Taxi Driver Online

STRIKING cabbies are seeking a meeting with Coventry City Council chiefs aimed at breaking the deadlock and preventing more disruption.

They want to present “evidence” that 33 other councils have implemented the type of temporary limit on issuing licences they’re demanding without first holding a review.

The renewed dispute – entering its fifth day – centres on the council’s refusal to immediately stop issuing licences ahead of a three-month survey into any un-met demand for taxis.

Drivers say 950 licensed taxis in the city is too many, and is ruining their livelihoods – in breach of government guidelines that there should only be two taxis per 1,000 people.

Leading Labour councillor Lindsley Harvard said council lawyers have warned him that a cap on licences before the review would be open to costly legal challenges from black-cab maker LTI or future cabbies denied a licence.

But LTI in Holyhead Road, Coventry, which has seen orders drop in recent years, has written to Coventry Taxi Association saying it supports a cap and would not sue the council.

Sales director Rob Laidler wrote: “There has to be a balance between availability of taxis to the public and the trade’s need to operate a service that protects drivers’ earnings.

“It would appear that, in the current climate, a cap on licences would be a reasonable policy. We would not pursue a policy that would damage the Coventry trade.”

Cabbies want the council to consider legal opinion at other councils.

But licensing chiefs at Leicester City Council told the Telegraph that Coventry cabbies were wrong to claim Leicester had imposed a cap on licences before its review into demand and supply in 1998.

They said the cap in Leicester followed the review for legal reasons.

Coventry council leaders were in discussions with the police last night about the ongoing disruption.

Imran Zaman, chairman of Coventry Taxi Association, said hundreds of self-employed taxi drivers at Muslim Resource Centre, in Red Lane, on Thursday night were reminded not to intimidate working cabbies, following allegations from some.

Strikers also want the first fare hike in three years, and accuse the council of monopolistic overcharging which sees them forking out £110 a year for an identity badge, £140 for a yellow licence plate, £100 a year for two vehicle MoTs, then more payouts for re-testing.

They are also unhappy about the removal of safety grilles, after a passenger hit their head on one

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... 8126591/2/

any idea who the 33 councils were ?

There is case law regarding this, so they dont need do anything, provided the LA agree to hold a survey and go down the route of organising a company to survey demand.

I wonder who is advising the cabbies? I hope its not the same pillock who advised them concerning their fees

CC

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

Yes i read the Edinburgh case and have past it on to Dundee City Council

But licensing chiefs at Leicester City Council told the Telegraph that Coventry cabbies were wrong to claim Leicester had imposed a cap on licences before its review into demand and supply in 1998.

They said the cap in Leicester followed the review for legal reasons.



CC

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

Is someone telling porkies CC

Yes, I'm afraid the cab drivers claims are difficult to believe......if a newspaper can make them look foolish by making a mere phone call to a council on a list, I would question everything else they have mooted.

Again, I wonder who are advising these people, because it seems to me, they're being led up a garden path.

CC

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

The English case I'll keep to myself.....because I get the feeling these people and their advisers maybe read TDO and either cant be bothered to register, or join a National Body......because the latter would mean expense.

Sufficed to state, some court cases have judged this differently......in some cases a deferment surmounts to a refusal........unless of course you can counter that argument with another court case that states the contrary

CC

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

Reeks of T&G, absolutely reeks of them.

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IDFIMH

Unite, surely?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

No. Divide.

And rule.

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Caledonian Cabbie

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!