Fare Increase
At the time of writing, it appears that the GLA have granted a 5.5% increase in taxi fares as of 28th April. The initial flag fall will remain unchanged at £1.40 and it would also appear that 'extra' charges will remain unchanged. I must say that I'm a little disappointed that nothing at all has been done to entice more drivers out at night by increasing the night charge.
   The Mayor was asked by the trade to increase the running rate at night so that when the meter was engaged, it would automatically start at the enhanced rate that we currently receive when the journey is in excess of six miles. That tariff would then remain unchanged for the entire length of the journey.
   The trade were subsequently informed that this option was not available at the moment because not all meters were equipped with a calendar facility. The meter would need to know the time of day in order to charge the enhanced rate. We were informed that 25% of the trade were not equipped with a calendar meter; consequently, the enhanced running rate was not an option at this time. However, TfL went on to say that the technical limitation of the current taximeters will be addressed as soon as possible and there will be a full review of the fare structure over the coming few months that could lead to changes prior to April 2002. They went on to add that TfL would consult fully with the trade before finalising a new structure.
   I believe that this has now become a matter of some urgency because as we are all aware, there is a shortage of cabs in certain areas particularly at night, and unless the tariff is reformed in order to encourage more drivers to work at those unsocial hours, then there will be even greater demands from our opposition to remove radios from licensed taxis in order to make more of them available during the evening and night and to give the public a better service than they are currently receiving.

   In future, I would not be at all surprised if certain sections of our own trade came out in sympathy with the licensed private hire sector, demanding that radio taxis have their radios removed. Consequently, their argument would then be that no extra Knowledge of London students would need to be processed in order to fill the vacuum that now exists at certain times.
   I believe this approach to be incorrect, as the licensed trade would be unable to expand to meet demand thereby playing into the hands of the newly legitimised private hire industry. As we are all aware, there are going to be tremendous changes throughout our trade over the coming few years, so much so that I understand the PCO are even reviewing their current conditions of fitness, a task that has not been undertaken since the 1960's.

London Taxi Board
There has been much discussion and criticism in recent times concerning the London Taxi Board. As most of you are aware, I am a member of the above due to Dial-a-Cab's membership of JRTA. Over the past 15 months, two driver organisations - namely the LTDA and the T&G - have withdrawn their membership.
   Initially, the LTDA resigned when claiming that the LTB wanted to speed up the Knowledge of London and flood the City with hundreds and possibly thousands more taxi drivers. This has never been the policy of the LTB who have always maintained that standards regarding licensed taxi drivers should not be relaxed.
   The second organisation, the T&G, withdrew some six weeks ago due to the fact that the lobbyists employed by the LTB had set up a meeting with TfL 
 

and that the T&G had not been invited.
   I am led to believe that the meeting which took place was so quickly assembled that not all organisations could be notified in time, indeed, I was only made aware of the meeting after it had taken place.
   The LTB in recent times had consisted of six organisations that met once a month in order to put views that affected their members to the appropriate authorities. There have been many issues concerning our trade in recent years that could have proven to be extremely detrimental. So in order to put our views across and seek support from MP's etc, the LTB secured the services of a firm of Government lobbyists. As you can appreciate, this company had to be financed from LTB funds, while in turn the LTB were financed by the six member organisations.
   Since the LTDA and the T&G left and with Hoopers well-publicised financial problems, the LTB now consists of three members to fund activities. I know some drivers - including some of our own members - feel that the taxi driver is the only person who is affected by changes to our trade. This is not the case as thousands of people other than drivers rely on the trade for their livelihood.
   In the fairly near future, the four London radio taxi organisations are going to have a tremendous battle on their hands in order to maintain the status quo regarding having radios in licensed taxis. The more support we receive from inside the trade, the more benefit that must be to the trade in general and that is why I believe that groups of organisations within the trade should assemble in any way, shape, or form in order to show a united front to the authorities.
   Whatever this organisation is called is immaterial, provided it represents all aspects of our industry and to all members of the taxi industry that have been critical of the LTB, what else have we had, or indeed what else have we got that can represent more than one organisation?

Brian Rice