Agenda item

The report of the Fleet Compliance Team Leader asks the Committee to consider a proposal to increase licensing fees for hackneycarriage and privatehire drivers and private hire operators within the administrative area covered by WiltshireCouncil.

Ian Brown (Head of Environment Services) referred to the proposal to increase licensing fees for hackney carriage and private hire drivers and private hire operators within the administrative area covered by Wiltshire Council that was circulated with the Agenda.  He highlighted the following:

·         The current charges as proposed are set at a level which enables the Council to recover its reasonable costs of administering the service and would continue to be reviewed annually to ensure that this is still the case;

·         The proposed 5% increase in charges would see a rise of £3.67 per year for a 3 year Hackney/Private Hire driver licence and £4.40 per year for a 5 year licence;

·         Payment plans were available for anyone claiming hardship;

·         The Immigration Act came into effect in December 2016 and on occasion the Council are required to issue a driver with a licence for a short period of time to correspond with the period covered by their visa.  A monthly fee had been calculated to enable a licence to be granted with would terminate at the same time as the period covered by the visa expires;

·         The proposed fees would be published for public consultation for a period of 28 days and if no significant objections were received then they would then come into effect;

Members raised the following:

·         I understand the Council have a duty to recover costs, but if we approve the increase in fees and if the taxi trade is suffering from a lack of drivers, what will the impact be on our public transport infrastructure?

·         What could we do to head off this problem?

·         What had been the take up of the payment plans?

Out of 1085 drivers, 270 have used the payment plan option.  Out of 103 operators, 25 have used the payment plan option.  Those who have chosen to pay over 5 years won’t see their fees increase until the time that they have to renew.

Cllr Peter Hutton (Portfolio Holder) thanked Mr Berridge for attending the meeting and confirmed that the Taxi Licensing Team liaised well with the trade and that there was constant Officer/Trade dialogue which has greatly improved over the years.  Over 1000 drivers had completed the Safeguarding training.  The Council would continue to review the fees each year as per the Trade’s request and acknowledge the role that they play in providing community transport.  The tariff increase had been well received as that had meant a wage increase for the drivers.  If the changes to fees were to be approved today, then the details would go out to consultation and the trade would be able to make representations.

Members asked if there was anything else that could be done to attract new drivers to join the trade.  It was acknowledged that Wiltshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and that could be a factor in not attracting new recruits.

Officers confirmed that there would be a review of Taxi tariffs in approximately 18 months and that the Council are looking at Uber and the implications for the existing trade and drivers.

Resolved:

1.         That the Licensing Committee agreed the proposed revision of fees for hackney carriage and private hire driver and operator licences as set out page 75 of the Agenda.

2.         Officers be authorised to carry out the necessary public consultation in relation to the proposed fee changes and to implement the revised fees in the event that no significant objections arise from that consultation.