2002 AGM
The DaC 2002 AGM took place on 9 February and the sitting Board were returned. I thought the meeting went very well and indeed, that everyone conducted themselves extremely well. What was very obvious to me and I suspect to everyone at the meeting, was that the members / shareholders present thought that everyone should be made to attend the meeting. 
   As always there were some spoilt ballot forms returned to the ERS, but 1672 members still chose to vote by post instead of attending the meeting, while at the meeting itself there were only 110 members entitled to vote. Now of course, I understand that everyone who attended thought that everyone else should as well, but the fact is that less than 6% of the membership voted at the AGM. Consequently, it is a fact that the wishes of the members present were overwhelmingly in the minority. 
   Most of the members present thought that I and the Board should put forward a rule change forcing everyone to attend. I do understand why those present would wish that to happen, but you must all realise that I could not represent the views of 6% against the views of 94% of the membership, that would be extremely undemocratic as the vast majority of the members made their wishes known by voting via the postal ballot.

BoM Positions
Following the AGM, there has been a re-scheduling of some Board positions. In future, Keith Cain will be Driver Operations Manager with overall responsibility for anything to do with operations. Allan Evans will continue in Driver Operations, dealing with the same issues as in the past ie Marshalling, Driver Training and New drivers, plus any other day-to-day issues. 
Allen Togwell will continue with Marketing, whilst Michael Son will deal with any Special Projects and also assist Lydia Foulkes with client visits etc. Tom Whitbread will deal with complaints and of course Howard Pears will continue as  

Finance Manager / Company Secretary.

London’s Taxi Network
London’s Taxi Network (LTN) have been working on a one telephone number for cash work that would link all the circuits so that we could supply the public with up to 8,500 cabs to cover all their needs but with just one telephone number. The benefits to all would be enormous. It would supply the public with an excellent service, provide more work for taxi drivers and help promote an integrated transport policy for London… 
   So you can imagine my dismay when I found out that ComCab had started a new radio circuit named ‘Call-a-Cab’ that would be operating without a run-in and covering cash work only. Therefore it would be operating in direct competition with LTN’s one number, but without a run in, whilst the parent company ComCab together with DataCab (owned by Com Cab), operated under the LTN’s one number. 
   The foregoing was clearly a ludicrous state of affairs and all the members of LTN were clearly unhappy about the situation because it was abundantly clear that the tail was endeavouring to wag the dog. Consequently, ComCab together with DataCab, decided to relinquish their membership of LTN. 
   I must say that I was personally extremely disappointed that Com Cab chose the path that they did, the one number project has now been scrapped just as we were about to go live. It has also done our industry a disservice with TfL and the Mayor’s office, who were both very supportive in our endeavour to supply the public with one number. Just as important is the further fragmentation of our industry at a time when we need to be seen to be united against the factions who endeavour to dissect our industry. 

In recent times, LTN has done much to enhance not only the welfare of drivers on radio circuits, but the trade in general. However, being an optimist, I am hopeful that ComCab will see the error of their ways and get back round the table in an endeavour to take our trade forward.

Tariff Increase
I wrote in the last issue about the proposed Tariff increase and I can now report the finalised 
details that are proposed to be introduced in April. The initial hiring charge will be increased to £2 from the current £1.40 and this will include any additional passengers and luggage - which will become non-chargeable items in the future. 
   The night tariff (tariff 3) will now be introduced at 22.00hrs instead of 20.00hrs, and tariff 2 will be applicable between 20.00hrs and 22.00hrs. The daytime rate on a Saturday and Sunday (tariff 2) in operation between 0600hrs and 2200hrs will remain unchanged and not increased. 
   This year, the cost of living index was 3% for the full year, but the average increase in April will be 2.25% because it has only been nine months since the last increase. 

Who pays for PH Licensing?
Not yet released by TfL, although I have it on good authority, is that the Drivers Licence fee will be increased from £160 to £241, a rise of just under 51% and the vehicle passing fee increased from £106 to £140, a rise of 32%, so the question as to who is paying for the licensing of the Private Hire becomes rather relevant. 
   Finally, did anyone see the headlines in the Evening Standard on Friday 14 February? As I predicted last month, it did not refer to the above but simply to the percentage increase in the initial hiring and I quote: ‘Minimum taxi fare to rise 40% to £2, other fares up as well’ Do you ever get the feeling that everyone is against us? 

Brian Rice
Chairman, Dial-a-Cab