Agenda item - Hackney Carriage Fare Review

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That Committee approves the proposed fare increases and authorises the Headof Regulatory Services to advertise the proposed variation in fares, and invite any objections in accordance with the legal requirements;

(2) Agree that if no objections are made, or if any objections which are made are withdrawn, the varied table of fares will come into force in accordance with the statutory scheme;

(3) Reconsider the matter at the next meeting of this Committee if valid objections are made but not withdrawn. As there are strict legal timescales relating to fare reviews a special meeting of this Committee may be required

30.1    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health seeking the Committee’s approval and authority to advertise proposed fare increases following the hackney carriage trade’s request for an increase in fares.

30.2    Councillor Marsh sought information regarding fares proposed to be charged in the city relative to comparable cities. Notwithstanding that she understood that these were within permitted limits, she considered these were high, particularly as fuel prices had reduced and bearing in mind that a number of those in the city who relied on taxis had fixed or limited incomes and would find it difficult to meet sustained increases.

30.3    The Hackney Carriage Officer, Martin Seymour explained that the proposed level of increases and fares were comparable to those levied elsewhere and were considered acceptable for the reasons set out in the report. The Trade had argued that although fuel costs had reduced recently, operators had carried increased costs when there had been no fare increases and fuel costs had been higher.

30.4    Councillor A Kitcat stated that she had raised a number of concerns about the rationale for these proposed increases at the Chair’s Briefing and was pleased to see that these issues had been addressed in the final version of the report. Whilst she had also expressed concerns regarding them she was satisfied that the case for increases had been increases were not acceptable. 

30.5    Councillors C Theobald and Cobb considered that these increases were badly timed bearing in mind reductions in fuel costs. Councillor Simson stated that whilst noting that these figures had been put forward by the Taxi Forum she considered that the trade needed to be mindful that there should be a suitable time lapse before there were any further increases. Other Members of the Committee concurred in that view.

30.6    The Head of Regulatory Services, Tim Nichols stated that the proposed increases needed to be advertised and if objections were made and not withdrawn it was possible that an urgency sub committee would be required.

30.7    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee approves the proposed fare increases and authorises the Head of Regulatory Services to advertise the proposed variation in fares, and invite any objections in accordance with the legal requirements;