Agenda item

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 luggage carried outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

 

Soiling Charge:  A charge may be requested if the passenger(s) soils the vehicle.  This will not exceed £75.00.”

 

Councillor Hartley then proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Biddulph:

 

“(1)      That the Food, Safety and Licensing Manager continues to conduct the review of the current mechanism for adjusting fares to see whether there is an alternative mechanism available that is more appropriate for the Committee to consider introducing for future years and reports back to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

(2)        That the revised table of fares comes into force at noon on 1^st September 2017.”

 

With the agreement of the meeting and his seconder, Councillor Hamilton-Cox accepted this as a friendly amendment.

 

At the conclusion of the debate a vote was taken and the motion was carried unanimously.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)        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 luggage carried outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

 

Soiling Charge:  A charge may be requested if the passenger(s) soils the vehicle.  This will not exceed £75.00.

 

(2)        That the Food, Safety and Licensing Manager continues to conduct the review of the current mechanism for adjusting fares to see whether there is an alternative mechanism available that is more appropriate for the Committee to consider introducing for future years and reports back to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

(3)        That the revised table of fares comes into force at noon on 1^st September 2017.