Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2017 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th July 2017 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business authorised by the Chairman.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting.)

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B, Section 2 of the Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Matter for Decision

Report of Food, Safety and Licensing Manager

The Committee received the report of the Food, Safety and Licensing Manager to enable Members to consider objections received in response to the advertising of proposed fare increases through the application of RPI to current Tariff charges for hackney carriages licensed by Lancaster City Council.

It was reported that the revised Tariff card increases had been advertised in accordance with the Committee decision on 1^st June 2017, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  The advert had been placed in the Lancaster Guardian on 15^th June 2017, with a deadline for making any such objections of noon on 7^th July 2017.

One objection had been received by the deadline.  The objection was from a licensed hackney carriage driver and proprietor.  A number of objections to the proposal had been received following the deadline.  The objections were summarised at Appendix 2 to the report.  All the objections received were from licensed drivers and proprietors.

At the meeting of the Committee on 1^st June 2017, it had been resolved that a review should be undertaken of the mechanism for applying annual fare increases, comparing the approaches taken elsewhere at similar authorities, and that the outcome should be reported to the Committee.  It was reported that the review had not been concluded.  A request had been sent to other Licensing Authorities to share their fare review process as the first starting point.  A summary of the responses received was included at Appendix 3 to the report.

It was proposed by Councillor Hamilton-Cox and seconded by Councillor Joan Jackson:

“That the hackney carriage fares be varied as set out below:

Tariff 1

For hirings commenced between 0701 and 2359 hours

£2.60 if the distance does not exceed 660 yards for the whole distance;

£0.30 for each of the subsequent 310 yards or uncompleted part thereof;

£0.10 waiting time for each period of 40 seconds or uncompleted part thereof.

Tariff 2

For hirings commenced between midnight and 0700 hours

For hirings commenced between 1900 hours and midnight on 24^th December

For hirings commenced between 1900 hours and midnight on 24^th December

For hirings commencing on any Bank Holiday or Public Holiday

£3.80 if the distance does not exceed 660 yards for the whole distance;

£0.30 for each subsequent 220 yards or uncompleted part thereof;

£0.10 waiting time for each period of 40 seconds or uncompleted part thereof.

Tariff 3

For hirings commenced between 0001 hours 25^th December and 0700 hours 27^th December

For hirings commenced between 0001 hours 1^st January and 0700 hours 2^nd January

£5.00 if the distance does not exceed 880 yards for the whole distance;

£0.40 for each subsequent 220 yards or uncompleted part thereof;

£0.10 waiting time for each period of 40 seconds or uncompleted part thereof.

£0.20 for each passenger in excess of one (for the purpose, two children aged 11 or under to count as one passenger for the whole distance);

£0.20 for each perambulator or article of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.