Taxi Driver Online

Wav's start at 121 and end at 140 the local transport plan states that before 2011 if we are to keep a mixed fleet , the fleet must contain 17% wav's which would need an increase of 9 cars, as for the internet search this was somewhat misleading, however there would seem to be an abundance of black cars suitable for taxiing, but one individual has a medical reason (alledgedly) as to why he has to have a BMW automatic, he also has a phobia and cannot drive anything black, and cannot wear black clothing strange though, his car has black leather seats, how strange.although he has been a hackney driver for 34 years and up to 12 months ago he drove a peugot 406, before that a 405, before that a mitsubishi pile of crap and the list goes on, some people will object for the sake of objecting.

How true

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Grandad,

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I'm only jesting with you.

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IDFIMH

But isn't that what they are meant to have SUD surveys for?

Or do they agree with me that they are a complete waste of money and time?

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IDFIMH

Dear Sir or Madam,

DEREGULATION OF HACKNEY CARRIAGE VEHICLE LICENCES

I would like to consult you, as an existing hackney carriage proprietor, on the subject of the
deregulation of hackney carriage vehicle licences.

I am endeavouring to obtain a view of all those with an interest in this wafter, therefore, if you
have other interests in the trade, you may receive duplicate letters from me. You only need to
reply once but please indicate in your response your position, i.e. driver only, existing hackney
carriage propfletOr, etc.

As you will be aware, this Authority is one of some 30% of Local Authorities in England that still
restrict the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences it issues. We currently licence 158
vehicles and 4 horse drawn carriages.

Following the Office of Fair Trading Report in 2003, the Government, through the Department of
Transport, made it clear that restrictions should only be retained where there is shown to be a
clear benefit for the consumer. They further state that, unless a snecific case can be made, it is not
in the interests of consumers for market entry to be refused to those who meet the application
criteria.

The Council considered its position in November 2005 and decided to defer any decision to allow
for further work to be carried out in four main areas:-

I) To assess the impact of the changes in licensing hours
2) To review ranking space within the city
3) To allow for an appraisal of vehicle standards with particular reference to meeting the
needs of disabled customers
4) To examine mechanisms for encouraging more environmentally friendly methods of
transportation for both hackney carriages and private hire.


continued
-2-


This work has now been largely completed and I am required to report back to members for
reconsideration of this issue. For your information: -

• The new licensing laws have reduced late night waiting times for passengers, however,
lack of late night transport remains a real issue for the night time economy
• Work has occurred on taxi ranks but it is not complete
• Vehicle licence conditions have been reviewed where necessary — emissions, livery and
tinted windows. Luggage space is to follow. The trade has also distributed, as far as
possible, information on existing disabled provision in the private hire sector
• The vehicle emission standards have been introduced but restriction on the issue of taxi
licences prevents the introduction of pedicabs and other short distance green transport.

It is proposed to present a report to the Executive Member for City Strategy on 10th September
2007 for recommendations to be made to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee which will
meet on 2nd Nov ember 2007. The report will invite Members to take a view of the following
options: -

a) To maintain the current restrictions
b) To deregulate
c) To grant a limited number of new licences
d) To grant a specific number of licences at regular intervals until the demand is met

To assist Members in coming to a decision, the report will detail the information outlined above.
It will also include reference to the current situation in the trade in relation to ownership of
licences, numbers of vehicles driven by multiple drivers, the number of persons on the waiting list
and the street value of existing licences. Reference will also be made to customer information and
the results of trade consultation.

It would seem to me that the essential point is one of customer benefit.

I should, therefore, be pleased to receive your comments before 31St July 2007.

I would point out that the Council is required to review its position every three years in this
respect.






Richard Haswell



YORKPRIDE
w.york.gov.uk
Director: Terry Collins
Printed on recycled paper

I wonder where they got that info from?

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IDFIMH

Would anyone care to wager that they do this?

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IDFIMH

does it mean [until demand is met] customer demand or wanna plate demand,
they had a survey last Nov. no unmet demand, in fact some of the survey people that was talked to whilst we was waiting wondered how you made a living

I would say punter demand, but I've yet to see a proper assessment of that kind of demand.

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IDFIMH

an article from the Political reporter from York Press explains the background re York Taxis



IT has been an underlying
controversy in the taxi industry
for years. And last week, it
resurfaced in York with a splash.

Council leaders are considering
the deregulation of licences, ahead
of a decision that could have
massive ramifications for drivers
customers and the city in general.

At present, City of York Council
is one of around a quarter of local
authorities that restricts the
number of hackney licences it
issues. There are 158 hackney cars
in the city, and a further four
horse-drawn carriages.

The council has a waiting list of
144 people, and is concerned that
the rationing system has led to a
lucrative spin-off trade in taxi
plates. Some have been changing
hands for as much as £60,000—
placing a value of~9.5 million on
the entire fleet.

