Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing).

 

The report advised that following requests from the trade, Licensing Committee resolved on Monday 24 July 2017 to formally consult on changes to the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

 

Formal consultation with the trade, and other interested parties, took place between 31 July 2017 and 3 September 2017, with a proposed implementation date for the revised Hackney Carriage Tables of Fares of 25 September 2017.

 

As objections were received to the proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares, these are brought to the Licensing Committee for further consideration and determination.

 

The Hackney Carriage Table of Fares, with or without modifications, must come into effect not later than two months after the first specified implementation date of 25 September 2017.

 

The Committee received a representation from Mr Stamper on behalf of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          The 5% surcharge for payment by credit/debit cards would probably be removed in January 2018. Requested the City Council considered the impact of this on Hackney Carriages (not private hire vehicles) before the surcharge was removed.

     ii.          A lot of drivers continued to use 2013 tariffs to avoid failing tests through excess charges.

   iii.          The city was currently #54 in the league table of tariffs. Charges across the board would move its position to #16.

   iv.          If the 5% surcharge was removed and put across the board it would lead to drivers removing credit card facilities and only taking cash.

    v.          Asked for charges across the board to be fair.

   vi.          Drivers’ on-going vehicle running costs were increasing.

 vii.          Suggested imposing a fuel surcharge to encourage electric vehicles instead of diesel ones.

 

The Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing) said the original request for increase received by the trade was 1.7%. This was the proposal that was consulted upon and not 5%.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          Drivers’ running costs were increasing but the complexity of charges was confusing for customers. The City Council’s proposals should clarify the situation.

     ii.          Acknowledged drivers had to make a living in a competitive environment. Advised drivers against taking cash payments in preference to card ones to avoid fees. Having cash in a cab made drivers a potential target for theft.

   iii.          The cost of living was rising for the population of the whole country.

   iv.          Guest houses were also expected to remove the 5% surcharge for payment by credit/debit card by January 2018.

    v.          As much of the city was 20mph, traffic was deliberately slowed down which could slow taxis returning back to ranks to pick up fares. There was a need to review the impact of journey/waiting time on the journey time league table and table of fares in future.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing) said the following:

       i.          If Councillors approved any charges that later came into conflict with other legislation, the other legislation would supersede Council charges.

     ii.          Hackney Carriages followed the Council’s table of fares, but Private Hire vehicles were not obliged to (but generally did).

   iii.          The Council would consider a surcharge for electric vehicles and the impact of waiting time/number of journeys travelled under the speed of 10mph in the league table of journey times in future as part of its Emissions Policy. Recommended that Councillors approved the current proposal in the meantime.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously) to:

       i.          Consider the responses received to the consultation.

     ii.          Set a date for adoption of the revised Hackney Carriage Table of Fares as Monday 13 November 2017, or a suitable alternative within the two month statutory deadline.

   iii.          Remove under ‘Extra Charges’ the 5% surcharge for payment by credit or debit card when legislation prohibits this; anticipated to be 13 January 2018.