Taxi Driver Online

I've just finished reading the "Commons Select Committee" report. Here are their conclusions and recomendations.

Introduction

1. In our view, the case for a thorough overhaul of the legislation relating to taxis and private hire vehicles is irresistible. (Paragraph 14)

2. We recommend that, instead of referring reform of taxi and PHV legislation to the Law Commission, the Government should engage with the trade, local authorities and users about the objectives of future legislation on taxis and private hire vehicles and commit to overhaul that legislation during the course of this Parliament. Once these objectives are decided, the detailed work to frame legislation and guide it through Parliament should begin. This need not involve primary legislation: we consider that the swifter legislative reform order procedure could be used in this case. (Paragraph 15)

Principles to underpin new legislation

3. We recommend that, in developing proposals for changing the legislation applying to taxis and PHVs, the Government should commission authoritative research into consumers' opinions. Particular attention should be paid to the views of vulnerable groups, such as disabled people, who are often most reliant on taxis and PHVs. (Paragraph 18)

4. We recommend that Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 should be replaced by a single Act or legislative reform order, covering both taxis and PHVs. (Paragraph 19)

5. We recommend that the Government provide clearer guidance to local authorities on how taxis and PHVs should be included in local transport plans. (Paragraph 21)

6. There are strong arguments in favour of national standards in relation to issues which directly relate to public safety, such as the level of CRB check drivers require, the roadworthiness of vehicles and drivers whose licences have been revoked being licensed shortly afterwards by a different district. We recommend that new legislation in this area should provide for this. (Paragraph 23)

7. We agree with the Minister that the licensing of taxis and PHVs should remain a local function, not least because of the likely cost and complexity of instituting a national system. (Paragraph 23)

8. We recommend that any legal barriers to co-operation between local authorities and innovation in organising and funding enforcement activity in relation to taxis and PHVs should be reviewed as part of the process of legislative reform. (Paragraph 25)

9. We are sympathetic to the argument that offences relating to taxis and PHVs, such as plying for hire, should be dealt with by fixed penalty notices rather than court action and we recommend that the Government should move in this direction when it comes to reform the legislation in this area. (Paragraph 26)

10. We recommend that new legislation should permit existing licensing districts to be combined where local authorities decide it is best to do so. (Paragraph 28)

Solving the cross-border hire problems

11. We recommend that it should be permissible for taxi and PHV licences to include a condition that the vehicle must principally be operated in the licensing district. A similar provision should also be permitted in relation to driver licences. (Paragraph 30)

12. In addition, new legislation should permit local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices to out-of-town drivers where there is evidence, for example, that they have worked, or sought to work, for a specified period of time in that district. Local authorities should also be enabled to prosecute operators in other districts which are routinely sending cars to work in their area. (Paragraph 30)

13. In our view it is essential that local authorities justify their approach to the use of these controls in local transport plans, alert drivers and operators in neighbouring districts to their intention to use such powers; and provide adequate warnings to drivers and operators before issuing fixed penalty notices or initiating prosecutions. (Paragraph 31)

Conclusion

14. We call on the Government to set out its policy proposals before the end of the year, with a view to holding a consultation exercise in 2012, introducing draft legislation in 2013-14 and taking an Act or legislative reform order through Parliament before the next general election. (Paragraph 33)

I thought tae' masel' this cannae' be right cos' Garry had told us earlier that the committee's recomrndations would result in the "Scrapping" of regulation across the whole of the U.K.
In fact he had documentary proof that this would be the case.
Erm... well no' proof exactly he came across a "Blog" fae' Manchester that said,
"We are told the report recommends the repeal of section 16 of the Transport Act 1985. This in effect will de-limit Hackneys nationwide." The leak of the report came from someone known as "The Mouse in the House" (Honest am' no'makin' this up !). Anyway,Garry believed this crap, cos' he wanted it to be true, but it wisnae', like many other things He's came oot' wae' it was BOLLOCKS !.

pmsl

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

Let me tell you what funny is, hiring two cabs this morning to go from the Waverley to my destination and then back to the Waverley. Needless to say both were City Cabs. Incidentally, I gave both a 75p tip to round it up to the fiver.

