DUMFRIES

A plan to increase "civic pride and confidence" in taxi services in Dumfries and Galloway aims to be completed by the summer.
A dress code, a "knowledge" test of local routes, stricter medical standards and encouraging the use of in-car CCTV are among the proposals.

Talks over the plans will be held with the trade next month.

Dumfries and Galloway Council hopes to make a decision on the way forward at a meeting on 16 June.
A panel has been created from a wide group of representatives, from a range of organisations, to draw up the proposals.
Its recommendations include:

compulsory signage on vehicles

customer care conditions to avoid discrimination

extra assistance for passengers with a disability

permission for advertising on vehicles

It has also decided against the introduction of prescribed taxi meters or any restrictions on vehicle age as long as they comply with inspections.

Willie Taylor, service manager for licensing at the council, said: "We are looking forward to meeting with the trade to discuss the proposals openly and constructively.

"The aspiration of the review is that the taxi and private hire fleet and their drivers provide a safe, fair and customer-focused service which inspires civic pride and confidence within the local communities and gives an excellent first impression of Dumfries and Galloway to those visiting our area."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36129868
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 MINICABIT

 SKYSCANNER has announced a partnership with taxi cab price comparison site minicabit.

The deal enables Skyscanner’s 50 million monthly users to compare and book the most competitively priced airport transfers.

minicabit’s cab comparison technology will be integrated with Skyscanner’s flight comparison website. It will be accessed via the airport transfer tab and cross sell panels on flight searches.

The firm was founded by Amer Hasan, ex-global head of apps and internet partnerships at Vodafone.

In November last year, minicabit successfully completed a £1.5 million fundraising round, led by investors at Hambro Perks and Oakley Capital. In December it secured further investment from KKR UK boss and Alliance Boots director Dominic Murphy and Marek Gumienny, former chairman of Candover Partners.

Minicabit said that its revenues are now running into double digit millions annually, achieving a 265 per cent uplift in new customer bookings compared to this time last year. Mr Hasan said the company made its first pre-tax profit last year and it is on track to hit its goal of £100 million in annual UK revenues by 2020.

The company has embarked on a number of high-profile partnerships recently including Barclays Pingit, Big Yellow, The O2 Arena, London City Airport and Heathrow Airport.

Paul Cumins, car hire senior business development at Skyscanner, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve our customers’ experience and by collaborating with minicabit, we can now offer our customers the ability to search for and book the most convenient and affordable cabs to and from airports UK wide.”

http://goo.gl/Dj9UOD
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 GLASGOW

 TAXI drivers have been trained to spot signs of child sexual exploitation.

The move came as part of a multi-agency effort in Glasgow to tackle the numbers of children at risk of abuse.

A council report nearly one year on from the setting up of a city-wide scheme to stop young people being exploited says training has taken place across Glasgow.


A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We are working very closely with partners to address the challenge of child sexual exploitation in Glasgow.

“We are fully committed to learning from our experiences and using that knowledge to help us improve the systems that provide protection for vulnerable young people."

The decision followed a police operation that found 97 children and teenagers who were victims of or at risk of being sexually exploited.

Members of the working group were tasked with looking at: training and awareness raising; creating practical guidance; procedures; delivering services; and disrupting and prosecuting perpetrators.

http://goo.gl/m9d3oU