Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is for the Committee to consider an increase to the fees charged by BCP Council for the administration of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing regime.

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 53 allows local authorities to set the fees charged to recover the costs associated with the administration and compliance of licensing drivers of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles.

Section 70, of the Act, requires that the fees are charged to recover the costs for administration of licences for vehicles and operators. Any change to these fees is subject to a 28-day minimum consultation period.

The Interim Head of Safer Communities presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these minutes.

The purpose of the report was for the Committee to consider an increase to the fees charged by BCP Council to enable the Council to recover the costs for the administration of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing regime. The review was required due to increases in the Council’s operating costs as a result of inflationary increases. Options available to Members were to agree or amend as they deemed fit the proposed fees set out in the appendix to the report or maintain the current fee structure.

The Interim Head of Safer Communities responded to questions and comments from committee members on the reasons for the proposed increase in fees and the levels at which some fees had been set. Key points raised and clarified included:

·       It was noted that the Hackney Carriage Trade had received two fare increases this financial year and that the cost of fuel had now decreased.

·       The finance officer had reviewed the proposed fees and confirmed that they were set appropriately.

·       A fixed percentage increase across the board would not be appropriate. Not all fees were renewed at the same time. Vehicle fees were renewed annually, whereas those for drivers were every three years and for operators every five years. There were also more costs involved in licensing the hackney carriage regime than private hire.

·       There was a recognised national shortage of drivers, reasons for this included the impact of Brexit and Covid, the retirement of older drivers and the need for more onerous checks required by statutory guidance.

·       That said, it was noted that the Council was still receiving driver applications and forthcoming knowledge tests were fully booked.

A Committee Member questioned the rationale for the proposed fees which he felt were excessive in terms of percentage increase and would have a detrimental impact. Other Committee Members felt that the proposed increases were reasonable and referred to the current base figures involved, the recent fare increases for the Trade and the need to cover the overall costs of providing the service. It was noted that the some of the fee calculations also took into account supplier costs which had risen dramatically.

RESOLVED that the proposed fees as stated in the appendix to the report be agreed.

Voting: For – 9, Against – 1, Abstain – 0

The Committee was advised that the proposed fees for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing would now be subject to a statutory consultation with a process in place to consider any objections if received as set out in paragraphs 9 – 12 of the report.