Sovereign: The End?
You will see elsewhere in this issue, a self-explanatory letter received from Sovereign who felt that Dial-a-Cab should help towards the costs leading up to a meeting. This is an issue that we, as a Board, feel unable to comply with. Our reasoning, quite simply, was that if Sovereign wished to make a bid for Dial-a-Cab, then they should be prepared to meet all the costs and so far as we were concerned, the issue was non negotiable. Consequently, Sovereign have withdrawn their offer.
   The exercise we have gone through has been extremely enlightening and should a similar situation arise in the future, certain conditions will be invoked at the beginning of negotiations to ensure that any offers are brought to a speedy conclusion. It transpires that many outside companies have been monitoring the situation and we will have to wait and see if there are any future developments.

Martin Gellman
I recently attended the funeral of Martin Gellman. Martin was Chairman when I joined ODRTS in 1974 and held that position from 1972 until 1976. I always felt that Martin lent his image to Dial-a-Cab as ‘The Gentleman’s Circuit’ for that was what Martin was, a true gentleman. I know that there are many tributes to Martin in this issue, so I will say no more other than to offer my sincere condolences to Passy, Janine and Danny and all Martin’s family. I know that he will be greatly missed.

Signage
I know that I must have bored some of you over the past year or so when I kept bringing up the subject of signage on the exterior of Private Hire vehicles. I felt then, just as I still do now, that the signage issue was the most important topic currently facing our industry. I have spoken to everyone about this issue - MP’s, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, TfL and even the PCO.
   I’ve now heard a whisper that a recommendation has been made to the TfL Board which is expected to be ‘rubber stamped’ in the near future. If what I hear is true, then the signage that will appear on Private Hire vehicles will be a tamper-proof licence on the front windscreen and the same on the back window. Everything else - and I mean everything - will be illegal! So if my source is

Temporary Licences
You may remember reading in previous issues of Call Sign where I’ve written that due to legislation introduced in the Private Hire sector, they are now experiencing a shortage of drivers. Consequently, the PCO as from 18 December 2003 will be issuing temporary permits for prospective PH drivers. The conditions will be that they complete and return to the PCO their Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form, their Application Form, the results of their medical examination and of course their fee. A three-month temporary permit will then be issued. Then if everything is in order, a licence will be issued. However, if there is a problem then their temporary permit will be revoked. So, in a nutshell, that means you can drive a Private Hire vehicle whilst your application is still being processed - not an ideal state of affairs. However, I have been informed that this is only a temporary measure …wait for it… until 2006 and forms part of the Transitional Provisions. Taxi Board Success
I think my views on trade representation to the authorities have been very well documented over the years and I feel that if Taxi Board is to be seen to represent our industry, then there needs to be driver organisations represented at Taxi Board  meetings. I have spoken with Taxi Board to relay my opinion; equally I have attended driver organisation meetings to urge them to seek representation on

  Taxi Board. Those driver organisations then decided to seek membership of Taxi Board and it just so happened that I was present at the meeting where their prospective membership was discussed.
   I’m pleased to be able to inform you that their letter of admission was accepted, subject of course to their accepting the rules and conditions of Taxi Board. Consequently, I am optimistic that their membership will enhance the name of Taxi Board to truly represent all aspects of our industry, from manufacturers to proprietors to radio circuits to driver organisations. The only two organisations that will not be represented are the T&G and the LTDA and of course they are also free to apply for membership. The question is: Are they too grand to sit down with the rest of us mere mortals and for the first time ever, to help create total trade unity…?

Joint Ventures with Car Companies
We have for some months now been working with several car and courier companies on joint ventures that have in the main, been instigated by clients who have not been serviced by us in the past, but who have been supplied by the car companies. That situation has frequently meant that we receive work from customers whom we have not serviced before. Car companies who also service our existing clients alongside us have also approached us. The amazing thing about this situation is that it often means we are getting more work from our own clients! Very simply, they choose to order a car for a particular journey (instead of us) and the car company for whatever reason, then cannot fulfil the booking. The car company then passes that trip onto us, we complete the booking and pay our driver the full meter fare plus 10% gratuity and then bill the car company. They then bill the client at their lower price. So in essence, we get more work from our own accounts, while at the same time it costs the car company money for every trip we complete. One particular car company is currently spending up to £4000 per day with us and if we take into account the total annual spend of the car companies as a whole, it will be in excess of £2.5m per annum and rising…!
   May I end by wishing everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year…

Brian Rice,
Chairman