Agenda item

Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing - Hackney Carriages Fares Review (Determination of Fares)

Report of the Chief Licensing Officer

Minutes:

5.1

The Committee received a report of the Chief Licensing Officer reviewing the fare structure and tariffs for Hackney Carriages licensed by the Council.  The Committee, at its meeting held on 8th November 2012, had deferred making a decision on this matter to enable the taxi trades to provide documentary written evidence of overall running costs to drivers and mile by mile costs of running a licensed Hackney Carriage, including details regarding insurance, fuel, road tax and license fee costs. 

 

 

5.2

In attendance were Clive Stephenson, Principal Licensing Officer, and Hafeas Rehman and Zulfiqar Ahmed Sheffield Taxi Trade Association (STTA). 

 

 

5.3

Hafeas Rehman (STTA) stated that, in the light of rises in the costs of road tax, fuel and insurance, it was reasonable that the Association should request an increase in fares.  Mr Rehman confirmed that the Association had not provided any evidence with regard to running costs to drivers, as had been requested, other than submitting a letter from Avant Garde, Insurance Brokers, setting out details of the percentage increases in taxi insurance since 2009. 

 

 

5.4

Clive Stephenson, Principal Licensing Officer, provided details of a rough calculation in terms of overall running costs to drivers, based on two models of Hackney Carriages. 

 

 

5.5

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, it was reported that it would cost approximately £20 for each driver to have their meter reprogrammed if a decision was taken to increase fares, and confirmed that the last fare increase had been made in October 2011, when they had been increased by 4%.

 

 

5.6

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in Paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

 

 

5.7

The Solicitor to the Sub-Committee reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects of the report.

 

 

5.8

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees.

 

 

5.9

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

 

 

 

(a)

notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the representations now made; and

 

 

 

 

(b)

agrees that, in the light of (i) the lack of documentary evidence from the Sheffield Taxi Trades Association of the overall running costs of Hackney Carriage drivers and (ii) the difficulties being faced by members of the public due to the present economic climate, there should be no increase in Hackney Carriage fares at this time.

 

Supporting documents: