Taxi Driver Online

Mr Tim Gray is the official secretary of the National Taxi association but how many of you have actually seen official NTA documents and press releases bearing the word secretary but unsigned by Mr Gray? It would seem this is a common occurrence and I suggest it brings into question whether or not Mr Gray's role in the NTA is one of a pure figurehead rather than an active participant?

The NTA is first and foremost an organisation that represents a minority of hackney carriage owners and an even smaller proportion of hackney carriage non-owner drivers, as do other organisations such as the NTTG, GMBU and the TGWU. The GMBU and TGWU can also be said to represent some non-taxi owners and likewise some private hire drivers.

The NTA is on record as saying it represents the Taxi Trade however statements like that are misleading because they only represent a minute portion of the Taxi trade and the portion they do represent is a only one fragment of the combined Taxi Trade. The same can be said for all the other organisations I mentioned. So why do organisations such as the NTA come out with the misinformation that they represent the Taxi Trade when they only represent a minority?

I tried to get some answers to these questions so I contacted Tim Gray Secretary of the NTA at his Newcastle office of Sintons Solicitors. The question and answer session was to be conducted via email and his response was going to be published for the prosperity of the Taxi Trade on TDO and in a magazine, who's name I won't mention.

Mr Gray was more than willing to proceed with the interview as you can see by his response to my email but it would appear for some reason he was stopped from doing so? Perhaps the Secretary of the NTA is not his own man or perhaps he felt the innocuous questions I posed were too difficult to answer? Whatever his reason, I feel that the Taxi Trade should have the benefit of knowing just exactly what questions Mr Gray refused to answer?

The email I sent to Mr Gray is as follows and his reply as you can see was short but positive, however the questions were never answered and I suppose that in itself, tells its own story?

All reference to a certain magazine has been removed and prefixed with the words TT.

Dear Mr Gray,

Can you please confirm you are still Secretary of the National Taxi association?

I would like to conduct a brief question and answer interview on your specific duties in respect of the National association. On behalf of TT magazine, at your convenience?

Mr Grays reply.

Yes, I am still the secretary. I will be happy to speak.

JD's response.

The questions I would like to put to you are as follows.

Question 1. TT understands the National Taxi association was set up in 1997 by founding Members Mr D Conyon and the late Mr J Fawcett MBE. It can be said both gave distinguished and admirable service to the Taxi trade. Your background is in the legal profession therefore can you advise Taxi Today readers how and why you became involved in the Taxi trade and did you have any attachment to the trade before 1997?

Question 2. Outside of Newcastle there would appear to be very little known about Mr Fawcett especially among the younger generation of Taxi drivers. TT believes Mr Fawcett should be recognised as one of the all time outstanding personalities of the Taxi Trade, can you therefore offer a brief tribute to MR Fawcett in order that our readers may at least be aware of the substantial commitment he gave to the Trade?

Question 3. Can you please advise TT readers of the original structure of the NTA Executive in 1997 in respect of executive appointments and the roll each executive officer played and can you advise our readers who is on the current Executive besides yourself and what role they play?

Question 3. Many of our readers have never sought to join a taxi association or trade body because they feel they are not representative of their views, do you find the Taxi trade is therefore split in who should represent it and in what way?

Question 3. TT sees the three main Taxi associations as being the NTA the TGWU and the GMBU. With the Private hire sector being represented by the GMBU and the NPHA. Do you feel all three main Taxi representatives work together in a common cause or are there irreconcilable differences?

Question 4. If there are irreconcilable differences what are they and how in your opinion can they be resolved, or is that easier said than done?

Question 5. One of the major bones of contention within the Taxi trade is the retention of Quantity Controls of Taxi numbers. The NTA would appear to have a position of letting councils decide what is best for their own area. Do you have a personal opinion on such a policy of letting councils decide for themselves?

Question 6. In November 2003 the OFT issued a report which suggested approximately 45-50% of local authorities restricted the number of hackney carriage licenses it issued. On Friday the 23rd February the National consumer council issued a report which said less than 30% of councils now restrict hackney carriage numbers. Would you say the NCC account is an accurate reflection and if so what do you think has brought about this massive reduction?

