Taxi Driver Online

Hackney Carriage drivers hand petition to St Albans District Council
http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/47 ... ing_trade/

PRIVATE taxi drivers are illegally touting trade from the streets of St Albans, a licensed cabbie has warned.

Hackney carriage drivers have handed a petition to St Albans District Council demanding a three-year ban on licences being issued.

The drivers fear their future is at risk due to the low demand because the majority of their customers are being poached by private hire operators offering cheap rides.

Abdel-illah Moustaghfir, who has spearheaded the campaign on behalf licensed drivers in the district, explains in the petition “taxi trade is an integral part of daily life in St Albans”.

Three main problems he and his colleagues face are: private hire drivers plying and touting for trade illegally, the aggressive nature of private hire drivers towards Hackney carriage drivers and the under/over charging of fares by private hire drivers.

In a letter supporting the petition signed by more than 150 drivers Mr Moustaghfir said: “The private hire drivers and private hire operators are in breach of their licensing condition.

“They are picking up jobs which are not booked and booking them at the point when a customer gets in their car. This is illegal and against the law as the customer does not realise that they are getting into a vehicle which is not insured for that particular journey.”

He adds: “Over the many recent months because no action has been taken, these guys have become more daring, brave and think they are a law unto themselves.

“When they are caught touting for business and approached or told what they are doing is illegal they become abusive and disruptive.”

In response to Mr Moustaghfir's letter the district council's senior licensing officer Karen Hollands said the council will prosecute private hire drivers they find are illegally touting for trade. Also there are plans in the pipeline to recruit two enforcement officers to target the areas complained of.

The district council's licensing and regulatory committee is due to meet on Wednesday, November 11, to discuss the petition and address the concerns raised by the Hackney carriage drivers.

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

http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/Publish ... ocA.ps.pdf

http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/Publish ... cxA.ps.pdf

http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/Publish ... tition.pdf

http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/Publish ... tition.pdf

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

This is happening all over the country, and the answers are always a load of drivel.My fear is it is only going to get worse

I wonder if the strike action in St Albans has finished yet?

CC

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

Whilst I support the regulation of numbers I cant help but this the local trade have either been misguided.....or they are misguiding someone else.

CC

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

Is this the same council who's licensing officer told PH they could clear the ranks when hackneys went on strike?

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

was there any need for that

CC

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report on a petition received from the Hackney Carriage trade requesting enforcement action and putting a temporary three year stop on issuing Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences. With the Chairman’s agreement, Mohammed Ilyas addressed the Committee stating that there were too many Hackney Carriage Licences being issued and in referring to illegal plying for trade he cited incidents of aggressive behaviour from Private Hire Vehicle drivers.



The Officers responded by saying that two Compliance Officers had been appointed that day to commence work on 23 November on Friday and Saturday evenings to address the matters raised. They would be authorised to enforce the relevant Hackney Carriage and Private Hire legislation and would be a visible presence in the City. The Officers also circulated information showing the number of Driver and Vehicle Licences overall had fallen by between 2.75% and 11.7% since March 2009. Reference was also made to the report of the Office of Fair Trade (OFT) which concluded that their was no rationale for controlling the number of licences. Additionally, an independent survey was required before controls could be implemented and this would cost in the region of £10,000 - £15,000 every three years. Mohammed Ilyas stated that the OFT report made in 2003 was out dated and that demand exceeded supply.



The Police representative stated that they did not wish to see the number of licences restricted and stressed the need for evidence of illegal plying for trade. Lesley Cameron informed the Committee that regular meetings were held with Hackney Carriage drivers with Officers and she requested feedback on why the OFT report was out of date. The drivers had also been asked to suggest suitable sites for additional taxi ranks but no response has been received.



In answer to further concerns from the Hackney Carriage Trade about passengers being illegally picked up from lay bys and other illegal practices, Sergeant O’Malley stated that the Compliance Officers were part of a six month pilot scheme but she was hopeful that the scheme would become permanent. The Chairman asked that the matter be brought back to the next meeting and that a letter be sent to Mr Moustaghfir, the original petitioner.

RESOLVED

(i) That the numbers of Hackney Carriage Number Plates and Hackney Carriage Drivers be not regulated.

(ii) That the Committee noted how the Licensing Department were dealing with the problems raised in relation to the activity of all licensed drivers, vehicles and operators including the issues relating to private hire vehicles and agreed the Officers’ responses to the petition.

ACTION

Licensing Officers to write to Mr Moustaghfir and to prepare a report for the next meeting.

I notice that the Hackney carriage trade failed to persuade the council in St Albans.........no mention of the GMB Union.......have they left?

No mention from Donald or BB on this one either.

CC

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

St Albans is part of the London Region, I suggest you ask the relevent GMB PDB Branch Secretary.

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

Sounds like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

CC

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

Sounds like someone is miffed!

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

Not at all, it aint my fault you lot dont seem to centralise information in that old fashioned commie way

CC

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

Perhaps because were not all Commie's

BB

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