Scenic Madeira summer escape 4nts from £361pp - incl. 4* hotel, flights & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! We've spotted this awesome getaway to the 'Pearl of the Atlantic', namely the island of Madeira where you can swim in the totally Instagrammable lava rock pools in Porto Moniz. You'll be staying at 4* Aqua Natura in Porto Moniz, overlooking the gorgeous natural phenomenon only a few steps away! We found good… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to South of France this Spring from £19 return

Ahoy there pirates, if any of you are looking to head to the South of France this Spring check out these flights we have come across from £19 return. We have found super cheap fares to Perpignan and Béziers and there are also some great fares to Nîmes, Marseille and Nice. Flight details Direct flights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

News From Unite Union Cab Section... Uber Illegally Granted A Booking Office Licence In Glasgow.

Yesterday at the Burgh Court, Uber Scot Ltd was illegally granted a Booking Office Licence, in breach of the The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Booking Offices) Order 2009. 

In an assault on the democratic process, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, advised by Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, refused to hear three objections from Unite the Union Cab Section, Glasgow Taxis Ltd, and Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association. Objections were late as the statutory notice was only viewable on the door of 69 Buchanan St for 21 days. The notice was not in the print media, not on the GCC website, in fact it had no online presence anywhere. It was preposterous to expect anyone to notice an A4 sheet on the door of an inconspicuous office building on a pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.

Despite objections being late, Glasgow City Council Licensing & Regulatory Committee has at its discretion the power to hear late submissions. All three objectors were only allowed to give the reasons why the objections were late, but forbidden from mentioning reasons for objecting. Glasgow Taxis Ltd Solicitor, Tom McIntaggart, put up an extremely convincing argument for hearing the objections, citing examples where GCC Licensing had accepted late objections in the past. 

Councillors who voted against hearing our objections and denied us the right to be heard were as follows:

Baillie John Kane, Scottish Labour Party, Govan (5)

Baillie Hanif Raja, Scottish Labour Party, Pollokshields (6)

Cllr Aileen McKenzie, Scottish Labour Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17)

Cllr Robert Connelly, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Calton.

Those councillors that believed in the democratic process and wanted to hear our objections were as follows:

Cllr Rhiannon Spear, Scottish National Party, Greater Pollok (3).

Cllr Graham Campbell, Scottish National Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17).

Gary Gray, Scottish Labour Party, Canal (16).

Special mention to Cllr Rhiannon Spear who made clear her concerns over aspects of Uber’s operation and was clearly unhappy with what transpired.

Just to recap, all traditional taxi and private hire companies in Glasgow are registered at their respective licensed premises in Glasgow for the booking, dispatch and payment of fares. This means that they are within the jurisdiction of Scottish law enforcement and the Scottish legal system. It also means that they are subject to UK tax and VAT.

Uber is the exception. Glasgow work is dispatched from Uber BV in the Netherlands, trip data is recorded by Uber BV in the Netherlands, payment is taken by Uber BV in the Netherlands, and a receipt is issued by Uber BV in the Netherlands. Glasgow City Council yesterday licensed a sham booking office that attempts to legitimise dispatch of work from an unlicensed foreign company, Uber BV. 

Yesterday Uber’s Solicitor pointed to 4 million trips taken in Glasgow since it started. Some crude arithmetic based on an average of £5 per trip:

4M x £5 = £20M

Uber’s cut (25%) after drs are paid =£5M

UK Corporation tax @21% on £5M ~£1M+

UK VAT @20% on £20M = £4M

So, with what we admit are very crude workings, Uber has avoided UK tax and VAT in the region of £5M in Glasgow alone, in the 30 months it has been operating. That is starving the public purse of much needed revenue for schools, hospitals, housing etc. Glasgow City Council Licensing not only had solid legal grounds to reject Uber’s application, it also had a strong moral case to reject it. 

Don’t take our word for Uber’s illegal operation in Glasgow. At the November, 2017, Joint Taxi and Private Hire Trade Meeting, GCC Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, stated that Uber Britannia Ltd did not satisfy the criteria to hold a Booking Office licence. Well the Licensing Solicitor can now make that two illegal booking offices ‘operational’ in Glasgow now.

