local authorities have grasped the government
change in the law allowing them to suspend
drivers on the spot. This power was originally
given to councils for the best of reasons, after
all, we donʼt want suspected sex offenders,
bank robbers or terrorists driving cabs, so an
immediate suspension could and should have
been a good idea.
Tragically, itʼs been the worst idea since
allowing banks to run the country as we
seem to now have licensing officers who
appear to believe they are the reincarnation of
Jesus Christ, this coupled with the system of
delegated powers has seen a serious erosion
of the rights of licensed drivers. The attitude
of some officers is one of: “If you donʼt like my
decision take the council to the magistratesʼ
court”. In some cases this power has been used
on people who commit such heinous crimes
as doing 35 in a 30mph zone, advertising on
facebook and parking on double yellow lines.
I donʼt condone speeding, but even I know
there is a distinct difference between doing
20 mph on a sunny afternoon past a school at
kicking out time and doing 35 past the same
school at 2am on a morning, if you follow my
point. But the law is the law and the driver
broke it so he will then be given the same type NATIONAL TAXI ASSOCIATION
of judgement as a person who was caught
Company Number 3384756
having carnal relations with a farmyard animal,
only with more severity because the speeding
couldnʼt be explained away as part of some
2009 Annual General Meeting & Conference
bizarre religious belief.
@ The Eastbourne Centre, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4DN
Conference Partners:- London Taxis International
Why do I have visions of my mate Edward
Woodward (he was in my cab once) and
Event Timetable
ʼThe Wicker Manʼ? Indeed, whilst some local
Monday 26
th
October 2009. (Approx 1500–1730hrs) Directors Meeting (Directors & Officials Only)
authorities would readily hang a cab driver
for over ranking, they have a far more blasé
Tuesday 27
th
October 2009. (1330hrs for 1400hrs ) Annual General Meeting (Members Only)
attitude towards illegal plying for hire, where they
(Beverages on Arrival) £65-00 per member (includes Open Session)
consider a once a year cull, if weʼre really lucky,
Tuesday 27
th
October 2009. (1900hrs for 1930hrs) Chairmanʼs Dinner (Open to Everyone)
sufficient enough to justify their jobs (or perhaps
Note:- Due to the Dinner being held within the Centreʼs Restaurant, which is open to all residents,
overtime, when needed prior to their holidays).
and therefore not being for our sole use, the format this year will not include a cabaret.
The Chairman and Directors will be hosting their guestʼs at this dinner.
In some respects the government are culpable,
Conference Delegates, Members and their Guestʼs are more than welcome to attend the dinner
they have, after all, placed additional burdens
upon licensing authorities, the department that
MENU:- Fresh Italian Style Minestrone Soup; Supreme of Chicken Estragon;
issues you a licence also issues a licence to
White Chocolate Cheesecake; Coffee & After Dinner Mints; Red & White Wine.
a zoo, so basically your licensing officer must Dinner £23-00 per person
not only know about laws governing you since
1847, but also all the acts covering the keeping Wednesday 28
th
October 2009. (0930hrs for 1000hrs) Conference Open Session
of wild animals and endless other licensing £65-00 per delegate (open to Everyone)
functions. However, in some cases you have to
Cost includes Beverages on Arrival & Lunch with Beverages.
blame some LAs, they havenʼt increased staff
and they find themselves a little like that Dutch
Grand Raffle Draw (tickets [£1-00] available on the day)
boy with his finger in the dyke. (Or was that a
(Nominated Charity > McMillan Nurses) > 3 Prizes > £500 / £300 / £200.
movie on channel 5?)
Invited Speakers / Panel Members (Subject to alteration or addition, depending upon
If I can make a swift reference to limited
availability);-
numbers policies. As many of you will know,
I donʼt like deregulation and councils issuing
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan. MP Secretary of State for Transport
John Thompson Secretary; National Association of Licensing
an unlimited number of taxi licences, I very
Enforcement Officers
often wonder, if council policies are based
Paul Lawry Head of Taxis/Accessibilty, DfT
on licensing officers not being arsed, after all
Ian Millership Divisional Manager - Mouchel Ltd
limited numbers may mean having to sort out
Peter Huntington Chief Executive – Go-Skills
illegal plying, that would mean being at work
out of office hours, so why not encourage no
Limited Accommodation(B&B) @ The Eastbourne Centre is available @ £49/£93pn(S/Tw or Dbl)
limit, that way you can watch Eastenders in
PLEASE NOTE:- Bookings for Hotel Rooms MUST be advised PRIOR to 21 September 2009.
peace? The British have always had a distinct
And, Bookings for the Chairmans Dinner MUST be received before 10 October 2009
predilection with its glorious past and in the
majority of cases itʼs been to its cost, the
Booking Forms
thought occurs, itʼs now to ours.
Are available to download on the NTA web Site:- www.national-taxi-association.co.uk Or from:
Wayne Casey, National Taxi Association, Infirmary Street, Newtown, Carlisle, CA2 7AA
Till next month Tlph:- (01228) 598 740 Fax:- (01228) 598 740 Email:- secretary@national-taxi-association.co.uk
Copyright Wayne Casey 2009
41
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