I asked them how business was, and both started talking about getting out of the game because it was so bad.

Laugh, I nearly bought a round.

Did you hear about the truck load of viagra that was stolen by the seven dwarfs?

Apparently police are on the look out for a bunch of wee hard men.

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

What aout "The Moose in the Hoose"?.

I don't think you're quite getting this. Your little taxi world is totally dependent on councillors allowing you, the dream of “ownership” and being a “businessman.” Should they change their minds at any time it's, "Ring a Ring o' Roses" … we all fall down. It's that simple. You don't own anything but their illusion owns you. You are living in a dream world Niddrie boy.

Edinburgh Councill doesn't need a change in legislation they can pull the plug any time they like, and they don't have to ask your permission.

Oh and just in case you haven't noticed the game is [edited by admin] and anyone with half a brain is wanting out.

Garry, you started this thread with a silly prediction. Any chance of a few words on what the Transport Committee "Actually" did recommend

I couldn't care less to be honest. It's not me waiting to see if the politicians have decided to take a pin to my little bubble.

To live in fear is to be a slave to their illusion. Does this sound like anyone you know?

Oh and btw, if punters stop getting into your taxi. What does it matter?

I think Gary's problem is that he probably wasn't aware of what happened the last time the committee discussed the trade - indeed the specific question of restricted numbers - almost a decade ago.

It wasn't difficult to work out what Louise Ellman's committee would conclude given her performance last time round.

As I said, the impetus for the current investigation was the Liverpool Hackney cartel moaning about cross-border PH operations, thus it was always likely to be a result for the cartel rather than against it. The suspicion that the cartel may have defecated in their own nest was predictably wide of the mark.

Of course, that's not the end of the matter, but I suspect the reason the committee doesn't want the Law Commission involved is that that might result in awkward questions being asked

Dusty, Garry has got a "Problem" alright, and it's located in the vast space between his ears !.

The moose thread was started on the English section of the forum. I carried it over to the Scottish section, and if you check on fasties, it's on there too.

Understand, you t***

Aye, but why did you carry it over to the Scottish section ?. I got the impression that you were positvely salivating over the prospect of the
" Moose in the Hoose", prediction being right. But it wisnae'. wis' it ?.
Then you go on to say you're not interested in what Ministers say, but if they had said what you wanted (and expected) them to say about de-restriction, you would've been interested al'right.
Just out of interest Gary, how long have you been saying that De-restriction was just round the corner ?, 6,7,8 years ?. (And you call me a t***)

Who's the daftest the one predicting the inevitable or the one [edited by admin] himself waiting for it to happen? What can happen, will happen it's only a matter of time?

You don't really believe that at some point, when it suits their political agenda, they won't pull the plug because two Niddrie boys want to play businessman.

It might be tomorrow, next week, next month or even next year, but it will happen.

I would have been delighted to see politicians seize the initiative and pull the plug on your little illusion. Do you know why, because it's pathetic?

You and Dougie are like a couple of Niddrie junkies totally dependent on their next fix from their drug-dealing politician.

It's an illusion Fairplay, don't you get it. They own you - t**t

In reality, you bought a job but in your mind, you were sold the identity and status of being a businessman. What a meteoric rise in the world of big business for the wee boy from Niddrie. I bet you couldn't wait to tell all your friends about your new-found position of importance. From zero to hero through the loan of a licence owned by the council. I actually feel embarrassed for you.

Are you getting the picture yet, the only thing being owned by anyone is you?

t**t

I did'nt design the current system. I "Bought in", hoping that it would save me money in the long run. Not to go around telling people I'm a "Business Man".
Nae'body does that, why would they?. The thing I like about having my name on the License is the fact that my place of work is only yards away when I start/finish. I did pay a lot of money though for that privilege,but it was that or continur to rent. My needs are pretty simple Garry, as long as I make enough money to pay the bills and have enough left over to allow me to make a fool of my self on the Golf Course, then I'm quite happy. Now, does that sound very "Business Like" ?.