Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services (copy enclosed) updating members on the review of the current Hackney Carriage Vehicles Table of Fares and Charges and proposed way forward.

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the current tariff as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be retained, and

(b)      officers be instructed to conduct further research, with necessary input from local licensees, to enable members to determine appropriate tariff charges in the future.

The Public Protection Business Manager (PPBM) submitted a report (previously circulated) updating members on the review of the current Hackney Carriage Vehicles Table of Fares and Charges and proposed way forward.

Licensing Committee had approved changes to the hackney carriage tariffs in June 2022 and requested officers review the charges and report back to the Committee within six months’ time.  A consultant had led on that process and a proposed tariff had been put out to public consultation.  The message from respondents generally was that a change in the tariff was not needed.  Details of the current tariff (Appendix 1), consultant’s report (Appendix 2), and a summary of responses from the trade (Annex C) and public (Annex D) had been appended to the main report.

Members’ attention was drawn to the recommendations of the consultant’s report and comprehensive methodology for setting a fair and transparent table of fares.  The lack of engagement from the taxi trade during that process meant insufficient information had been obtained in order to make a properly evidence based decision on the setting of the taxi tariff which would require further work when considering any future tariff changes.  The consultant had recommended the following –

·         the introduction of three tariffs for taxis that seat four people and a tariff for taxis that seat five or more people

·         the rounding of the tariff unit rate, to 10s of pence to eliminate the use of copper coins

·         a yearly fare increase/decrease, in line with the Retail Price Index for Motoring

·         adoption of the proposed methodology.

The PPBM also referred to the Welsh Government’s white paper on taxi legislation in early 2023 which may impact on future fee setting.  Consequently, officers recommended retention of the existing tariffs and further research, with input from local licensees, to determine future tariff charges.

Members considered the report together with the findings of the consultant’s report and there was general support for retaining the current tariffs at this time, particularly given the potential implications arising from the Welsh Government’s forthcoming white paper on future tariff setting, the further work required to build on the basis of the proposed methodology as set out in the consultant’s report, and the general lack of support for a change in the tariff at the present time.  The Committee considered that it would be appropriate to further review the tariff charges once any impact on future tariff setting was known following the Welsh Government’s consultation, and to consider any further research as appropriate with input from the licensed taxi trade.

The PPBM responded to questions, confirming that the intention was to use the framework provided by the consultant to form the basis of calculating future hackney carriage fares and charges.  However, it was acknowledged that the framework would require further scrutiny taking into account input from the licensed trade and sufficient engagement in order to produce the necessary evidence to effectively assess actual costs as part of that process.  In terms of the engagement process there was no single body in Denbighshire representing the taxi trade, but assurances were provided that the consultation carried out had been extended to include additional social media and press releases together with contact with every licensed driver, providing ample opportunity to engage and input into the process.

Having considered the contents of the report along with the findings of the consultant’s report as detailed at Appendix 2 it was –

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the current tariff as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be retained, and

(b)       officers be instructed to conduct further research, with necessary input from local licensees, to enable members to determine appropriate tariff charges in the future.