Issue - decisions

Questions from members of the public

 

Mr Wratten and Mr Mohammed responded to the report and made the following comments:

 

       i.        The trade needed an increase in fares and costs had risen.

     ii.        Raising the starting price was the fairest way in increase charges.

 

The Committee received a report from Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing) regarding the hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

 

The Committee noted that recommendation 2.1.2 bullet point one should read ‘An increase in all Tarriffs (drop) of 10p’.

 

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

     i.        Questioned the proposed additional surcharge to carry bicycles was excessive and that a charge in line with the £1 charged in Oxford would be more appropriate.

    ii.        Suggested that such a policy would be problematic as bicycles came in many shapes and sizes.

   iii.        Questioned the charge for prams from a diversity and equality point of view.

  iv.        Members raised concerns that the 20 MPH speed limit could slow journeys to the point where a waiting charge was generated.

   v.        Stated that converting meters to yards in the Table of Fares would result in strange numbers and this would be confusing for the public.

  vi.        Suggested that the Table of Fares needed to be open and transparent for the public.

 

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

     i.        The change from meters to yards would result in strange looking numbers in the table but would allow a simple change that would not require car equipment to be re-calibrated. Showing the distance in the Table of Rates as both metric and imperial would be an option.

    ii.        With regard to prams, drivers needed to ensure that all passengers were carried in a way that complied with passenger seatbelt law. A driver would be within his rights to refuse a fare if a passenger wanted to carry a pram on board with the infant still inside it.

 

In consultation with the Committee the Environmental Health Manager proposed the following amendment to the recommendations:

 

2.1.1 Amend the fare chart to provide the statutorily required distances in yards. Members are recommended to consider whether the distances should be provided in:

                     i.        Yards only

                    ii.        Both yards and metres

 

2.1.2 Consider the fare change proposals submitted by the trade and determine if it is appropriate to authorise an increase in fares, in relation to:

·        An increase in the all Tariffs (drop) price from £2.80 to £2.90 by 10 pence.

·        An increase in the distance tariff by reducing the distances travelled for 20p; from 90 metres in the first instance and subsequent 179 metres thereafter.

·        An additional extra charge of £3.00 £1.00 for ‘specialist vehicles’ such as bicycles and prams not able to be put in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.

 

The amendments were agreed nem con.

 

The Chair decided that the amended recommendations should be voted on and recorded separately as follows:

 

     i.        To amend the fare chart to provide the statutorily required distances in yards. Members are recommended to consider whether the distances should be provided in both yards and metres.

·        Yards only (Refused unanimously)

·        Both yards and Metres (Agreed Unanimously)

    ii.        Consider the fare change proposals submitted by the trade and determine if it is appropriate to authorise an increase in fares, in relation to:

·        An increase in all Tariff 1 (drop) by 10 pence. (Agreed by 7  votes to 1)

·        An increase in the distance tariff by reducing the distances travelled for 20p; from 90 metres in the first instance and subsequent 179 metres thereafter. (Refused unanimously)

·        An additional extra charge of £1.00 for bicycles not able to be put in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. (Agreed Unanimously)

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved

 

     i.        To amend the fare chart to provide the statutorily required distances in yards and metres.

    ii.        An increase in all Tariffs (drop) by 10 pence.

    iii.            Add an additional extra charge of £1.00 for bicycles not able to be carried in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.