Taxi Driver Online

TODAY'S COURIER


http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... trade.html


Pair say licensing chief has already shown 'bias' towards one option for future of city's taxi trade

A trade unionist and leading representative of the Dundee taxi industry have called on the city's licensing chief to temporarily step down from his post.


By Craig McManamon
Published in the Courier : 14.07.11
Published online : 14.07.11 @ 12.36pm

Unite union taxi branch secretary Chris Elder and the secretary of the Dundee Taxi Association (DTA) Tony Waters this week accused the convener of the council's licensing committee, Rod Wallace, of being "biased" over controversial proposals that could force taxi drivers into using wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) and the possible reintroduction of a cap.

Mr Wallace chose not to respond to the comments, with a spokesman for Dundee City Council explaining, "Because of the quasi-judicial nature of the licensing committee it is inappropriate for any member of the committee to comment on matters that have yet to be decided."

Despite the authority refusing to be drawn on the matter, Mr Elder said Mr Wallace holds a personal view after the councillor said the status quo was not an option during a committee meeting in March.

"As a union we feel he has shown his hand," said Mr Elder. "He has already said that the status quo is not an option and we don't want him because he will be biased."

Two options had been up for debate during the meeting — a 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet with a limit on numbers and a 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet without a limit.

But anger voiced from some in the taxi trade prompted councillors to defer a decision until further consultation is carried out.

In addition, two further options put forward are for keeping the existing policy of no limit with only new applicants having to have wheelchair accessible vehicles, and introducing a limit on numbers with a mix of saloon cars and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Earlier this month the council launched its Taxi Survey Questionnaire to better gauge public opinion but, according to Mr Elder, some of the 18 questions included in the document would put people off filling it in.

"The council should not be running this. We think there should be an independent body carrying out this survey or even using one of the local universities. We were not consulted in this questionnaire — in fact we were deliberately shut out, and I would like to know why."

Echoing this view was Tony Waters, who said one question, which asks people what rate of Disability Living Allowance they are on, had nothing to do with the issue.

"It is a questionnaire for drivers and users to fill in but to be honest it should only be service users. And it should be filled in by all taxi customers and not only the disabled because not everyone wants wheelchair accessible vehicles."

But the local authority defended its position saying the final list of questions, and the format of the questionnaire, had been agreed by members of the licensing committee after two briefings by council officers.

"It is not appropriate for groups with a vested interest, such as the taxi trade, to be involved in the compilation of the questions," continued the spokesman. "All taxi and private hire operators will have the opportunity to respond to the questionnaire and make their views known to the licensing committee when it considers the results of the consultation.

"The question over mobility component, in conjunction with other relevant questions relating to disability and or caring responsibilities, is 'relevant evidence' to ensure the council meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010."

Four options are on the table for the licensing committee to consider. Unite and the DTA have both stated their support for option three which backs a taxi cap but without compulsory WAVs. However both bodies believe Mr Wallace wants option one, which is for a cap on taxi numbers and require all vehicles to be WAVs.

A decision date has not yet been given.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

When are these councillors going to listen to the people who elected them, it's not for the trade to decide what the public require it's up to the councillors to provide what their electorate want.

Thankfully next year's local elections are just round the corner & be assured if they don't start listening to the public then the back of my cab is the best place to canvass against any councillor who doesn't, as they are a captivated audience for every journey and as all cabbies know every customer wants to put the world to rights in the back of your cab.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

What a tit

Its getting to the stage where its not worth posting

If it doesn't concern Skull's one man fight on his usual subject and frankly going by the forums response to him your right he's not worth responding too

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

There was no complaint in March when, four SNP Councillor's voted against him.....

Over & Out Writes:



Sorry, perhaps what I should have said was: Wow! These councillors will be sitting [edited by admin] themselves at the mere prospect of Dundee taxi drivers canvassing the public in the back of their cabs.

Oh yes there was, At the exact same time when you posted that a complaint had been made to the standards commission by the hackney association Hows that going

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtop ... sc&start=0


]

I think the word you're looking for is 'captive' rather than captivated.

In fact I suspect passengers listening to the self-serving ramblings of drivers are more likely to be nauseated than captivated.

I'm not making excuses but Over & Out is from Dundee. I am assuming you have never been to Dundee.

Consider yourself lucky.

Well I think Sussex said he'd been there and I think he said it was a lovely city

On the other hand, I don't think he met any of the local taxi drivers

Bit early for panto eh ?? but ok..."oh no there wasn't" The post was aimed at DTA/Unite..

Being dyslexic I think I got my point across, and thanks for the school lesson

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat