Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to a report which provided Members of the Regulatory Committee the background and options to the Taxi Fare Increase Request.

Note:               Councillor C. Grimble entered the Chamber at 6.34 pm.

Under the provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 the District Council was the Authority responsible for licensing hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. The Council was also responsible for setting a scale of fares, which set out the maximum amount that could be charged by hackney carriage proprietors. The Council could not, however, control fares for private hire vehicles.

The number of vehicles licensed was outlined and Members noted in the last 10 years, there had been three increases in the scale of fares that WLDC taxi proprietors charge their customers, the last one being in March 2022.

The latest request for an increase in fares related specifically to the incremental rate within the tariffs. In March, Regulatory Committee agreed to increase the standing rate (the rate charged once at the start of a journey) by 10% across all tariffs. The additional request to review the incremental rate had come specifically from a licensed driver that completed longer journeys, which occurred less, and such he felt that he did not benefit in the same manner. This request received was shown in Appendix 1.

The options consulted on and response rates, as set out in section 2 of the report were summarised to the Committee. The full response to the consultation was shown in Appendix 2.

Debate ensued, and Members recognised longer-term issues such as the rise of inflation, the high prices of petrol and diesel, and the war in Ukraine as potential causes. There were also raised points about the economic situation and whether the lack of support in the consultation process was enough to warrant an increase in the fares. Members commented on the limited number of responses, in comparison to the previous consultation, with only the minority explicitly wanting an increase. There was also concern about the possible reaction by local people to any increase in fares and the subsequent loss of business.

In response to a questions and comments, Officers confirmed changing tariffs did have a knock-on cost to operators. Members enquired as to whether it was feasible and/ appropriate to link these charges, and changes to charges, to inflation, and looking at them more regularly.  In responding, Members learned that the taxi trade could propose a raise at any time, that there was no natural mechanism for a fare increase to match inflation, and that regular changes may not be supported by the Trade given the costs involved in re-calibrating the machines in vehicles, referred to earlier. It was suggested this matter was best lead by the Trade, as it was at present. 

Having considered the impact on both the taxi-drivers and their customers, taking into consideration the number and nature of consultation responses.  It was proposed and seconded that there should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10