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The Licensing Committee received report ES/0532 which advised the Committee of an application by Mr Stokell, on behalf of a number of drivers, for an increase in the hackney carriage fare tariffs in the south of the East Suffolk Council district and sought the Committee's consideration of that request.
The Legal and Licensing Services Manager, at the request of the Cabinet Member for Community Health, advised that the maximum scale of fares for hackney carriages had last been revised in 2012. The application by Mr Stokell sought
- a 20p increase in the minimum fare for the first 800 yards - this would result in a minimum fare of £3.60 (Tariff 1)
- a reduction in the subsequent distance from the current 251.4 yards to 220 yards - this would allow an increased charge from £1.40 to £1.60 per mile (Tariff 1)
- a 30p increase in the minimum fare for the first 800 yards - this would result in a minimum fare of £4.20 (Tariff 2)
- a reduction in the subsequent distance from 220 yards to 196 yards - this would allow an increase in charge from £1.60 per mile to £1.80 (Tariff 2)
The Chairman invited questions.
A member of the Committee asked when the last increase in tariffs had been approved. The Senior Licensing Officer said that the last increase had been in the, then, Suffolk Coastal district, now the south of the East Suffolk district, in May 2012. The Cabinet Member said that with the creation of the new Council in May 2019, all other aspects of work had been aligned, however taxi fare tariffs between the south and north (the previous Waveney district) remained different. The Legal and Licensing Services Manager said there was a discrepancy between the tariffs in the south and north and suggested this had been to allow the new Council to 'bed-in' and to minimise disruption to the trade. He added that there was now a need to look at how best to introduce one fare tariff system across the whole district in 2021. The Committee was informed that the application before the Committee was what needed to be determined at this meeting.
Another member of the Committee asked for further detail on the level of discrepancy. This information was provided by the Senior Licensing Officer. She added that aligning the two tariff systems would need to be consulted upon to seek the views of the taxi trade across the district.
A member of the Committee asked why this was only reviewed and considered when an application was made and queried whether the Council should be more proactive in this regard. The Legal and Licensing Services Manager replied that the practice prior to the creation of East Suffolk Council had been that a review would be triggered upon receipt of an application; the assumption being that the trade was content if they were not requesting an increase in tariffs. The member asked about the status of Mr Stokell and it was explained that he was a long-standing member of the taxi trade with approximately 25 hackney carriages under his operation; she added that, as indicated in the report, Mr Stokell had made the application on behalf of a number of drivers with whom he had consulted. The member asked why the Council did not regularly review tariffs. The Legal and Licensing Services Manager repeated that this had been the custom and practice to date; if the Committee wished more regular reviews to be undertaken, this could be done in accordance with statutory consultation requirements. It was suggested that a report be provided to the meeting of the Committee in January 2021 to explore this issue further.
There being no further questions, the Chairman invited debate.
A member of the Committee said she did not feel it was the right time for an increase but also referred to the fact that taxi drivers, in the current circumstances, did need more help. The member also felt that, if the Council decided to undertake proactive reviews, these should be every two years and that increases should be compulsory.
Another member of the Committee said the taxi drivers across the district were best placed to decide what the economic situation was and to apply for an increase if they felt that was appropriate and for the Council to consider that request. He said he was uneasy about the imbalance in tariffs and also acknowledged the significant impact of Covid-19 on the licensing trade generally.
A member of the Committee said that the last increases in tariffs had been small and eight years ago. He considered it the Council's responsibility to take action. The Senior Licensing Officer said any enquiries from taxi drivers about fare increases were always responded to with advice to submit a request for an increase in writing.
Another member of the Committee said he would like to see one tariff across the whole district to reconcile the current imbalance in prices.
There being no further matters raised for debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation. This was proposed by Councillor Goldson, seconded by Councillor Wiles and by a majority vote it was
RESOLVED
1. That, having received and considered the report, the Licensing Committee approved the application for the fare increase;
2. That a report be received at the January meeting to provide the options for proactive Council reviews of tariffs in future, the requirements as a basis for a rise, the regularity of reviews, statutory consultation requirements etc., for consideration