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The New Mayor
We’re now two months into the regime of
new Mayor Boris Johnson and so far
developments regarding the taxi industry
are not looking too bad. In his
pre-election manifesto, Boris stated
that he would scrap the mid-term
inspection /overhaul, or whatever we
choose to call it.
I am led to believe that a consultation document is going to be
revealed to the trade in the very near
future, consequently we can all have our
say. Personally speaking, I am against
the mid-term inspection because it just
incurs an extra expense to the
owner-driver, with increased costs and
loss of time.
When it was first introduced, there was a considerable outcry from
the trade as it was very unpopular and I
believe it was introduced to keep us in
line with the Private Hire industry,
which has two MOTs a year.
However, since it’s introduction, some factions of the trade have
done a somersault and are now in favour
of the two inspections! Not surprisingly
perhaps, they are the Proprietors that
run fleets of cabs!
So why would they be in favour of two overhauls? They tell me it is
because there would not be any street
inspections by Carriage Officers; also
they would not be required to produce
vehicles from time to time to be
inspected by SGS. However, I have come
to the conclusion that the real reason
is purely that they have found the
second inspection to be quite lucrative
for them, with owner-drivers taking
their vehicles into their garages for
any work that needed to be done prior to
that second inspection. So why would
they want to lose this extra source of
income?
Consequently, when the consultation document is produced, it will
not be a forgone conclusion that the
second inspection is to be scrapped.
However as I’ve said, I am
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against it, as I believe standards will
not improve and the vast majority of my
members, who are
all owner-drivers, will not wish to bear
the financial burden of this second
inspection.
Boris has also appointed a new Chief Executive to run the GLA. Tim
Parker took up his new position on 7
June for a salary of £1 per annum. Tim
Parker has obviously had considerable
experience with the AA, Boots and Kwik
Fit and is indeed a very astute
businessman - something that the GLA
obviously requires. There is no doubt in
my mind that Tim Parker will soon embark
on a cost-cutting exercise regarding the
‘deadwood’ employed at City Hall. I’m
led to believe that Tim Parker has been
referred to in the past as The Prince
of Darkness due to the amount of
streamlining he has completed in various
organisations.
I am very impressed that the Mayor has embarked and continues to be
focussed on a programme of running the
GLA as a business. I just hope he
continues with this policy and does not
lapse into the extravagances of the
previous regime.
So, as I stated earlier, the new Mayor has started off at a
blistering pace regarding changes within
our industry and at City Hall, I just
hope he continues and remembers it could
be a marathon and not a sprint. There is
no doubt in my mind that Boris is a very
ambitious man and if he can make a
success as Mayor of running London, then
who knows! Leader of the Conservatives
and PM? We could have the Tony |
Blair and Gordon Brown
scenario with David Cameron and Boris
Johnson – now that would be interesting!
Mercedes Taxi?
It looks like there is to
be a new taxi for London - a Mercedes
six seater! Although the price has not
been announced, I am led to believe it
will be in the region of a TX4 silver,
although I believe it also has several
‘extras’ included as standard in
addition to being fully air-conditioned.
The vehicle was launched on 27 June and
there was a ‘Ride and Drive’ in
Battersea Park on 28/29 June. Sadly, by
the time you read this piece, the dates
would have passed. However, I have it on
good authority that the date the
Mercedes will go on sale to Taxi drivers
is imminent – but we will have to wait
and see!
Subscriptions
I know this particular item will not be
very popular, but the BoM have decided
to increase subscriptions as from 1
September 2008, I believe there are more
details elsewhere in the magazine. I am
sure you don’t need me to explain why
costs are increased, however, we are
fully aware of the extra burden the
trade has to bear with the increase in
the price of fuel, but we believe the
increase in subscriptions is a modest
one.
Member’s subscriptions will increase from £119 to £124 + VAT per
month.
Second Drivers will increase from £64 to £67 +VAT per month.
Journeymen renting from an owner on the ‘full flat’ will attract
the same subscriptions as an
owner-driver, £124 + VAT.
In the rare instance of a third driver on a taxi, this will be
charged at £21 +VAT.
Brian Rice
Chairman, Dial-a-Cab |
