Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 53/08 of the Deputy Director (Environmental Health). 

Introduction and Report Summary

The Council last reviewed the tariff structure and charges for Hackney Carriages in April 2007.  This report sets out the results of a consultation exercise with Hackney Carriage drivers within this District and asks Members to determine the tariff level which should be proposed for the next year.

Following this initial decision from Members, the proposed tariff must be published in a local newspaper so that any member of the public or trade can make representations to the Council. Any objections which are received must be considered and the tariff (with any necessary amendments) must be introduced within two months of the original publication date.  This report therefore also asks Members to support the delegation of responsibility for finalising the tariff to the Member with Portfolio for Environmental Health. The contact officer for this report is Rob Akers, Team Leader (Food and Safety), tel. 01235 540382.  E-mail: Rob.Akers@whitehorsedc.gov.uk

Recommendations

(a)              that that the proposal to increase the tariff for Hackney Carriages within the Council’s District to the average amounts (rounded to the nearest 0.5 pence) arising from the recent consultation exercise, as given in the table below be approved:

(b)              that this proposed tariff be published for consultation no later than 14^th August 2008, and taking effect from 18 days after publication, provided that no objections have been received; and

(c)               that the Executive delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Environmental Health to consider any objections which are received and approve a final tariff, with any necessary amendments. 

(Time: 3.50pm to 3.53pm)

The Executive received and considered report 53/08 of the Deputy Director (Environmental Health) which reviewed the Hackney Carriage tariffs: the amounts taxi companies could charge customers in the Vale District.  The report set out the results of a consultation exercise with Hackney Carriage companies and asked the Executive to determine the tariff levels for the next year.  It was noted that the tariff structure and charges had last been reviewed in April 2007. 

The report set out four options at different pricing levels.  The Executive had some sympathy with the taxi trade for the need for an increase following the recent increases in fuel costs but also believed that the Council had a duty to protect the public, including vulnerable groups, from unprecedented increases.  Members sought a compromise and approved option 2 as the maximum charges that could be levied. 

It was noted that following the Executive’s decision, the proposed tariff must be published in a local newspaper so the public or taxi trade could make representations to the Council.  Any objections must be considered and the tariff (with any necessary amendments) must be introduced within two months of the original publication date.  The Executive delegated authority to finalise the tariff. 

RESOLVED

(a)              that the proposal to increase the tariff for Hackney Carriages within the District to the average amounts (rounded to the nearest 0.5 pence) arising from the recent consultation exercise, as given in the table below, be approved for consultation:

(b)              that this proposed tariff be published for consultation no later than 14^th August 2008, and taking effect from 18 days after publication, provided that no objections have been received; and

(c)               that authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Environmental Health to consider any objections which are received and approve a final tariff, with any necessary amendments.