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The Peter Hulme Cross Report
I recently visited City Hall where
Peter Hulme Cross delivered his
investigation into the PCO. Roy Ellis,
Principal Officer of the PCO, was called
together with Ed Thompson, Director of
Taxis and Private Hire for London and
both had to answer questions submitted
by the committee. I must say that I felt
the report was compiled extremely well
and gave a very good view into all
aspects of our industry. If the Mayor
acts on any of the recommendations - and
that remains to be seen - he will
probably act on any that he agrees with,
whilst the others will be filed away!
There was one point I felt to be
particularly poignant as it is something
that I have been advocating for a very
long time within this industry. The
report suggested there should be one
body that speaks on behalf of the whole
industry regarding any negotiations that
transpire between our industry and TfL.
The amazing part was that the GLA
Transport Committee totally agreed, as
did Roy Ellis and Ed Thompson of the PCO!
So the question is why isn’t there just
one voice representing our industry when
the authorities are advocating it? Well,
we all know the answer to that! With all
the petty jealousies and baggage that
has been bandied around for years, I
don’t suppose it will change until the
Private Hire industry – with only one
voice - gain the upper hand in any
negotiations that the PH or Taxi
industry have with TfL. I doubt that day
is very far away either…
Signage Documentation
Whilst on the subject of the Private
Hire industry gaining the upper hand, I
have just seen the consultation document
regarding exterior signage on PH
vehicles. The submissions regarding this
documentation have to be returned to the
authorities by 31 January 2006 and so
far as I can see regarding the
consultation document itself, the
relevant authorities have already made
their minds up that there will be
exterior signage. It is fairly obvious
that the Private Hire lobby are now
extremely strong and vociferous and that
they have brought power to bear on TfL -
so much so that they havenow issued the
document with varying degrees of signage
as though the matter is a
foregoneconclusion. It now seems to be
just a question
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of how much signage will be
allowed!
I’ve warned repeatedly that if
Private Hire is allowed signage, it will
be the biggest threat to our industry
that we have ever seen. You can rest
assured that I will do everything I can
to resist this onslaught into the well
being of the taxi industry and no doubt
our colleagues at the LTDA will also
being doing everything they can
regarding this very important issue.
What really struck me about the
document was that TfL have given several
scenarios regarding the extent of the
signage on vehicles, ranging from quite
small insignificant signage to logos on
back windows, front doors etc. The only
item missing from their document was for
us to have the option of retaining the
status quo - ie nothing. Personally, I
feel that this was an omission in their
documentation and possibly something
that could be explored – or are their
minds already made up?
DaC AGM
As you are all aware, the AGM this
year will be held on Sunday 5 February
at The Brewery in Chiswell Street. If
you do not intend voting by post but are
going to attend the meeting, then be
prepared for a marathon. I have been a
member of this Society for almost 32
years and I have never experienced the
number of Rule Changes or propositions
that need to be discussed as we have
this year. In total, there will be
fourteen rule changes and two
propositions.
As I have already said, it will be a marathon so you would be well
advised to bring a packed lunch together
with a sleeping bag and probably a razor
- which may serve two purposes - because
who knows what time it will finish…!
However, I need
not worry too much because our Company
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Secretary, Howard Pears, has received a letter from the
member who is putting forward many of
the Rule Changes – the person who,
incidentally, also reported us to the FSA - explaining how I, as the Chairman,
should conduct the AGM! The member
concludes by stating - and I quote:
"It will also go some small way to
minimising the possibility of subsequent
legal action, or complaint to the
appropriate statutory authority, arising
out of procedural irregularities that
have denied members an impartial debate
and a fair outcome."
Now to a person such as myself, that
sounds like a threat from a despot.
Unless I conduct the AGM how this member
sees fit, he is going to report me? Is
that not akin to jury tampering or
trying to intimidate a referee before a
match? All I can say is that this will
be the eleventh meeting I have conducted
– how many meetings has this particular
member chaired? Absolutely none is the
answer!
Consequently, I do not believe he is
in a position to either threaten or
advise me. I believe it is also right
and proper that the membership be
advised of his letter to the Company
Secretary, as I would hate to be accused
of being ‘got at’ and not informing the
membership before an AGM.
Record figures
November proved to be our biggest
month ever in regards to turnover,
whilst during the first week of December
our trips were up 18.96% over the number
of trips we completed during the same
period last year. November was
particularly pleasing as our turnover
was in excess of £4m, an increase of
14.2% on the same period last year.
Although December would also have been
very busy, it should be slightly less
than the £4m figure as things will
quieten down enormously after 23
December.
And of course…
Finally, I would like to take this
opportunity to wish all members, staff
and their families a Healthy and
Prosperous 2006.
Brian Rice
Chairman, Dial-a-Cab
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