Having been asked to take on the job of Complaints Officer, it is only right that I give you an insight as to how I see the position. I have always felt that the job is not about being a policeman or a prosecutor. This Society is based on trust and respect for your fellow subscriber. If people betray that trust by trying to score over other drivers then they cannot complain if being found out brings retribution in the form of suspension or worse. They also have a duty of care to our customers in various ways which need not be spelled out here.
All transgressors are judged not only by me, but if serious enough by other drivers, and that in itself gives an assurance as to the fairness of the system. I have always had great sympathy for the driver, having held a license for well over 'many years' ( I am not saying how many! ) and I know that, at times, you are subject to great stress which can cause you to say or do something that you may regret,
People who make a genuine mistake will have nothing to fear from me, but I would ask that every one realises that you are all ambassadors for the circuit whilst you are working on our behalf and that you should conduct yourselves accordingly.
One thing that concerns the Board of Management is the number of drivers who are not reaching the required number of jobs per month currently

standing at 40. As you must know, the service we give our customers is vitally important and although the majority are playing their part, there are still quite a lot of you who do not reach the required amount. I will be looking at that and do not be surprised if you get a call from me if you do not reach your quota.
Another area where surprisingly a number of drivers fall foul, is in arguing with the Query channel operator. If you are asked to do something in which you are unhappy with, then just do it and register your grievance later, but not over the air!

THE FUTURE OF DIAL A CAB
Having put to you the proposal to convert to a Plc and thence on to the AIM market, after much debate your vote did not reach the required 75% majority in favour.
One has to respect your decision, even if I feel it was the wrong one. I do know that your basic fear was that you, the members, would lose control of the Society even though you would gain in other ways. We now have to ask ourselves 'Where do we go from here?'
Do we remain as we are or do we look at our rules and see where they need to be updated so that the challenges that are to come, and believe me they will come, can be met by us in the best shape possible.
We must accept the principles that safeguard the members, but that will

allow all of us enough flexibility to meet all that the competition, within and outside the trade, can throw at us.
The present rule book was produced in 1953 when the Society was in its infancy and although it has served its purpose over many years, it has become increasingly clear that a root and branch exercise is required.
Why now? One thing that must not be forgotten is that we have expanded in turnover as never before and in the business world we are closely watched, not only by our bankers who have a large investment in our Society by way of overdraft facilities, but also by all of our large corporate clients.
That means showing stability and having a Board of Management that instils confidence, not only to the outside world, but also to our members.
In the main, I think we have got that, providing we get rid of the negative attitude that pervades the Society from time to time and think positively. I believe the majority will go with ideas that will modernise the Society with one proviso, and that is that we fully explain our ideas and the reasoning behind them. Minorities, if they so desire, can always sow seeds of doubt by playing on the fear factor, it is up to any management to dispel and combat the doubters by cold plain logic. If this is done then I have every confidence in the future.

Aubrey Siteman

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