Question 7. Do you believe that on occasions when councils want their own way on a particular contentious licensing matter that some licensing authorities will sometimes hold the sword of Damocles over the local Taxi trades head by suggesting that if they don't get their own way they will remove Quantity controls?

Question 8. In your opinion is there anyway to reconcile the differences of those who feel they should be allowed a hackney carriage proprietor license if they meet the requirements and those who think they should not? And do you believe that Quality controls have a part to play in taxi licensing and what quality controls do you think should apply if any?

Question 9. It would be right to say that the NTA has come a long way since its inception in 1997 but hardly anyone knows the structure of the NTA and how they can get involved. Can you advise us who the executive officers are and their duties and what is the complete NTA administration structure?

Question 10. The headquarters of the National Taxi Association are situated in Carlisle but why have you chosen to base your headquarters in Carlisle instead of Newcastle or perhaps some other major provincial city?

Question 11. Many people see Wayne Casey as the man behind the NTA because all references to the NTA lead back to his office in Carlisle, besides administration officer what other duties does Mr Casey perform for the NTA and how vital is he to the smooth running of the organisation?

Question 12. TT believes Wayne Casey is an asset to the NTA and he would surely be missed should he ever decide to change his vocation in life but who do you think are the new rising stars of the association?

Question 13. You are probably aware that the DfT has recently removed section 75.1.B of the Local Government miscellaneous provisions act. Have you any preference on which other sections of Taxi legislation you would like to see amended or removed?

Question 14. If you could perform any changes to the Taxi industry, what would they be?

Question 15. Can a taxi driver who is not a Taxi owner, become a member of the NTA or are they excluded?

Question 16. The NTA is set up as a company can you explain to our readers why you set the association up as a company instead of by other means?

Question 17. Finally what pearls of wisdom could you offer our readers so that they might remember this momentous Interview?
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Maybe the reason he didn't answer those simple questions is because he doesn't know the answers.

Still I'm not too sure who to blame for a generally p*** poor representation of the taxi/PH trade at a national level. Is it the so-called leadership, or the folks that put them there, or the folks that don't give a toss.

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IDFIMH

And maybe the reason he didn't answer these simple questions is because he doesn't feel the need to answer basically loaded questions, and one particularly sarcastic question.

But here's an idea for You, Mr Sussex, which you can pass on to Judge (I am the law!) Dredd. Why don't you join the NTA, and change it from the Inside?

Even Terry Flanagan, (Whatever happened to him?)managed to get one thing right, decisions are made by those that turn up!

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Former taxi driver

Mr Jimbo you make a good point, but alas they don't allow my type into the gang.

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IDFIMH

And what is your type?

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Former taxi driver

A fully bonified paid up member of the PH brigade.

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IDFIMH

Oh Dear.

Will they ever find a cure?

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Former taxi driver

The repeal of section 16 would help out no end.

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IDFIMH

So you're STILL holding your breath?

The patience of a Saint. Would be tested.

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Former taxi driver

I think the phrase is ...No comment.... Graham.... some people are not as thick as you would like to believe..... .

Maybe he rang Taxi today to check about their legal journalist. maybe when he was told they didn't have one, he clicked.

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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!

Who told you Taxi Today had a legal journalist?

Regards

JD

Which questions are loaded?

JD

All of them, with the exception of the last one, which is so sarcastic, I would have told you to get stretched.

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Former taxi driver

You find this a loaded question? lol In what way is it loaded? Or don't you know?

Question 2. Outside of Newcastle there would appear to be very little known about Mr Fawcett especially among the younger generation of Taxi drivers. TT believes Mr Fawcett should be recognised as one of the all time outstanding personalities of the Taxi Trade, can you therefore offer a brief tribute to MR Fawcett in order that our readers may at least be aware of the substantial commitment he gave to the Trade?

Regards

JD

Must admit I was wrong to say this question is loaded.

It's sarcastic.

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Former taxi driver