Realcabforceforum wrote:
Sorry, I can see how I have confused, although I am heavily involved in the edinburgh black cab trade I don't own or drive one now, the point I was trying to get across was that there is going to be a lot of very angry cabbies when they find out what these people have been up too and their motivation for doing so.
Is it the fact that Edinburgh is restricted that will cause these Cabbies you talk about, to feel anger towards those who have applied for plates?
What if Edinburgh wasn't restricted, would these same cabbies feel the same anger you refer to?
Could it be the case that we have a situation in Edinburgh where council policy sets driver against driver or perhaps owner against driver?
Your comments are very telling because they reflect the position in possibly every restricted Authority in the united Kingdom.
I have yet to hear any owner or driver from an unrestricted authority voicing their animosity against any individual who wishes to obtain a proprietor's licence.
Your stance on the freedom of these individuals to apply for something which they are completely entitled to do under the law is perhaps unworthy of you.
It should matter not to me you or anyone else what these people intend to do with these licenses. The simple fact that an artificial value is put on such licenses is not in anyway the fault of the persons who are applying for the licenses. The fault for that lies firmly at the door of the city council.
If a council pursues a policy such as restricted numbers then in order to make that policy secure it has to abide by the law at all times. Dundee fell foul of that law and I believe the Higher court will determine Edinburgh has done the same.
The fact still remains that you highlighted the divide in those authorities that restrict licenses by numbers and the animosity that those who have licenses feel against those who haven't. Edinburgh is not unique because they are merely the template of what is the norm in every other restricted authority in the UK. Your argument about plate investment isn't credible because the downside of purchasing a plate is well documented. Anyone purchasing a plate in this current climate where no authority is safe from de-restriction has to be either a pure optimist or they have very deep pockets.
I fully understand why those owners in restricted authorities want to keep it that way but it is up to those owners to make sure the council carry out their obligations and not leave a window of opportunity open for a legal challenge.
I might add that in October this year there are several EU directives being issued which strengthen current EU law appertaining to equal opportunities and in particular equal opportunities in the workplace.
The directives will eliminate inequalities and promote gender equality throughout the European Community in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the EC Treaty as well as Article 141 which refers to "equality between women and men in matters of employment and occupation" and Article 13 which was one of many articles Judge Rogers referred to in the Dublin case, "sex discrimination within and outside the work place".
Legislation currently covers 13 directives in the area of "employment, social security and goods and services". An initiative aiming at simplifying and modernising many current directives are in an advanced stage of completion and should be introduced by October.
We shall wait to and see how these new directives impact on the ability of a council to exclude those who wish to take up employment as taxi proprietors.
Regards
JD