The Government says councils
that do not allow a free market
must justify their stance, and the
current consultation will lead to
one of four options being chosen:

• Retain the current restrictions
• Deregulate entirely allowing a
limitless number of hackney
licences to be issued

• Grant a specific number of new
licences as a one-off, to
accommodate some of those on the
waiting list

• Issue a quota of new licences
every few months, until the
demand is satisfied.

As reported in The Press last
week, many people are in favour of
complete deregulation. Richard
Jackson, a private hire driver, said
he spent 20 years on the council’s
hackney waiting list, and never
got a licence.

He said: “We should all be
hackneys, because the public does
not realise that there are two
types of taxi. It creates a lot of
arguments, especially in the
evenings if a private hire car is
waiting for a pre-booked fare, and
people come up and ask why they
cannot use it.”

He said it was unfair that people
should make vast sums of money
on licences that were issued for
free, saying.


“The hackney drivers would be
disheartened if they deregulated,
because they would lose money
but it’s money they were not
entitled to.”

York Taxi Association, which
represents hackney drivers, has
opposed the proposals.

Vice-chairman Stuart Robertson
said the reform of drinking laws
had reduced the peak demands,
and said that although the number
of hackney cars had not gone up,
the number of drivers had, as cars
were shared at different times.

Chairman Alan Rowley said
deregulation would lead to lots of
taxi drivers working on weekend
evenings, but few on weekdays.

Less predictably the York
Private Hire Association has also
now opposed the plans. Their vice-
chairman Mark Wilson said they
had yet to finalise their response
to the consultation.

He said: “To be honest, we
cannot see any positives for
deregulation at the moment. We
spoke to people in Sheffield and
Swansea, both of which have
deregulated, and the feedback has
been negative.

“It tends to be that what
happens is a lot of private hire
drivers will get a hackney plate
and be driving around with
nowhere to park.”

He said they were concerned
deregulation would damage
customer service, and increase
pollution and congestion.

The difference between hackneys
and private hire vehicles is that
the latter can only take pre-
booked fares.
The former can pick passengers
up spontaneously
.....................................................

From the York Press Archives

Licences issue nothing new

THE current debates are
nothing new, as a trawl through
The Press archives reveals.
In January, 1975, Coun Ken
Cooper proposed increasing the
number of hackney plates from
lOO to 125, to stop the trade in
plates.

But hackney drivers said there
was no need for more licences,
and the motion was lost.
In 1976. York Taxi Owners and
Drivers’ Association reported
that the problem of people
privately selling their plates had
been “virtually stamped out”.

Now, 31 years later, plates are
changing hands for £60,000.
That April. the council agreed
an increase to 125 hackney
plates. But drivers were
outraged over a lack of
consultation, and the increase
was trimmed to 110. as a
Compromise.

In October 1984,councillors
rejected calls to issue 80 more
licences, saying it would hit
existing drivers income.

March 1968, saw the council
labelled "unscrupulous” for
allowing drivers to transfer
plates to their partners.

In 1989, the council resisted
bitter opposition, and increased

speaking to some drivers, if they de regulate, the best way forward would be forget motorised and go for hackney carriage and horse

we have 4 plate horse and carriage hacks, fare is around but not sure £4,50 per person, think up to 6 people can be carried, there is only one set route, so with 6 people carried for around less than a mile 27 quid can be earned, taking around say 20 mins

so instead of having 4 horse drawn we could have 100 horse drawn running around

beats hen racing

And you could retire, growing prize roses .

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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!

No, the Council would have to employ an army of horse sh*t picker's up, see, it makes more jobs in the Council

York taxi drivers, maybe York Councillors as well

if de restriction goes ahead, not only will there be a flood of hackney carriages ,+ horse drawn hackney carriages, but the streets will be flooded with Pedocabs, Tuck Tucks and God knows what else that a PLATE can be attached to

many new business will surface, motors for hire suitable for Taxis, but that already exists with one bloke hiring Mondeo's out, 40 plus at last count, no doubt he will move into the newer car market as the 3/4 year old condition kicks in, Horse and carriage's available for rent includes stabling/vets fees, grazing available, and tack, Tuck Tucks and Pedocabs available for rent, reasonable rates, most spares stocked. quick turn round to get you back on the road

the "only fools and horses business" [York taxi drivers know who we are on about] already established in York selling/dealing with plate rentals and plate sales will move on to bigger things, Tuck Tuck imports, bicycle repairs, ups, forgot, he's already was into that, more than likely he will get into the horse and carriage side of it, selling wheel and dealing in tack, horse shoeing etc etc.

this is the tip of the iceburg, it could be the streets of York will echo and revert to a 3rd world country scene, or Victorian street scene with the Council considering opening up with dereg

will the Council step in then and say hey your making money, we can't have this,
same as us cab drivers, can't have them making money on our taxi plates, this is what its all about, they don't want anyone to have money, then they have control