Agenda item

To consider the results of the consultation on proposals for the phased harmonisation of the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

1.    That phase one of the proposal be implemented.

2.    That any future proposals for change be subject to full consultation and that the Council be committed to listening to the views of taxi drivers and owners, and local residents.

3.    That the Licensing Team Leader be authorised to take all necessary action to implement phase one including writing and advertising the statutory public notices.

4.    In the event of any objections being received following placement the notices a further Portfolio Holder meeting be arranged to consider them.

5.    If no objections are received the table of fares for each zone, having been advertised in accordance with the requirements of Section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, will automatically come into force on the date specified in the public notices.

The Portfolio Holder welcomed the members of the trade to the meeting and clarified that the decision being requested concerned proposals for a simpler charging system across the Borough and how best to introduce it. 

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and gave a little of the history of the Council’s proposals concerning hackney carriage fares, which had been considered on a number of previous occasions. In July 2014, the Portfolio Holder had considered objections received in response to Public Notices concerning the harmonisation of fares across the Borough and, at that time, he resolved that the proposals in the May 2014 Notices should not be implemented and that Licensing Officers should draw up proposals for the proposed harmonisation in a number of stages and these had now been drawn up.

The proposals included the first mile and flag rates eventually being the same, and for waiting time to be included in any proposals. There had been a 6 week consultation period on these proposals, which had included a number drop-in sessions, and responses received during the consultation period were reported and included in the written report. In addition the report included information on Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the results of an Office for Fair Trading market study on the regulation of licensed taxi and PHV services, and also best practice guidance produced by the DfT on taxi and private hire licencing.

It was reported that the table of fares should be set to enable:

·         A sustainable income for drivers; it was important that both the public and trade recognised that the Council sets the maximum fares payable rather than a fixed rate.

·         Future investment in vehicles to ensure they remain safe and suitable for use as a working vehicle.

·         Clear and simple maximum charges that minimise the opportunity for overcharging or confusion.

The Council had no power to set the fees for private hire vehicles. In addition the table of fares was not applicable to vehicles licensed by other Licensing Authorities but working in the Borough.

The Portfolio Holder said he had taken into account the responses received and the comments made during the consultation and at this meeting, that he would approve the decision as set out, and that the position would be reviewed further after it had been operational for a reasonable period of time.

He reiterated that the Council was not setting the rates to be charged only the maximum that could be charged.  The Portfolio Holder also stated that the changes to the fares related to the potential harmonisation of fares across the Borough and not a decision on the removal of hackney carriage zones.

RESOLVED

1.    That phase one of the proposal be implemented.

2.    That any future proposals for change be subject to full consultation and that the Council be committed to listening to the views of taxi drivers and owners, and local residents.

3.    That the Licensing Team Leader be authorised to take all necessary action to implement phase one including writing and advertising the statutory public notices.

4.    That In the event of any objections being received following placement the notices a further Portfolio Holder meeting be arranged to consider them.

5.    If no objections are received the table of fares for each zone, having been advertised in accordance with the requirements of Section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, will automatically come into force on the date specified in the public notices.