BOARD MEMBERS’ OUTLOOK
instructions, although unless there is a reference to the effects of force majeure, then there is nothing under contract law to enforce.
For those who only perform airport runs, you have been affected hugely by this; you may well be entitled to claim Universal Credit or other benefits. There may well be further assistance or support for you under the new Self-Employment Scheme.
HC PROPRIETOR / DRIVERS
For those of you who also take your own bookings and/or undertake school contracts, the same as above applies to you also.
For those of you who only work on ranks, there is likely to be a substantial loss, again, the above in regard to the announcement applies.
Many who have got in touch with us have stated that whatever passengers are daring to undertake journeys feel safe in a purpose built taxi because of the partition and bigger distance between driver and passenger.
ALL LICENCE HOLDERS/BUSINESS PROPRIETORS
For those of you with mortgages, you can ask at your mortgage provider for a three- month break as suggested by Boris Johnson, this is indeed written into all contracts. However in this particular instance, the key word is “coronavirus”, the call staff cannot coach you, so worth a try, and it shouldn’t affect your credit rating.
For those of you with vehicles on finance, we have spoken to Black Horse, and to Toyota Finance on your behalf, both of which are extremely supportive and will help in any way they can.
For those of you with who want to work, but have no work coming in, contact your insurance company or broker. (see below)
The government has appealed for support to delivery essential supplies and food to key workers and the vulnerable, we sent in (and went viral as many of you may have seen) a petition to make use of the existing licence holders to perform this task to try to reduce the impact.
SO WHAT OTHER HELP IS OUT THERE?
If all else fails, then contact the bank; they may be able to offer you finance which has government backed instruction to be interest free for 12 months (formerly six
APRIL 2020
months), it might be an idea to make use of that to consolidate any outgoings you have and provide a little cashflow?
Reduced working will of course reduce outlay initially, since you won’t be using anything like the same level of fuel, and most definitely will not have the same level of income if any at all, which means that you may be entitled to Universal Credit.
You may be able to apply for a mortgage holiday; speak to your mortgage broker about this. Banks are being very supportive with regard to finance packages, extending overdrafts, or deferring payments.
Many stores are crying out for delivery services; maybe approach them for some interim work – particularly the major supermarkets, which are recruiting online and through every possible source.
Many schools are still operational; indeed some are still paying contracts whilst closed, based on force majeure, so for those of you with school contracts, it may not affect you that much at all in reality.
Force Majeure means, in relation to either party, any event or circumstance which is beyond the reasonable control of such party and which results in or causes the failure of that party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement including… [amongst two dozen other categories] … governmental restraint, Act of Parliament.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT THRIVES EXTENSIVELY
The community spirit within the trade is amazing, with many operators reducing radio rents, the DfT offering six-month extensions on MoT tests; many vehicle hire companies reducing scrapping rents for a short time to help; insurance companies allowing drivers to add ‘goods in transit’ to their policies free of charge; some insurance companies allowing vehicles to be ‘downgraded’ whilst parked up. Most councils are granting extensions to plates, badges and operators’ licences ‘without prejudice’; removing the re- quirement for taxi/PHV compliance tests and face-to-face appointments, with TfL follow- ing suit with the rest of the country; companies offering free lifts for NHS support staff; companies offering free deliveries for those in need; even some superstores offering free food parcels to the vulnerable; the Institute of Licensing constantly updating us and working with us to ensure that the information is sent as soon as it is released.
The community spirit is out there, and the lengths that many trade members have gone
to is outstanding, a thing of beauty to see, experience, share, and of course represent. The NPHTA is at your disposal and at your service
As an association, we have been working tirelessly day and night to for the entire industry, publishing confirmation as at 20 March that drivers are classed as Key Workers (under Transport) and as such were entitled to not only continue to work, but also keep their kids in schools if relevant.
We are also doing surveys to find out which LEA's are paying education contracts, which are not; of those that are, to what level; sending out request bulletins and asking insurance agents to make enquiries with their contacts to achieve the downgrading and the goods in transit additions; contacting local authorities nationwide to work out how to achieve the ‘without prejudice’ status; see what they had in place, making suggestions and support the process, including scanning and emailing renewal documents in order to submit the details online.
Further NPHTA endeavours are the sourcing and obtaining face masks to not only provide some form of protection, but also to create the correct image that the trade is acting responsibly; even contacting finance companies on your behalf to give a louder voice when trying to put measures in place to cover those of you with cars on finance.
As you can see within these pages, we have written to the Prime Minister, local MP’s, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and many more to push and push for the protection for the self-employed and small businesses, which efforts we are sure were impactful in the Chancellor’s decisions regarding the Self-Employment scheme.
We await any further developments on that front, and we’ll advise NPHTA members and PHTM readers of any future information.
ABOVE ALL ELSE:
Stay calm, keep safe, wash your hands at every possible opportunity, clean your vehicles and wipe down any surfaces that may have been touched by passengers as often as you can, keep a safe distance, assess the journey where possible and be seen to be supporting Government rules on travel.
If you don’t need to work – then don’t. Stay safe – sterilise – or stay home.
Join the NPHTA today! 0161 280 2800
info@nphta.co.uk
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS - TOGETHER 39
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