Taxi Driver Online

Our LA apparently has a very large surplus on the licensing account.

When an officer of the Hackney Carriage Association enquired about distribution of this surplus, he was told that it was being retained to defend the council in any court action taken against it by drivers!!

Totally against the law to do that, a council cannot make any profit from licencing.
If they have a surplus they are over charging

But surely if they are doing their jobs right in the first place they should be confident of never losing in court.

I would consider complaining to the Audit Commission http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/aboutus/faqs/#q19 once you have had a reply in writing as to why your council is keeping your money.

_________________
IDFIMH

Are you able to quote the relevant legislation, Skippy?

Many thanks.

I was asked the same question yesterday. Have a look at my post yesterday on this topic on this link;

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtop ... c&start=20

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I would like to ressurect discussion on this thread, if that's OK.

Recent contact with LA has elicited that the council say the surplus is required for next year's expenditure. It will never drop below £x.

This is changed from the previous statement that it was retained for use in legal proceedings.

Is this new position taken by LA legal?

And what happens if they don't spend it during the next year? Are they anticipating legal action?

Ask exactly what amount is being 'ring fenced' for legal issues, and then you know exactly how much you will be due back next year. i.e they can only 'ring fence' an amount once, and can't carry it over to the next year unless they give you a rebate for the past year.

If you get my drift?

_________________
IDFIMH

They have made no mention of funding legal action this time. It is to cover future expenditure.

I can understand wanting a contingency fund for extraordinary items not already budgetted for, but what are the legal constraints upon these funds, if any?


[Sorry if I'm not putting this very well, hopefully I'll improve as the discussion progresses. ]

Ask them how they quantify the amount, or is it just a guess?

_________________
IDFIMH

and if they have made a "profit" one year, will they make one every year? how big a pot do they expect to be able to retain?

i bet whoever admitted the excess gets the sack

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

i have been told from a reliable source that monies from the York LA taxi dept is used for the following

all the litter bins plus emtying, street cleaning, gulley/drain cleaning on streets with taxi ranks

street lighting/ electricity, on streets with taxi ranks

shelters and electricity used on taxi ranks

road markings and no parking signs on taxi ranks

cctv cameras on streets with taxi ranks

York estimated income per year to taxi licensing around 1/4 million

time for someone to request and see what their doing with it all

And that's all allowed to happen cos your local trade aren't up for a ruck just in case the council threaten delimitation.

_________________
IDFIMH

I thought they already were threatened with de-limitation? Anyway IMO the council will spend the money how they want to and then de-limit when they want to

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

So what is the York taxi trade gonna do when the council increase licence fees, but they have to accept a freeze on fares for this year because of the slump, didnt stop CYC increaing council tax this year and it wont stop them increaing licence fees either, or charges to any others which make money for CYC

_________________
now a licensed hackney driver

are we paying through our taxi fees to contributing to Licensing staff Pension funds, when we ourselves cant afford to pay for a pension????????????