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2Hd5SED
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/eA8V8J https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

Cool in Costa Brava: 7nts from £166pp incl. 3* hotel & flights

blah Pirates, grab your passport and head for Costa Brava with 7 nights from £166pp including the 3* Neptuno Calella hotel & flights. The hotel is 4 minutes away from the beach by foot, while the hotel itself has hot tub, pools & restaurant to enjoy. Holiday details: Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Now that's Amore: 7nt historic Tuscan villa group stay - incl. flights from £219pp

We are pining after this early summer group trip to the Tuscan hills in Italy that we've just discovered on our holidays finder. You can stay in a historic 15th century estate that once held royalty from as little as £219 per person, based on 4 sharing. This best rates we found are in June,… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Kids fly for free on select BA routes till 5th November - including school holidays

Pirates, summer's upon us we all know that prices can go through the roof as everyone tries to get away for some summer sunshine. British Airways is running a brilliant offer where kids can fly for free on selected routes from 1st June to 5th November. There's really no catch, children can travel for absolutely… Michael POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Magical Marrakech July holiday from £281pp - 7nts 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, looking to head off on holiday this Summer, then check out this great getaway in Marrakech in Morocco that includes breakfast each morning of your stay, you can even upgrade to half board at time of booking. The hotel has a great swimming pool as well as a sky bar with stunning views -… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber “illegally granted a Booking Office Licence” in Glasgow according to Unite union cab section

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2vxXkD0

Controversial ride-hailing app Uber have been granted a new 3-year licence for its new offices in Glasgow much to the dismay of local unions and taxi drivers.

According to Unite Cab Section Glasgow, “Uber Scot Ltd was illegally granted a Booking Office Licence, in breach of the The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Booking Offices) Order 2009.”A spokesperson for the union released a statement on Facebook saying:

In an assault on the democratic process, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, advised by Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, refused to hear three objections from Unite the Union Cab Section, Glasgow Taxis Ltd, and Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association. Objections were late as the statutory notice was only viewable on the door of 69 Buchanan St for 21 days. The notice was not in the print media, not on the GCC website, in fact it had no online presence anywhere. It was preposterous to expect anyone to notice an A4 sheet on the door of an inconspicuous office building on a pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.Despite objections being late, Glasgow City Council Licensing & Regulatory Committee has at its discretion the power to hear late submissions. All three objectors were only allowed to give the reasons why the objections were late, but forbidden from mentioning reasons for objecting. Glasgow Taxis Ltd Solicitor, Tom McIntaggart, put up an extremely convincing argument for hearing the objections, citing examples where GCC Licensing had accepted late objections in the past. Councillors who voted against hearing our objections and denied us the right to be heard were as follows:Baillie John Kane, Scottish Labour Party, Govan (5)Baillie Hanif Raja, Scottish Labour Party, Pollokshields (6)Cllr Aileen McKenzie, Scottish Labour Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17)Cllr Robert Connelly, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Calton.Those councillors that believed in the democratic process and wanted to hear our objections were as follows:Cllr Rhiannon Spear, Scottish National Party, Greater Pollok (3).Cllr Graham Campbell, Scottish National Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17).Gary Gray, Scottish Labour Party, Canal (16).Special mention to Cllr Rhiannon Spear who made clear her concerns over aspects of Uber’s operation and was clearly unhappy with what transpired.Just to recap, all traditional taxi and private hire companies in Glasgow are registered at their respective licensed premises in Glasgow for the booking, dispatch and payment of fares. This means that they are within the jurisdiction of Scottish law enforcement and the Scottish legal system. It also means that they are subject to UK tax and VAT.“Uber is the exception. Glasgow work is dispatched from Uber BV in the Netherlands, trip data is recorded by Uber BV in the Netherlands, payment is taken by Uber BV in the Netherlands, and a receipt is issued by Uber BV in the Netherlands. Glasgow City Council yesterday licensed a sham booking office that attempts to legitimise dispatch of work from an unlicensed foreign company, Uber BV. Yesterday Uber’s Solicitor pointed to 4 million trips taken in Glasgow since it started. Some crude arithmetic based on an average of £5 per trip:4M x £5 = £20MUber’s cut (25%) after drs are paid =£5MUK Corporation tax @21% on £5M ~£1M+UK VAT @20% on £20M = £4M

So, with what we admit are very crude workings, Uber has avoided UK tax and VAT in the region of £5M in Glasgow alone, in the 30 months it has been operating. That is starving the public purse of much needed revenue for schools, hospitals, housing etc. Glasgow City Council Licensing not only had solid legal grounds to reject Uber’s application, it also had a strong moral case to reject it.

