2003 AGM
Another AGM has come and gone and I believe
that it went very well. All members present
had ample opportunity to discuss their
points, which many of them did.
Unfortunately, many of the speakers
reiterated the same point - that it should
be compulsory for all members to attend the
AGM or otherwise be fined.
I do understand their point, as these members had taken the time
and trouble to attend. However, their belief
is that everyone else should do the same.
But what they must also understand is that
the minority should not endeavour to inflict
their views on the majority. After all, 95%
chose not to attend and instead to use their
democratic right and vote by post. That was
their choice and it should be respected as
much as anyone else’s choice.
I believe that the Editor has compiled a comprehensive report on
the AGM elsewhere in this issue of Call
Sign.
Too Many Cab Drivers?
Most of you are probably aware of the fact
that I like to believe I am in tune with
your thoughts. Much of the conversation I
get when travelling in the back of your cabs
goes like this: - “Hey Brian, just the man I
wanted to see!” You then go into
a diatribe about what is wrong and indeed,
all the injustices that occur within the cab
trade. That is all fine with me, as it
enables me to keep in touch with your
concerns – something I consider to be very
important.
I think the biggest complaint I get is that
everything is extremely quiet; “…it was
definitely busier this time last year!” Our
records certainly show that the opposite is
true…
But one major problem that many of you believe and indeed is
nurtured by some organisations within our
industry, is that the PCO are ‘letting out’
too many Taxi drivers…
Well, I would like to give you some facts: During the past year,
that is from January 2003 until December
2003, there were 467 ‘Green’ badges issued.
However, during the same period there were
501 ‘Green’ badges surrendered.
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Consequently, that means that there was a decline in our numbers in
Central London by 34. “Brilliant,” some of you
might say, “that means that there will be more
work for the rest of us!” And in theory
you are correct…
But what really worries me is that we
now have more Knowledge Examiners at the PCO
than ever, yet this is the first time that
there has been a negative statistic since
1997. Sorry, but I must ask the question –
why?
Could it be that we now have Taxi drivers as KoL examiners instead
of the retired policemen that we used to have
and they are artificially holding back the
numbers of students that receive their Green
Badge? Could it be that these examiners
believe that when they have finished examining
at the PCO and go out to work in their cabs,
that there will be more business for them with
fewer drivers passing out?
Well, I’m certainly not advocating flooding London with Taxi
drivers, but if you consider the fact that
there are more examiners than ever, less
Knowledge boys are receiving their Bill and
that it’s taking on average more than four
years to complete the Knowledge, then this
part of our industry is ripe for someone to
call for a ‘Judicial Review’ of the KoL. If
someone did that, then in my opinion the PCO
would fall. Then what would happen to the KoL…?
Remember, that is the only thing that
safeguards our livelihoods. Is there something
going on that we don’t know about…?
Signage Success
I know that elsewhere in the
magazine you will read about the signage
issue. As you know, DaC drivers are the best
informed within our industry, so you were |
all aware of the fact that
recommendations were being made to the Board
of TfL that any exterior signage on Private
Hire vehicles should be illegal. I did inform
you in January that certain recommendations
regarding the signage were being made and they
were expected to be ratified early this year.
Well, I am delighted to inform you that the
Board of TfL ratified all the recommendations
on Wednesday 11 February; consequently in the
future all exterior signage on Private Hire
Vehicles will be illegal.
I must say that I am personally delighted with this decision, as I
believed that the exterior signage on Private
Hire vehicles would have been one of the
biggest threats to our industry. It is
sometimes very gratifying to think that the
authorities can be persuaded with a reasoned
argument without some parts of our trade
having to resort to demonstrating on the
streets.
Taxiboard
You are all aware that I have been
advocating for some time that driver
organisations should be represented on
Taxiboard. Some of those driver organisations
have made an application to join and I suspect
that their applications will be successful.
What surprises me is that the LCDC seem to be
dragging their feet. I have spoken to their
Chairman, Alan Fleming about the situation and
according to Alan, he will have to poll his
members. Nothing like being decisive and
leading your organisation!
I also seem to remember a petition that was organised by a certain
organisation several years ago that allegedly
contained several thousand signatures
purportedly claiming that the Taxiboard was
not representative of our industry because it
did not have any driver organisations on it.
They have now been invited to join so that the
trade can become more united, but it then
appears that the LCDC may not wish to
participate – does this trade of ours confuse
as many of you as it does me?
Brian Rice
Chairman
Dial-a-Cab |
