Annual General Meeting
I would like to remind you that the AGM this year will be on Sunday 20th February and will be held at the Metropole Hotel, Edgware Rd and the AGM literature should be despatched to you around 28th January.
For the first time in our history, if you cannot attend the AGM then you can vote by post without attracting a fine. However, the completed ballot forms (if you are voting by post) must be returned to the ERBS (Electoral Reform Ballot Services) by the 18th February 2000. I would like to stress that if you do not vote by post or you do not attend the AGM, then the fine will be enforced.
   If you are not attending the AGM, you do not have to notify us - you simply vote by post. Ideally, the fines incurred for not voting will be nil and there is now no excuse for not voting.

Christmas Incentive Scheme
This scheme has proved to be far more successful than even we had anticipated and our clients found that the resulting service improvements led to one of the best 'pre Christmas' periods they could remember.
   Complaints regarding service levels were well below normal and many clients commented very favourably on the exceptionally high level of service that they had received from Dial-a-Cab in a period when problems and difficulties traditionally arise.
   During the pre-Christmas period, our turnover was in excess of £700,000 above budget, due in no small part to our members greater incentive to 

cover the work, which in turn went a long way to offset the cost of the exercise.
   There has never been a scheme in the Licensed Taxi industry in London such as the one we operated - yet another first for Dial-a-Cab - and it appears to have brought real business benefits for everyone concerned.
Perhaps a little prematurely, but I can assure you all that there is no point in marking next September and October in your diaries "to ease up on credit work" because the identical scheme will not be operated next year. As you can imagine, otherwise we would cover very little work in those two months...!

London Taxi Board
Most of you will have read in the trade press that the London Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has decided to leave the London Taxiboard. I must say that I was extremely disappointed to learn of their decision, as I believe the LTB has done a very good job over the years and the resignation of the LTDA can only weaken our cause and help the unlicensed trade as they stand by and watch us squabble amongst ourselves.
   I, like most of the trade, have heard the rumour that they resigned because the LTB policy is to have a three-month Knowledge. That is utter rubbish. As most of you know, I am a

member of the LTB and my comments on the Knowledge have been widely reported in the trade press and even in our own Annual Report.
   I have gone on record saying that some people in the licensed trade are concerned that there could be a lowering of standards at the PCO (regarding the Knowledge) when it moves to the new Greater London Authority. I believe it is the duty of our leaders to ensure that the current standards are maintained - hardly the sentiments of a member of a London Taxiboard that wants a three-month knowledge!
   I made those comments before the LTDA withdrew from the LTB. Recently I have heard people criticise the LTB and state that they were not elected to represent the trade and they should cease to exist.
   Do these people not realise that the LTB is a loose Federation that was set up by some of the organisations within the trade to represent a broad spectrum ie Drivers (T&G, LTDA), Radio Circuits (JRTA), Proprietors (LMCPA) and the Manufacturers (LTI and Hoopers). I am not sure how much more representative you can get, and of course the LTB is also recognised by the government.
   Do these people want the above organisations just to fight their own corner, have no unity in the trade and to appear as a disorganised rabble to the Government? The LTDA have their own reasons for quitting the LTB and their Council of Management know their own and their member's business far better than I do, but the LTDA will return to the LTB at some stage and as far as I am concerned, the sooner the better.

Brian Rice