Don’t take our word for Uber’s illegal operation in Glasgow. At the November, 2017, Joint Taxi and Private Hire Trade Meeting, GCC Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, stated that Uber Britannia Ltd did not satisfy the criteria to hold a Booking Office licence. Well the Licensing Solicitor can now make that two illegal booking offices ‘operational’ in Glasgow now.“

April 19, 2018 at 01:50PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

June in Malta: 7nt holiday from £192pp - incl. apartment & flights

Summer is coming pirates, so get yourselves out to one of the most beautiful islands in The Med! Our Holiday Finder is offering 7 nights at the Mavina Apartment Complex, just 10 minutes' walk from the beach in Bugibba. Flights are included from a selection of UK airports. The cheapest time to travel is late-June,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

From £669pp: 14nts Dominican Republic all inclusive w/ flights, beach resort, transfers & bags

Pirates, some all inclusive Caribbean sunshine is on the cards next with this brilliant Dominican Republic holiday from our Package Finder. Using a TUI discount code, you'll get 14 nights all inclusive from just £669 per person, based on 2 sharing, including flights from Manchester, airport transfers and checked in luggage. You can also use… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF OWNING AN ELECTRIC CAR - SO IS IT REALLY CHEAPER THAN A PETROL OR DIESEL?

As electric vehicles rise in popularity, so does the price to run one - and motorists are being hit with extra charges

DRIVING an electric car might seem like a cheaper option, but drivers are being hit with hidden costs as the motors become more popular.

The number of electric vehicles on British roads has risen by 33 per cent in the last year, but that’s been matched by a hike in charging costs

The majority of public charging points no longer offer free electricity, with plug-in drivers now forced to fork out for monthly subscriptions to power up their motors.

In some cases, drivers can expect to pay as much as £17 per month subscription in addition to charging fees.

According to a study by What Car?, the cost to charge a Renault Zoe ZE40 to 80 per cent varied largely depending on location.

They found motorists could pay as much as £17.46 to use a Source London Flexi – fast (7.4 kW) charging station, or as little as £7.70 for a Polar Instant – fast (7.2 kW) charger

The price to charge an electric car also varied depending on whether or not there was a registration fee, and whether the cost was charged by monthly subscription, by the hour or by kWh unit cost.

Research found that public charging could cost drivers twice as much as if they were to power up their vehicle at home

But a lack of public parking means many motorists are forced to pay public charging rates.

Steve Huntingford, Editor at What Car? said: “Plug-in electrics are still relatively new to consumers and so they might not be as clued up as they would be with a petrol or diesel equivalent.

“Plug-ins should remain an extremely worthwhile and affordable investment for many, but it’s essential that prospective owners are doing their research and making sure they’ve got the right car for their needs and lifestyle.”

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2qKlvZe
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/2JW9ska https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

ComfortDelGro acquires London taxi circuit operator Dial-a-Cab for £1.2 million

Com Cab owners ComfortDelGro, have acquired London taxi circuit operator Dial-a-Cab's business and assets for £1.2 million (S$2.2 million), the company announced on Thursday (Apr 19). 

The deal was undertaken by ComfortDelGro's wholly owned subsidiary in the UK CityFleet Networks. 

ComfortDelGro's managing director and group CEO Yang Ban Seng said the acquisition will "enable the Group to grow and strengthen its position as the leading taxi circuit operator in London through an expansion of the customer and driver base".

Radio taxi circuits are operators of a door-to-door transportation service that uses London's black cabs.

Currently, ComfortDelGro is the largest taxi circuit operator in London with around 1,900 London taxis. The acquisition will add about 1,100 black cabs to bring the total fleet to 3,000.

Mr Yang also added that London Councils and Transport for London recently awarded CityFleet the Taxicard and Dial-A-Ride contract for another three years, with an option for a fourth. 

Taxicard is the largest public sector day-to-day transport service in London for passengers with serious mobility impairments or who are severely sight impaired. 

CityFleet has held this contract over several decades through its taxi subsidiary Computer Cab. 

DELETE UBER 

In Singapore, Taxi giant ComfortDelGro told its cabbies to delete the Uber app on their phones, following the American ride-hailing firm's sale of its South-east Asian business to rival Grab on March 26.

Publicly listed ComfortDelGro, in a text message to its estimated 23,000 hirer-drivers, said: "Dear cabbies, UberFlash will cease on April 8 2018. You may delete the Uber driver app any time now since it will no longer be in use. ComfortDelGro will continue to provide you jobs... We thank you for your continued support.

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2JZAJT1
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/2J8vXkD https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

Comfort DelGro agree deal for Dial-A-Cab

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2vtoOJF

In a move agreed yesterday, it has been revealed that Dial-A-Cab have been brought into the Comfort Delgro fold.

Dial-A-Cab, who have been operating as a taxi circuit in London since 1953 have had their business and assets purchased by Comfort DelGro for £1.2 million.

Comfort DelGro own Computer Cab, which is a part of CityFleet, a subsidiary of Comfort DelGro.

The acquisition will expand Comfort Delgro's fleet of taxis in London to around 3000 drivers.

