you?

Wheres this double shift evidence the NTTG mentioned in their predictable response to the NCC? Can we see it please? Or is it just an of assumption of theirs made without any foundation?

Regards

JD

Tell me Gezzer why choose TDO to publish that NTTG response? Haven't you got your own website???? Do you want TDO to do your advertising 4 u? Its about time you convinced your backward thinking buddies to take a leap into the 21st century because this Internet lark is not a new technology anymore.

I must tell you, that although I'm an impartial guy there are one or two people on here who have a distinct aversion to the name NTTG ask Mr Captain Cab and Mr Jones.

Regards

JD

I posted the NTTG response in an attempt to show there is another side to the coin. Incidentally, it is on their website, which is www.nttg.org.uk

Regards

Gezzer

Thats fine, but what about the other guy? It seems we got two postings in the space of a few minutes.

We only posted the NCC press release once I think you have us at a dissadvantage? lol

Whats the NTTG position on excluding 60% of the Taxi trade from the main Taxi rank in Town?

Regards

JD

Sorry about that - I thought I was on there first.

Re excluding taxis from the rank - I would say it's illegal, but why don't you email the Chair of the NTTG - she's an LLB(Hons) you know............ chair@nttg.org.uk

Regards

Gezzer