Taxi Driver Online

From what Mr Brighton Breezy said in another post it would appear his organisation are meeting with the Transport Minister this week. That can only be a good thing and hopefully he and his officials can bring back some positive overtures. There are many many things that need rectifying in our outdated legislation and none of them will get done unless we get a new cab act. There are too many imponderables to tinker around the edges and if we are going to embark on the long process of legislative change then we need to start now, not next year or the year after, "now".

When Mr BB engages the Minister and her representatives he may wish to try and extract the following information from her so that we know where we stand in respect of legislation and therefore we will also know what we need to do to get the Government to change its mind if need be? If they say they intend to do nothing then we might as well resign ourselves to years of political inactivity and we can all have a peaceful life and just let unlicensed operators, drivers, and degenerate brain dead councillors do their own thing. Consider these two items Mr BB when you consult the Minister and give her my regards and tell her we look forward to her personal input on TDO.

If I have time I will add to these items because at least one of the amendments in the 2006 road safety act is certainly not working.

1. The varying legislative acts that govern the taxi and private hire trades outside of London have long outlived their usefulness. Present technology and innovations have surpassed the outdated transport system for which the main plank of taxi legislation was enacted in 1847. Many innovative transport modes and methods of delivery including mobile telecommunications and executive limousines find themselves orphaned within the current system of licensing. The institute of licensing recently pointed out the urgent need for modern legislation and called upon the Government to introduce a policy for change in the shape of a new Taxi act embracing new technology and casting out that which has outlived its usefulness. On behalf of their members and those in the taxi trade who find themselves without a national voice but who nevertheless seek change, the GMB would like to know if the Minister desires, or is minded at this moment in time, or at any time in the near future to make provision for modern taxi legislation in the form of a green paper and eventually a white paper, that has the purpose of not only bringing taxi licensing legislation into the 21st century but will also amend the many anomalies that have failed in previous transport acts and in particular those sections that place notable ambiguity between a bus service, and a Taxi and Private hire service.

2. Taxi driver safety is evidently a low priority for many councils, it is commonplace for councils to refuse Taxi drivers some of the basic safety measures enjoyed by everyone in our society, excepting Taxi drivers. The murders and daily assaults committed on Taxi drivers are too numerous to mention but yet many councils prefer to see taxi drivers assaulted or murdered rather than allow them to have CCTV equipment installed in their vehicles. It might be harsh suggesting that councillors are to blame for the deaths of Taxi drivers but the GMB and also Taxi Driver online from their own records can testify that many taxi and private hire drivers might still be alive today if councillors had allowed the installation of CCTV equipment inside their vehicles. From wide public interaction it is evident that the main consideration of taxi drivers is the optional installation of CCTV equipment. The GMB agree that this basic safety measure should not be left to the whim of councillors and therefore propose that the DfT takes such action to remedy the situation and redress the balance where CCTV installation becomes a "non conditional option" for taxi drivers, providing such installation meets all the requirements of the current data protection act.
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Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Do you mean remove licencing from the councils, and transfer them to the traffic commissioner, or a national taxi PH body

JD from the high quality of your post I think you should just join the GMBPDB and maybe have some direct influence on what is said to the minister.( if mandated by the National Organising Cttee)

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Our safety is Paramount

Maybe the GMB, via it's Provincial Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Secretary Mr BB, can get those motions adopted by the union at it's next annual conference.

Then the whole of the GMB will be mandated to act on those proposals, and ministers will have to listen, and even if they object give goods reasons as to why.

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IDFIMH

JD,

As always a thought provoking post with many issues at the heart of the GMB PDB.

The meeting with the Transport Minister is arranged for tomorrow, we have two provincial representatives from the Noth West and Southern area attending and two representatives from London.

The agenda contains 'o' license issues and issues prevelant within the Chauffeur industry.

I have spoken to the Southern area rep who has informed me that depending on time he will be asking other relevent questions regarding our trade such as those you have mentioned.

I hope to be able to share our representatives feed back in due course.

Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

That's very kind of you but I'm sure there is a wealth of untapped talent lurking in the GMB membership that has yet to be discovered?

I don't know what the GMB approach will be but no matter what it is, they should ask the Minister for a second meeting in order that they can refine and clarify their main points of concern and aspirations, if need be? That will give the GMB time to consider the response from the DfT and return with a more detailed agenda.

Don't make the mistake of asking the DfT to try and amend legislation that is perfectly sound, such as the Liverpool crowd did in respect of the situation with Sefton private hire because it won't get you anywhere, except down a dead end. It is pointless raising points that are unachievable.

Remember the stated position of the DfT if you don't know what it is then read their best practice. Remember that the DfT can if they desire initiate change but in the main they will only do this by legislation. If the DfT do not wish to implement a new act then the only way to achieve change is by way of an RRO. If that is the case then make sure the GMB have identified which non contentious legislation they believe needs amending and make sure they put forward their robust reasons as to why.

This first meeting should be most enlightening but the second meeting will probably be more productive once the points raised in the first meeting have been digested and debated.

I wish the GMB good luck and I hope they come out of this meeting with a few positives.

Please keep us informed of the events.

Regards

JD

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I didn't touch on those points Skippy because first there has to be a will to implement new legislation. If there is no will, then everything else is academic.

So first lets see if the DfT is in favour of new legislation and is prepared to move with the times, or whether it prefers to remain firmly entrenched in the 19th century for the foreseeable future.

Once you have commitment for a new Taxi bill then you can start putting some meat on the bones. It is imperative the Taxi trade knows where it stands with the DfT in respect of new legislation, that should be the first thing on the agenda.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I was under the impression you were attending is that not the case?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

JD,

It was decided by the GMB PDB to send four members to meet the minister. No point in overcrowding the meeting.

On this occasion I will not be attending, the GMB PDB will always send the person best placed to put forward our members points of view. In this case the Southern representative attending is far more knowledgable on the 'O' license issue than I am.

Although I have to admit I am just a bit green as I would have liked to have attended.

Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Don't worry too much about not attending BB.... it gets boring after a bit.... and the funny thing is...... that no matter which section of the trade you belong to..... he/ she or they will always tell you what you want to hear.....

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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!

I suppose if you ask the DfT to amend perfectly good legislation like the Liverpool contingent did then you will probably get the response you highlighted. Going to the DfT with a crazy proposal is hardly likely to endear them to your cause.

The Liverpool contingent deserved what they got and quite frankly they only have themselves to blame.

It is obvious from this "meeting of minds" exercise that they haven't yet learn't from their past mistakes.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Oh people have learnt from their mistakes.... and personally I find it very amusing watching others make the same mistakes now.

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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!

I hope there is no bomb threat tomorrow..

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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!

Mr T

I will let you know what happens

Regards
BB

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

From where I'm sat it appears they haven't learnt from their mistakes.

They are still trying to convince the DfT to introduce legislation that will mean every hackney carriage and private hire driver returning to their own area when they have dropped off a job. If you think they have a cat in hells chance of convincing the DfT or the majority of the cab trade to implement such a brain dead idea then I'm sure it is you who people will find amusing and no one else.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.