Agenda item

The Licensing Team have received a request from the Taxi Trade for a review of the Hackney Carriage fare structure for the BCP Council area.

The Licensing Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Licensing Authority had received a request from the Taxi Trade for a review of the hackney carriage fare structure for the BCP Council area for 2020/21. In summary, the Trade was seeking a 1.4% increase in proposed fares and a reduction in waiting time from 45 to 40 seconds. The Committee was also asked to consider current limit in the maximum extras that can be charged and the soilage rate for cleaning the vehicle. Subject to the Committee’s decision an approved formula would be used by the Licensing Authority to calculate the new tariff chart once the necessary details were provided by the Trade. 

Mr Kevin Diffey addressed the Committee on behalf of the Taxi Trade to explain the reasons for its request. The proposed fare increase was based on figures published each January and took into account increases in vehicle running costs (0.4%), the consumer index rate (1.4%), the service provider index (1.6%), and the national living wage (6.2%). The reduction in the time allocated for 20 pence increments had not been adjusted in recent years, but Mr Diffey explained that drivers were now unable to undertake as many journeys as in previous years, due to increased traffic congestion across the conurbation. The request to increase the number of clicks for extras was to take into account the number of larger vehicles which could take up to 8 passengers.

Mr Diffey provided the following information in response to questions from the Committee, with clarification provided by the Licensing Manager as required:

• The AA calculated that the cost of running a vehicle had gone up by 0.4%
• Although there was no requirement for the Trade to consult direct with its customers, there was an opportunity to provide feedback to the Licensing Authority when the formal notice of proposed fares was published, Should any objections be received the matter would come back to the Committee for further consideration.
• In keeping the proposed fare increase low at 1.4% the Trade had been mindful of recent increases implemented in the Christchurch Zone to achieve harmonisation of fees.
• BCP taxi fares were traditionally quite high compared to other local authorities (the proposed increase would result in BCP being 14 out of 175). In terms of comparable authorities BCP fares were higher than Bristol but lower than Brighton and Hove. It was noted that there were discrepancies in the fares published in Private Hire and Taxi Monthly as fares could be increased at different times of the year.

·       The charge for additional luggage in a larger vehicle was applied at £1.00 for each extra item, in the form of a large suitcase or equivalent. It was explained that larger vehicles were more expensive to operate.

·       Although calculated in slightly different ways the Committee was assured that resulting fares were the same for customers across the BCP area.

·       It may not be financially viable for some drivers to continue in the job if the  proposed fares were not approved.

There was also a discussion about the use of electric vehicles and hybrids, and the possibility of installing charging points at taxi ranks.

Having considered the report and the representation from Mr Diffey on behalf of the Taxi Trade, Committee members felt that the proposals were fair and reasonable.

RESOLVED that the request by the Taxi Trade for an adjustment to the Hackney Carriage Maximum Fares and Charges tariff 2020/21 as set out in the report and detailed by the representative of the Taxi Trade at the meeting be approved

Voting: Unanimous