Agenda item

The Committee is invited to consider separate requests from the Tendring Taximeter Forum and from the Clacton Taxi Private Hire Group for changes to the approved Hackney Carriage Fare Scale and to determine whether to approve a proposed variation to that currently approved Fare Scale.

The Committee had before it a report that outlined two requests, one from the Tendring Taximeter Forum (TTF) and one from the Clacton Taxi Private Hire Group (CTPHG). Both sought an icrease in th Hackney Fare Scale locally. The Committee was informed by the Licensing Manager (Michael Cook) shortly before the meeting the Councils Licensing Team that the TTF were withdrawing its request. This was because the TTF had been unaware of the request by the CTPHG, but now having reviewed the CTPHG request, they believed that this request was more inclusive and robust.

The request from the CTPHG received on 20 June 2022 requesting an increase in the scale of fares and a change of distance for which the Fare was calculated. Outlined below was the interpretation of the request by the CTPHG.

Includes change in yards on meter and tariff

With the permission of the Committees Chairman, it heard representations from a representative of the TTF. He explained how they felt the request from the CTPHG was better and that they withdrew their request on the basis they were in full support of the CTPHG request.

The Committee also heard representations from a representative of the CTPHG. He outlined that in his view their request would help in not only softening the impact of the full increases, but also the rising costs running taxies in general, like the cost of insurance, mechanical services and replacement vehicles.

The Committee recalled how they last approved a Hackney Carriage Fare Scale increase with effect   from 15 February 2022 (Minute 115 of 17 January 2022 referred).

Members were reminded that should they resolve to approve an intended variation to the existing Hackney Carriage Fare Scale, the law required that the proposed increase must be advertised in a local newspaper and representations may be submitted in response.  A period of 14 days (minimum) must be allowed for those representations.  If no representations were received in that period the variation to the Fares would take immediate effect.  However, if representations were received, the increase would not take effect until those representations have been considered.  For this Council, any representations received would be placed before the next available meeting of the Licensing and Registration Committee.  The Committee may then determine to confirm the increase, amend the proposed increase or withdraw the increase.

Some Councillors expressed concern that the current constitutional arrangements of the Council did not assist early consideration of requests for changes to the approved Hackney Carriage Fare Scale.

After duly considering the representations received, and an in-depth discussion the Committee RESOLVED that:

a)    subject to the statutory process concerned, the Hackney Carriage Fair Scale in the District be amended as follows;

b)    the authority is granted to the Council’s Licensing Manager to make all necessary arrangements to give public notice of the intention of the Council to increase and amend the Hackney Carriage Fare Scale operative within the District in accordance with the decision in this regard; and

c)    that, subject to (b) above, to note that any representations received in response to the said public notice will be considered by the Licensing and Registration Committee at a future meeting.

d)    options for revising the constitutional provisions relating to the consideration  of Hackney Carriage Fare Scale change requests be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.