Nothing but
‘Wanton Greed’?
By Jack Clyde ©
H
as anyone noticed the price of fuel rising at The same applies to upper management setting How many taxis do the OFT own? How many
the pumps recently? Everyone knows that the levels of bonus payouts or pensions for mortgages do the OFT depend on paying each
the price we pay for a litre of fuel is far in excess their colleagues. The more payout for their month from the income of taxis? How many
of what it actually costs to bring this black gold colleagues the more payout they will receive new vehicles are bought in de-limited areas
from the ground, refine it and deliver it to the when it is their turn to retire or be given a golden compared to a healthy cab trade whose council
petrol station. The sickening profits that the oil handshake. All these bonuses have to be paid adopts a policy to increase cab licences if the
companies generate can only be matched by by someone and at the end of the day that
need demands? How many new wheelchair
this government’s wanton greed to extort every someone is the consumer, yes you and me!
accessible vehicles are bought in de-limited
last penny out of the same litre of fuel. In short,
areas? How many families are now in financial
it is quite simply rip off Britain, whenever the We all pay dearly at the pumps for these internal
trouble thanks to de-limitation? It is an EU
nosel of the petrol pump is injected into your car perks and we all pay dearly for our loans,
directive that we try to cut working hours below
we are most definitely getting shafted at both overdrafts and credit cards, which pays out Sir
forty hours per week. De-limitation has forced
ends at the same time. Indeed, 70% of what Fred Goodwin’s £2,000 per day pension fund.
drivers to extend their working week and
is taken in at the pumps goes to her majesty’s Please let’s not be fooled here, these huge
some are working double this figure to make
scatter cash fund.
bonuses have been getting paid for years not
ends meet. The licensing authorities that have
just in the last six months, poor old Fred is
adopted this recommendation from the OFT
Regardless of how much money the treasury
only the fall guy. He just happened to be in the
have (in my opinion) forced these working
collect, there always seems to be an exit road for
spotlight when the RBS told us that the s**t had
conditions upon these drivers and rendered
it. The more stupid the cause the more money
hit the fan. Otherwise we would never have
their small business worthless. Councils should
seems to be pumped in that direction. I could
found out about his ’wee bung’ we will never
therefore be made to compensate these drivers
mention a few hair brained schemes that have
know how many hundreds of millions of pounds
and owners for their dreadful decision and
been trumped up by our majesty’s whizz kids but
have been spent on ‘wee bungs’ for the boys...
reimburse them for the financial hardship. It
the millions of pounds that have been pumped
WELL DONE BOYS… You would all have made
is my opinion that these councils should be
into child care while the mother is at work really
excellent dairy farmers, at least we know that
taken to task for the gross injustice they have
makes me blow a gasket. No bloody child care
they are milking it and it is not coming out of our
inflicted upon all the families and drivers who
was available when I was busy making babies,
pockets. It is not only bankers and directors of
have fallen victim off this open door policy. Yes
so why should “MY” money be injected into
fuel companies that are greedy and selfish, we
I know it will cost a fortune to take a council
watching someone else’s little cherub when they
need to look at the bigger picture and root out
to court but I do believe that even at a cost
are out making money for themselves? If they’re
this cancer. We hear of elected bodies being
off £20,000/£50,000 or even £100,000, the
going to bring children into this world then they
investigated for abuse of expenses, while at
cost of not going down this road is proving to
should provide for them - not me providing for
the same time receiving tidy salaries together
be a price too high. The worry of wondering
them - I have done my “ wee” bit. It’s time we
with huge incomes from public services, putting
who is next for the chop and financial ruin is
got our priorities right, and that must be the least
their income into the mega bracket, WANTON
priority in my book… ever. Anyway Jack, you’ve
substantial. The cost of fighting this nightmare
GREED AGAIN? Yet they simply refuse to
gone off in a tangent… stop bloody rantin and get
would obviously have to come from associations
admit that they have seriously endangered or
back to the story.
across the whole of the country and would need
exploited another individual on their way to
the professional help of the Taxi Federations
financial success.
Now take that poor old Royal Bank of Scotland
north and south of the border. In particular, the
(RBS) ex chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin, for
mouthpiece from Carlisle (Sir Wayne Casey)
I have no need to explain to anyone out there
some strange reason or another there seems
may wish to adopt this cause and start the ball
that the cab trade is suffering badly with lack
to be a vendetta against this guy. Everyone
rolling. After all, we know how wonderful this
of work due to the credit crunch. Job totals are
is united in trying to claim money from him.
guy is because we are never done being told
dwindling and the economic forecast remains
Again everyone seems to be getting on his
this from his: “it’s not the view of the National
poor. This time we are not alone, many
case because he won’t return his £2,000
Taxi Association column”. I am sure there will
businesses will, and have been struggling. I
per day pension fund/payout. The poor old
be plenty of volunteers to raise this money and I
know that in Glasgow our job totals are well
pensioner is only trying to do what each and
have no doubt that help will be forthcoming
down and that everyone here is taking a hit.
probably everyone of you guys would do under
from the regions that have been affected and
the same circumstances, and that is simply
But let’s spare a thought for the poor guys
are actively suffering right now. This may be a
try and survive in these days of economic
whose licensing authority have de-regulated
deterrent to any future council thinking of going
uncertainty… it really must be difficult. I know I
the number of cab licences and opened up
the way of an open door policy. Let’s at least
would certainly struggle on a mere £2,000 per
taxi licences to everyone. These guys must be
try and stop the misery caused by delimitation.
day. What with the cost of my new motor home
suffering really badly at this time. I know I have
We must surely do a feasibility study on this
and jet skis for the grandkids, one needs every
babbled on about delimitation of cab licences
idea and if it is possible, and I am sure it is,
penny of that £2,000 per day just to stand
before, but this credit crunch throws an even
let’s get the ball rolling. I know people will laugh
still and cover the day to day costs of modest
greater cloak of darkness and financial ruin
when I say this but it is only money and this
living... don’t you think? This is a perfect
upon the areas affected by this horrendous
money can be obtained if we break down the
example of management running a company or
decision. Why doesn’t the OFT re-assess this
amount due from each town, city or region over
organization and extorting every last profit to
disastrous recommendation to local authorities.
a period of time. This problem is really serious
the extent of making others pay a painful price
It is obvious, even to them, that they have and threatens each and everyone of us. Can we
for their product. It was once the case that
caused financial bankruptcies and hardship afford to sit back and do nothing? We must fight
making a profit was good business. It is now
in areas where councils have adopted this back, lets raise the cash and show these greedy
no longer good business until - like the greedy
ridiculous and callous policy against the cab shysters that we mean business.
fuel companies - every last drop of money can trades’ wishes. Even though all the facts and
be squeezed out of the customer and profits reasons for not adopting de-limitation were put Copyright Jack Clyde 2009.
maximized beyond reasonability. I call this in front of them. Why did these councils still go Author of Glasgow Taxi Book
process... ‘WANTON GREED’. down this road? Sales: www.taxibook.co.uk
STEEDMAN
Fed up of not getting a satisfactory and timely
service? The Solution is simple;
COMPANY
Switch to Steedman & Company
accountants
tax consultants
Tel: 0131 556 8595 E-mail: admin@steedman.co.uk
2 3
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52