Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Regulatory Services & Community Safety

Purpose of report

The Council’s Licensing Team have been asked by the Cherwell Valley Taxi Association to increase the     fare tariff forhackney carriages. To do so requires public consultation. The Executive are asked to agree to that the council should commence this consultation and implement the statutory procedure for altering the fare tariff pursuant to the Local Government (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act1976.

Whilst this proposal primarily relates to the way the council discharges its statutory responsibilities, ensuring that there is a strong licensed taxi trade in Cherwell supports the council priority to enable “An enterprising economy with strong and vibrant local centres”.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1       To agree to commence the public consultation on increasing the fare tariff for hackney carriages with a view to increasing the maximum fares that licenced Hackney Carriages can charge.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed to commence the public consultation on increasing the fare tariff for hackney carriages to the levels as set out on the Annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) with a view to increasing the maximum fares that licenced Hackney Carriages can charge.

The Assistant Director Regulatory Services & Community Safety submitted a report to seek agreement to consult on a Hackney Carriage tariff increase.

The Council’s Licensing Team had been asked by the Cherwell Valley Taxi Association to increase the     fare tariff forhackney carriage which requires public consultation. The Executive are asked to agree that the council should commence this consultation and implement the statutory procedure for altering the fare tariff pursuant to the Local Government (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act1976.

An updated version of the proposed tariffs to be consulted on had been published as a supplement to the agenda as the Cherwell Taxi Association had requested further amendments to the proposed tariffs after publication of the original proposals. .

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed to commence the public consultation on increasing the fare tariff for hackney carriages to the levels as set out on the Annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) with a view to increasing the maximum fares that licenced Hackney Carriages can charge.

Reasons

Local authorities have a statutory power to set the maximum fares that licensed   hackney carriages can charge for a journey. To enable implementation of new tariff as requested by Cherwell Valley Taxi Association it is recommended that the Executive agree to commence public consultation on the revised table of fares (amended appendix 1 to the report).

Alternative options

Option 1: To propose alternative tariffs in the table of fares. This was rejected as the proposed revisions were determined in discussion with the trade and appear to meet the balance of ensuring the licensed hackney carriage fares allow drivers to recover costs and make reasonable profit whilst not becoming prohibitive to customers.

Option 2: To retain the current fare tariffs. Given the rises in fuel costs since the current tariffs were set not considering an increase in fares charged by drivers could result in a substantial reduction in the number of taxis operating in the district and therefore impacting on the community.