Agenda item - Amendment to Hackney Carriage Fare Formula

Report of Director of Environment (copy attached).

RESOLVED – to recommend that the Director of Environment does not include the vehicle licence fee in the standing charges used in the formula to calculate the maximum normal daytime fare for hackney carriages.

15.1    The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing presented a report on an Amendment to the Hackney Carriage Fare Formula to the Committee.

15.2    The Solicitor for the Committee, Ms R Sidell, explained that the taxi tariff setting was now an executive function under the new constitution and a report had just gone to the Governance Committee and to Cabinet concerning this. The function could be delegated to officers who must act in accordance with the advisory Committee recommendation, or else refer the matter to the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting or to Cabinet. The Licensing Committee would be sitting as the advisory Committee established by the Executive for this item.

15.3    The Hackney Carriage Officer explained that the changes to the formula were being proposed to pay for taxi marshalling, which had been identified by officers as a key safety measure within the city. The changes would put around £80-90 per vehicle on the licence fee.

15.4    It was explained that the trade would generally support the introduction of marshalling at taxi ranks but there was disagreement as to how this should be paid for. Many felt that the Council should pay the cost of this service. It was noted by officers that this was an imperfect remedy for the situation, but the best compromise.

15.5    The Hackney Carriage Officer explained that a pilot scheme had been conducted earlier in the year which had provided a much quicker turn around at taxi ranks and it was hoped that a similar scheme which would provide two marshals per rank over three ranks, two nights per week could be introduced with similar results.

15.6    It was felt by Members that this system was unfairly charging daytime passengers to pay for night time economy problems and the Committee asked whether a system could be devised to make only night time passengers pay for the marshalling system. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing explained that the Authority devised the Hackney Carriage Fare Formula and set the tariff figure from this. Once this was set it was up to the taxi companies to implement the tariff. This would make it very difficult to charge night time customers a separate rate.

15.7    The Member asked what powers the taxi marshals would have and who would employ them, and the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing replied that they would have the same powers as any other civilian but would provide a calming influence on the taxi rank flashpoints. The Marshals would be SIA licensed and would most likely be sub-contracted from a local security company. It was noted that the Police were one of the strongest supporters of taxi marshalling as it was a good public safety measure.

15.8    The Members felt that this measure was worthwhile implementing but it should be funded by all interested stakeholders and partners in the city and that Cabinet should look more closely into options for funding the scheme.

15.9    RESOLVED – to recommend that the Director of Environment does not include the vehicle licence fee in the standing charges used in the formula to calculate the maximum normal daytime fare for hackney carriages.