Taxi Driver Online

Bournemouth taxi marshals under threat

BOURNEMOUTH’S taxi marshals – who help keep order at busy town centre ranks on Friday and Saturday nights – could disappear in the next three months unless new ways can be found to pay for them.

The marshals were first used tried in 2006, with support from the licensed trade, and were brought back in 2009. They are employed by a private company to help out for 10 weeks in the summer and three weeks over the university freshers’ season.

A report to today’s meeting of Bournemouth council’s licensing board explains that the current £1,000 a month cost comes from public order initiatives and community safety project funding. But it warns: “Most of this… is about to dry up within the next three months and other sources of funding are needed.”

The report suggests that one option could be for the taxi trade itself to try and finance the scheme through its licence fees, as it benefits from the marshals actions in keeping queues orderly during busy periods.

But the report cautions that the law on how receipts from taxi licence fees can be used is complex and open to legal interpretation, and that an increase in fees could lead to an increase in fares.

“Further consultation would need to be carried out if it were proposed that the trade should finance or part-finance the taxi marshals through their licensing fees,” concludes the report.

Councillors will be asked to either reject the idea or approve it in principle so that further legal and other research can be carried out.

_________________
IDFIMH

Why aren't the Marshals wages took from the licensing pot?? After all aren't all monies collected supposed to be put back into the trade??

_________________
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

You cannot charge Marshalls to Taxi/PH licensing budgets. There is however provision to charge street security to pubs and clubs under the 2003 licensing act.

I think you can, and many councils do.

_________________
IDFIMH

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/vie ... a4e3d02ac0

Street marshalls are enforcement, nothing to do with the administration cost.

I still believe they can be legal under the any other clause of the section I can't be bothered to look up at present.

That said why shouldn't the trade pay for taxi marshals? Do we expect society to pay for nightclub doormen?

_________________
IDFIMH

I think it is more than reasonable that the clubs and pubs through their licensing fees pay for taxi marshals.... after all they are making money through selling alcohol.... and then when they are too drunk to spend any more.... they throw them out onto the streets.... it should be their responsibility,to assist their customers to get home.

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!