Agenda item

To consider the head of legal and democratic’s report. 

To report on the results of a recent consultation in order that the Cabinet can set maximum fares for journeys carried out by Vale of White Horse licensed hackney carriages within the Vale of White Horse district.

Recommendations:

a)       To consider the results of the consultation at Appendix D

b)       To adopt the proposed maximum hackney carriage fares at Appendix G with effect from 20 April 2024

c)       Subject to (b) above, agree that the tariff is reviewed annually using the Guildford model

Cabinet received the Hackney Carriage Fares report from the head of legal and democratic which outlined the results of the consultation.  It was recommended that Cabinet adopted the new proposed fares in Appendix B and agree that the tariff be reviewed annually, using the Guildford model.

This item was presented by cabinet member for community health and wellbeing, who was responsible for the licensing portfolio. The licensing team leader and the legal, licensing and community safety manager were present to assist with questions and they highlighted that Appendix C of the report detailed how the proposed tariff had been calculated as well as the details of the consultation that was carried out. 

Members discussed the concerns raised by the two public speakers about the approach used for the consultation. Members felt that having around 80% recipients opening the email was an indication of a successful consultation.

Use of the Guildford method was discussed, and it was confirmed that the method was agreed in consultation with hackney carriage drivers at the time.

Consideration was given to the consequences on local taxi business. A member discussed the issue of the district being more expensive to live in but felt the tariff cap was not out of the ordinary especially when you consider the highest charges that follow are for London airport routes, with the proposed tariff being 13^th highest in the country. It was confirmed by officers that four councils do not set a tariff, one of which did not licence hackney carriages.

A member considered that the cap was necessary to protect the elderly and vulnerable residents, who need to be able to afford taxis. A member asked if the Vale Taxi Association was encouraged to reply to the consultation. A member asked what percentage of Vale taxi drivers were members of Vale Taxi Association, and whether the association encouraged responses to the consultation. Public speaker confirmed that of 150 members, it was about 60/40 split towards South Oxfordshire. He suggested that private hire drivers do not respond to the consultation and it was difficult to encourage response.

Members felt that the Guildford method was a tested and fair method with no better alternate method being known. Another member questioned whether an impact assessment on businesses was done, but on balance members felt that consulting every business on how they run was not possible. It was felt that this was consulted on as best as possible, and the Guildford method was previously approved and was used by other authorities.

For next year, members asked whether drivers could respond to the annual review and provide evidence. Members were working to the evidence given via consultation, where 80% opened the email, and felt it was important not to stall when the evidence was in front of them. There was a responsibility to protect residents from price hikes. It was confirmed that if this tariff was not approved, the tariff would remain at the current lower rate. It was confirmed that of those who responded to the consultation, most were in agreement with it, and a number felt the cap was too high. There was not sufficient evidence given by consultees who viewed the cap as being too low.

In summary, members discussed the proposal outlined in the report and agreed with the adoption of the Guildford method of calculating tariffs as it was a widely used, robust method of calculating fares, and was previously approved. It was agreed that the consultation was conducted appropriately, and evidence showed that consultees had been made aware, with the majority of contacts opening the email, as well as officers reaching out in other ways, such as at taxi ranks.

Cabinet thanked the public speakers for their input but believed that the proposed tariff was a reasonable compromise between the interests of the public and the taxi drivers. For this reason, they agreed to approve the new tariff and for it to be reviewed annually.

RESOLVED: to

(a)  note the results of the consultation on hackney carriage fares, as set out at Appendix D to the head of legal and democratic’s report to Cabinet on 19 April 2024;

(b)  adopt the proposed maximum hackney carriage fares, as set out at Appendix G to the report, with effect from 20 April 2024; and

(c)  agree that the tariff is reviewed annually using the Guildford model.