Earlier this month, CityFleet were awarded the Taxicard contract for another three years with an option for a fourth year.

Earlier this week Dial-A-Cab announced that they may cease trading after falling into difficulty.

It is unclear at the moment if there will be any staff redundancies or restructuring.

April 19, 2018 at 11:24AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mykonos group getaway from £294pp - 7nts villa stay & flights

Pirates, check out this great group getaway in stunning Mykonos we have found, the holiday is under £300 per person and you will stay in a super cute villa. You can book this holiday in Greece with a deposit of just £49 per person. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights (longer or shorter stays possible)… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Nights in Andalucia: 4nts from £200pp incl. 5* hotel & flights

Pirates, sashay to Spain with 4 nights in Andalucia from £200pp including the 5* Barceló Granada Congress Hotel & flights. Set in a the historic town of Granada, the hotel is a stylish and upmarket base from which to explore the area - with a hot tub & pool on-site, too. Holiday details: Travel duration:… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sweet Dublin & Scilly Isles cruise: 3nts from £213pp incl. full board

Pirates, snap up a bargain with a charming cruise with Cruise & Maritime Voyages: 3 nights from £213pp based on two people sharing. Set sail from Liverpool and visit Dublin and the Scilly Isles before returning to Bristol. Enjoy full board meals and soft drinks at a choice of restaurants, or sup in the informal… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Thaw out in Sunny Beach: 7nts - incl. flights, beachside hotel & half board from £245pp

For some strange reason, we can't stop thinking of the "sunniest" place we know today; Sunny Beach. And while daydreaming that we were there we found an early summer season holiday bargain to the Bulgarian hotspot that won't break the bank. Get return flights from the UK, 7 nights hotel accommodation -- with guaranteed sea… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Perky Portugal: 4nts from £115pp incl. 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, how do you feel about a fab holiday in the gorgeous Algarve? With 4 nights from £115pp including 4* Vitors Plaza hotel & flights, this stylish break is available for a jolly good price. Why not escape England for a few days and enjoy the pools & hot tub? Holiday details: Travel duration: 4… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Bank Junction “action” cancelled following concerns regarding safety

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2JYas7q

The militant taxi group the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA) cancelled their planned demonstrations at Bank Junction that would have impacted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ongoing this week in the capital.

The small, but vocal group, released a confusing statement today citing safety concerns from trade unions, drivers and the Metropolitan police as the reason to cancel the action during “The Commonwealth Games” currently taking place in the Gold Coast, Australia.

TaxiPoint tried contacting the ITA to question why the Commonwealth Games had been targeted, but unfortunately no contact could be made.

The statement from the secretly led ITA read:

“At midnight on Sunday 15th 2018 the ITA decided to withdraw the motion to call direct action over the decision made by the City of London to grant access through Bank Junction for the duration of The Commonwealth Games.Members of the ITA reserve their right to resume direct action at any other time.The decision is in response to concerns by officials that the security risk in the area could rise sharply if the area became ‘over populated’. The point must be emphasised that whilst the ITA considers statements that pertain to a compromise in safety, we will not automatically take on board the legitimacy of that statement.The ITA has it’s own checks and balances set in place before direct action is announced publicly. More-so, the propensity for local authorities to ‘scare monger’ is a tried and tested one, and we will not succumb to disingenuous rhetoric to justify unjust policies.Compounding on this, it is a timely reminder that the restriction imposed on licensed Taxis using Bank Junction as a ‘through route’ is implemented under the banner ‘Bank of Safety’. The service provided by London’s Licensed taxi trade (black cabs) is- according to TfL and the CofL’s own verifiable data- the safest transport option available, so once again, we call upon the City of London to lift the restriction on taxis forthwith. Failing that, provide a satisfactory reason why the public should be denied access to the only door-to-door public service option available. Assuming an observant position, we urge the City of London to lead the way and resume negotiations with relevant trade groups. It is not the mark of a progressive or democratic process to dismiss trade representatives who’s advocacy to serve their members is far higher than that enjoyed by the policy makers. It is not a meeting with the CofL, that the ITA seeks, but a resolution to the autocratic directorate that determined this traffic order in the first place.We demand a return to healthy trade negations and reject the confirmation bias sought by those in consultation management.We trust the City of London will find our request reasonable”

April 18, 2018 at 09:31PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to beautiful Bali from £401rtn on 5* Garuda - incl. luggage & meals

We can never resist the lure of tropical Bali, especially when our Flights Finder offers great rates on one of the world's best airlines! These flights are with Garuda Indonesia, rated 5* by Skytrax, and your checked luggage and inflight meals are included. We've seen availability at great prices between May and February next year.… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT