COUNCIL "SORRY" AFTER CABBIE COCK UP

01-12-2008

Birmingham’s private hire taxi drivers have been sent individual letters of apology by the City Council after last week’s chaotic scenes at Villa Park, were hundreds were locked out of a consultation meeting.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the local authority insisted it had done nothing wrong, even though cabbies leaders insisted they had given plenty of warning of their members huge interest in the issues under discussion – which included a proposal to make all minicabs the same colour (see link here).

Now Council chief executive Stephen Hughes has admitted that his officers “booked a venue which was inadequate for the number of attendees”.

Here’s his full apology, sent to Waseem Zaffar, the private hire drivers spokesman for the Unite union:

Dear Mr Zaffar

I write further to your email of 26 November and my acknowledgement to you of yesterday with regard to the above.

I am aware of the circumstances of the consultation event at Villa Park earlier this week.

I have been briefed by officers in relation to this matter, and I can advise you that they have acknowledged fully that they booked a venue which was inadequate for the number of attendees. They have in fact apologised both publicly in the media and in a personal letter to each licensed private hire driver (these are being sent out as we speak accompanying the information regarding Christmas opening times).

They have explained that you had suggested that there would be a high turnout. However, they had hoped to accommodate this on the night rather than cancel the event at such short notice.

They have stated that they will re-organise a meeting and the nature and content of that will be discussed with trade representatives, including yourself. I understand that a number of comments on the night suggested that a large public meeting comprising several thousand drivers may not have been the most appropriate consultation method. To this end I would ask that you continue to work closely with my officers to ensure the best outcomes for Birmingham.

As you know Birmingham is committed to improving the standards of licensed people, vehicles and premises in the city, and I am sure you subscribe to that commitment as this is clearly the most beneficial to the citizens of and visitors to Birmingham to secure our future as a prosperous and welcoming city for visitors and residents.

Thank you for taking the time to raise this matter with me, and I assure you that officers will be in touch shortly to discuss next steps.

Yours sincerely



Stephen Hughes
Chief Executive
Birmingham City Council

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