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Institute launches reform campaign

Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles (collectively referred to as “taxis”) play a vital part of the transport network in this country. They account for around 600 million trips in Great Britain each year, and are most commonly used by younger people, those on lower incomes without access to cars, and amongst women between 16 and 20.

According to Department for Transport statistics, there are around 69,000 taxis licensed in England in 2007, an increase of eight per cent since 2005; there are 8000 licensed vehicles in Wales alone. Over 264,000 people hold drivers' licences issued by over 350 local licensing authorities in England and Wales.

As the national organisation for licensing practitioners, the Institute of Licensing is starting on a major campaign for modernisation of this legislation, to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century.

That is why today it is starting the first stage of a consultation exercise with high-level stakeholders such as the National Taxi Association, the National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers, and the National Private Hire Association.

Institute president James Button said: 'We recognise that our organisation does not by any means hold all of the answers. That is why we are carrying out this consultation.

The Institute of Licensing has identified your organisation as a key stakeholder within this debate, and we recognise that we do not by any means hold all the answers.

'The responses to the consultation will inform the next stage of our action, which is to formulate proposals for reform to the legislation. 'This will then be the subject of wide-spread public consultation later in the year. After that, approaches can be made to government offering a set of proposals for reform which carry broad support.'

Responses to the document are invited from Institute Members by 19 July 2008. Members can log-in to the secure part of the website and go to the Consultation page to download it.

Dear Mr. T,

Why am I not surprised at your un-provoked attack on the GMB PDB members. It is common knowledge that some members of the GMB PDB have radical views and opinions. It is also common knowledge that there are many of us who do not agree with those views and opinions. It is a sad day when someone with your knowledge and ability decides to use gutter politics to try and tarnish all of our members.

I would also point out that representatives of the GMB PDB would be failing in their duty to their membership if they did not contribute to consultations such as the MoM and the IoL.

Finally, the Provincial representatives of the GMB PDB do not have a problem with any other trade representative group; we have always been willing to work with them. Our membership may not always agree with the other groups, but they will always have our respect for their democratic right to have their opinions.

It’s a shame you don’t.

Regards
BB

I take it from your statement that the you're referring to the allegations made by certain senseless idiots...... there will always be a us and you situation... and the mindless will try to use it to their advantage..... create confusion and build your empire....

now the National private hire Association is open to anyone who wishes to join.... in fact I think BB's firm is a member.. I might be wrong..... Brian Rowlands is accredited as an expert witness in private hire and taxi law, at least the courts think so... people would be foolish not to avail themselves of his expertise and contacts with barristers who specialise in Taxi Law.

The NTA again will accept single members. it is a national association that represents local associations, the members of those associations can be anybody... what is the difference between a person who owns and drives a Hackney cab and a person who owns and drives a private hire. They both have the right as individuals to join an association or union that they feel fits their needs.

For many many years associations and unions preferred to keep themselves to themselves instead of working together for the betterment of their members. It means that everybody has to compromise to find a solution that fits all.

I personally do not like bullies, especially the ones that remind me of the school yard bully who threatens people with his big brother if they do not do as he wants. It's a bit like threatening people with lawyers.

Things that left the NTA pondering

A stitch in time saves nine. Nine what? Are there any unguided missiles? Are you breaking the law if you drive past those road signs that say "Do Not Pass"? How can a stupid person be a smart-ass? Do fat people go skinny-dipping or do they call it fat-dipping? Crime doesn't pay... does that mean my job is a crime? Day light savings time - why are they saving it and where do they keep it? Do blind dogs have seeing-eye humans? Do crematoriums give discounts to burn victims? Do hummingbirds hum because they don’t know the words? Do people in Australia call the rest of the world 'up over'? When they asked George Washington for his ID, did he just whip out a quarter? Does a man-eating shark eat women, too? Does that screwdriver really belong to Phillip? How can you tell when it is time to tune your bagpipes? How come wrong numbers are never busy? How did a fool and his money get together in the first place?

Questions from an NTA test paper to see if your thick enough to join

1.
Q: What do the NTA do with their arseholes in the morning ?
A: Pack their lunch and send them to work.

2.
Q: What's the first thing  a NTA member does in the morning?
A1: Introduces themself.
A2: Walks home.

3.
Q: Why did the NTA member have tire tread marks on their back?
A: From crawling across the street when the sign said "DON'T WALK".

4.
Q: How does a NTA member  like their eggs in the morning?
A: Fertilised.


5.
Q: What's the first thing a NTA member  does after sex?
A: Opens the car door.

6.
Q: What's a NTA member s idea of safe sex?
A: Locking the car door.

7.
Q: How do NTA members   turn the light on after sex ?
A: Kick open the car door.

8.
Q: Did you hear about the NTA member   who was disappointed when he got his driver's license?
A: The instructor gave him an "F" in sex.

9.
Q: Why do NTA members like tilt steering?
A: More head room.



10.
Q: What goes VROOM, SCREECH,VROOM, SCREECH,VROOM, SCREECH?
A: a NTA member   going through a flashing red light.


11.
Q: What does a NTA member   say when you ask him if his indicator is on?
A: It's on. It's off. It's on. It's off. It's on. It's off.

12.
Q: Why did the NTA member   drive into the ditch?
A: To turn the indicator off.

13.
Q: What do you call a  NTA member   behind a steering wheel?
A: An Air Bag.

14.
Q: Why are there lip stick stains on the steering wheel after a NTA member   drives a car?
A: Cause he blows the horn!!!!!

15.
Q: Why did the NTA member   try and steal a police car?
A: he saw "911" on the back and thought it was a Porsche.

16.
Q: What is the worst thing about sex with a NTA member  ?
A: Bucket seats.

17.
Q: What do NTA members say after sex?
A1: Thanks Guys.
A2: Are you boys all in the same band/team?
A3: Do you guys all play for the local rugby team?

Brian Rowlands is accredited as an expert witness in private hire and taxi law, at least the courts think so...

whats it got to do Brian being credited as a expert witness or not whether the NPHA only represent operators / owners.... your a prize cretin if thats the foundation of your response Nick

as you als mentioned in your reply you said BB'S firm are members you believe....... wrong its the owner operator who is the member and he / she pays accordingly to the size of their fleet.

Ask BB how many times the NPHA have been in touch with them since the NPHA took their money as a subscription to the NPHA association.

admit it the NTA and NPHA both represent Operators.

look in the PHTM mag at the membership form to join the NPHA.... !

END OF ARGUMENT

see i've hit a nerve TJ [Nick] hows capt'n doing [wayne] still pulling his strings are you

you have no idea who i am or what i do my sefton mate.

you wont answer because you know im right and you have no back bone to come back with something plausible in the defense that the NTA and NPHA arent both operator subscribed and not by any drivers working for operators / owners.

your and i say your cause your NTA through and through that these 2 organisations / trade bodies are purely there to represent operators.

if not prove it !  

you cant so FCUK OFF 

you hit the nail on the head  fcuk wit,   you dont care about anyone in the trade except yourself and puppet wayne and the operators out there like ya selves.

i'm alright jack f..k  the drivers, the real trade members.

expand my bearded friend what evidence you have on me being an uneducated little idiot.

i can back my opinions up with facts, you cant or wont. you just revert to personal attacks.

what happened in carlisle reference station rank? hows wayne getting on because of this  ha ha ha

see his brothers gay coloured fiat [burgundy] is now in the hands of mann & overton manchester.