Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the following meetings;

Licensing Committee on 31 January 2022;

Licensing Panel on 22 March 2022;

Licensing Regulatory Panel on 14 January, 11 February and 28 February 2022.

The minutes of the following meetings were signed as a correct record;

Licensing Committee on 31 January 2022;

Licensing Panel on 22 March 2022;

Licensing Regulatory Panel on 14 January, 11 February and 28 February 2022.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm on a working day, allowing two clear working days before the day of the meeting.

None received.

The Senior Specialist – Licensing and Compliance submitted a report asking members to consider a review of the Table of Fares charged by a hackney carriage.

The table of fares review was usually carried out annually however it was noted that no review had taken place in 2019, 2020 or 2021 and the fares had remained as was in 2018.

For this year a consultation exercise had been carried out with the hackney carriage trade between 19 April and 13 May 2022. From the consultation 13 responses had been received which members considered during the decision-making process.

In light of the current economic picture in the UK with rising fuel prices, inflation and cost of living members had a full and frank debate on the impact on the hackney carriage trade.

Questions and discussion also ensued between members and representatives of the taxi trade who attended the meeting.

Members debated potential increases in the fares but also the rewording of several of the different tariffs.

Councillor A Smith moved that the fares be increased by 10%, rounded if appropriate, and to amend the wording of tariffs 2 and 3 as follows:

Tariff 2 – to bring forward the hire time to 11pm from midnight, and

Tariff 3 – to extend the hire time from 4am to 6am.

Councillor A Smith also proposed that the committee review the fares in 6 months’ time.

The motion was seconded by Councillor J Crouch.

A vote was taken, 7 voted in favour, 0 against and 0 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Recommended

That Executive be requested to agree that –

1. The fares be increased by 10%, rounded if appropriate, and to amend the wording of tariffs 2 and 3 as follows:

Tariff 2 – to bring forward the hire time to 11pm from midnight, and Tariff 3 – to extend the hire time from 4am to 6am;

2. The table of fares be reviewed again in 6 months’ time.