Agenda item

To determine the maximum level of fares that can be charged by a Hackney Carriage Proprietor and to set the fees for the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licence regimes.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report detailing the maximum level of fares that could be charged by a Hackney Carriage Proprietor and the fees for the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licence regimes.  The committee members were advised that there had been two further comments which had been circulated and published together with corrected appendix 7.1.

The Licensing Team Leader stated that one of the basic principles that the council must adhere to was that the cost of the function of licensing Hackney Cabs and Private Hire vehicles should be covered by the fees charged.  No profit should be made, nor should there be any cost to the council tax payer.

The fees had been advertised and sent to all 2399 licence holders, resulting in 13 comments which were addressed by the Licensing Team Leader.

The fees proposed in the report were considerably lower than neighbouring authorities and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

In relation to the tariffs, 5 tariffs had been brought into line and levelled up, with the exception of the defined Weymouth Zone within the taxi policy.  It was suggested that these tariffs also be reviewed annually so that any sustained fuel price increases could be taken into account.

The Licensing Team Leader suggested that three requests following consultation, to consider earlier tariff 2 charge times, add in the 30p per extra person and to increase the soiling charge to £100 be included in the recommendations.

The Committee Members were invited to ask questions of the Licensing Team Leader.  Overall, there was support for the report, members did not consider it necessary to reduce fees for single car operators and were in agreement to include the three additional requests.

Proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Taylor.

Decision: that after consideration of the responses from the licensed trade, the new fees for the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licences be agreed.

Proposed by Cllr Parker, seconded by Cllr Jones

Decision: that after consideration of the responses from the licensed trade, the new tariffs for both zones be agreed. This was to include the change from 23.00 to 22.00hrs for the tariff 2 rate, the inclusion of the 30p per passenger rate and increasing the soiling charge to £100.