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Agenda item

Agenda item

Local Government (Miscellaneous provisions) Act 1976 - review of vehicle and operator licensing fees - consideration of objections.

Purpose

The purpose of this report is for the committee to consider objections that have been made to the Licensing Authority in response to the proposed variation to the level of fees payable in respect of private hire and hackney carriage licences.

 

Recommendations

1.    That the committee consider the objections received in response to the proposed variation to licensing fees; and

2.    That the committee determine the level of fees to be set in respect of hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences and private hire operator licences and for such fees to come into immediate effect.

 

Minutes:

The Licensing Manager introduced the report and explained that at its meeting on 21 November 2014, the committee agreed to an immediate increase in fees to achieve full cost recovery and that the approved fees be implemented immediately. Delegated authority was granted to advertise such fees and charges that were subject to any formal public consultation. The purpose of this report is for members to consider objections that have been made in response to the proposed variation to the level of fees in respect of private hire and hackney carriage licences.

 

Deputations were heard from the following trade representatives;

 

Mr Chris Dixon, Hackney Carriage trade representative included the following points in his representations:

·         Proposals were given last year with minimal consultation.

·         The feeling was so strong amongst the trade that the then leader of the council met with the trade to explain the reasoning behind the proposals.

·         The council have to make cuts and the taxi trade need to do their bit but not to the extremes proposed.

·         Would urge members to continue with a 5year cost recovery.

Mr Viv Young, Hackney Carriage trade representative who included the following points in his representations:

·         The room is packed with a number of disgruntled drivers who work 12-15 hour days to survive.

·         Many need financial assistance to help make ends meet.

·         The taxi industry has never been as quiet, particularly so after 10pm, as it is at the moment.

·         The city is a ghost town.

·         All the drivers are increasing their working hours but for what?

·         The taxi trade does not have the benefit of being subsidised like the buses.

·         Appreciate that the council are under huge financial pressures.

·         Apologise for the number of emails I have sent but I believe this shows my passion for the industry.

Mr Perry McMillan, Unite trade union representative included the following points in his representations:

·         We are in a time of recession and taxi work is a difficult job to be in.

·         There is a misunderstanding; taxi drivers do not earn a lot these days certainly not in this city.

·         There is a huge amount of trust in our line of work.

·         Members have let us down and need to build that trust back up in the city.

·         These drivers are the city's eyes and ears.

 

 

 

Mr Dave Griffiths, Unite trade union representative included the following points in his representations:

·         The trade were not happy with the previous decision but accepted that spread over 5years was the better deal.

·         Would urge members to do the same today.

Mr Bruce Hall, General Manager Aqua Cars Limited included the following points in his representations:

·         Drivers understand that the council need to recover costs and that the 5year option was the better deal.

·         Not one member knows how much a driver licence costs. Still waiting for FOI response from Portsmouth.

·         Would urge members to keep to the 5year plan.

RESOLVED

(1)          That the committee considered the objections received in response to the proposed variation to licensing fees.

(2)          To introduce an immediate increase in fees to achieve full cost recovery for private hire vehicle and driver licenses be implemented.

(3)          The fees for private hire operators, hackney carriage vehicle and driver licences be recovered over a period of 5 years to achieve full cost recovery.

 

Supporting documents: