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The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health reminded the Committee that, at its last meeting, it was agreed to consult with the trade on the current tariffs and agree future arrangements following that consultation. Report ES/0728 now before Members for consideration gave details of the outcome of that consultation exercise on the options available for the structuring and setting of hackney carriage tariffs in East Suffolk.
The Legal and Licensing Services Manager explained that East Suffolk currently operated with two tariff tables, one in the north and one in the south of the district. This was as a result of the former Waveney District Council area and Suffolk Coastal District Council area. This arrangement, whilst unusual, was lawful. There had been no increase in tariffs since 2012 but in October 2020 an application had been received from an operator in the south of the district and an increase had been granted. Discussions on fares at that time and whether tariffs needed to be reviewed had resulted in agreement to go out for consultation with the trade. The options available were as set out in the report and advised:
1. To have two tariff tables or one.
2. What the tariff timings should be for the tariffs.
3. To continue the existing custom and practise of the trade triggering the reviews, rather than increasing fares in line with the Retail Price Index or on a periodic basis.
The Legal and Licensing Services Manager advised that 200 hackney carriage drivers and 76 private hire operators had been consulted and 34 written responses had been received during the consultation period which ran from 9 February and 10 March 2021. He summarised the results of those responses as follows:
Tariff Tables
27 of the 34 respondees wished to keep the status quo of two tariff tables for a number of reasons, details of which were contained in paragraph 3.2 of the report. Only six favoured one table for East Suffolk district.
Tariff Timings
The majority were content with the existing timings although five consultees suggested that tariff 2 could start earlier in the evening. If Members wished to consider that change, it would be subject to a 14 day formal consultation before any change could be made. In addition, all meters would need to be recalibrated.
Tariff Reviews
The consensus amongst respondees was that the trade should continue to trigger reviews as they understood their customers and their drivers' needs.
Members questioned the number of Councils operating with two tariffs, the possible increase in the soiling charge to £75 in the north, and support from the Police when a taxi had been soiled. Having discussed Agenda Item 4 on Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, comment was made that those standards might make a significant difference to the drivers and the proposed tariffs. It was reported that the taxi drivers in the north were proposing to form an Association in the north of the district and that might give a fuller view in the future.
The Legal and Licensing Services Manager advised that it would only be those Councils who had merged under the Local Government Act that were likely to have two tariffs. The Senior Licensing Officer explained that West Suffolk had one tariff table but a few authorities, including Babergh and Mid Suffolk, were still operating with two.
The Legal and Licensing Services Manager reminded Members that the consultation on standards did not include tariffs. If any proposed new standards resulted in additional costs to drivers, it was open to the trade to trigger a review of tariffs at any time. Members supported the status quo at the present time and it was
RESOLVED
1. That it be agreed to continue with the existing arrangement of having two tariff tables in the East Suffolk district; one in the North of the district (the former Waveney District Council area) and one in the South of the district (the former Suffolk Coastal District Council area).
2. That it be agreed to continue with the different timings for tariffs in the existing North and South tariff tables.
3. That it be agreed to continue with the existing custom and practice of the trade proposing a new tariff table for the Licensing Authority to approve and formally consult on as and when they consider that an increase is appropriate or necessary.