Call Sign January 2006 - Page 7 - GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES REVIEW ON GLA POWERS - NOVEMBER 2005

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES REVIEW ON GLA POWERS David Miliband - responsible of the proposals If you thought that the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, had too many powers already, then the recent proposals from the Government may not be too pleasing. Those proposals are looking at ways to shift powers away from Whitehall and to give the Greater London Authority more control on key strategic issues affecting the capital. The proposals which originated from Jim Fitzpatrick, the Minister for London together with David Miliband, the Minister of Communities & Local Government, reveal that Ministers are willing to consider major decentralisation, but only if the result is improved quality of life in London. Would taxi emissions come into that category? How could they not? Londoners are to be asked for their views on a package of changes and options giving the Mayor greater freedom of choice and more influence over delivery of key services such as housing, skills, planning and waste. The consultation paper - The Governments proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and Assembly - also offers the London Assembly the chance to play a bigger role in policy development and scrutiny - a move aimed at maintaining the balance of power between the two parts of the GLA. The consultation period is due to end on 22 February 2006.	NOVEMBER 2005 – DAC’S BUSIEST MONTH EVER!
	Bonnie Martyn at the ODRTS launch in 1954 - what would he think now? We don’t know what the late Bonnie Martyn – DaC’s founder and first Chairman - would have said in November 1953 when ODRTS first transmitted a job, just 15 weeks before the official launch in March 1954, but for someone whose vocabulary was never less than excellent, Call Sign would have had a few quid bet on it including a swear word in exclamation had he known how many trips were dispatched through Dial-a-Cab in November 2005. In fact, November 2005 has now proved to be this	Society’s busiest- ever month! Not just the busiest November ever, but the single busiest month that this Society has ever seen with a massive increase in turnover from last year of almost 14.22%. Incredibly, the first week of December saw an almost 19% increase in trip numbers over the first week in November, but as Call Sign had to go to print early, we do not have the total figures. However, because the last week in December in almost certain to show a slow down, it seems unlikely that the November figure will be beaten. Brian Rice, who told Call Sign about the record, offered praise to the Call Centre and DaC drivers who had done everything possible to try to maintain the excellent service that this Society are renown for. "We’re proud of all of them," he said.

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NOVEMBER 2005 – DAC’S BUSIEST MONTH EVER!