Issue - meetings

Taxi Fares Consultation

Meeting: 04/10/2022 - Executive (Item 107)

107 Request for a variation of Hackney Carriage Fares pdf icon PDF 363 KB

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero and City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RESOLVED that the Executive approve:-

 

(1)   that the proposals set out in the report are put out to public consultation to run from 5 October 2022 until 2 November 2022 (4 weeks);

(2)   that a public notice containing the proposed variation table be published in one local newspaper during the above period; and

(3)   that the matter be brought back to Executive on 29 November 2022 for determination.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report for an increase to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff, which had been made by the Chair of Exeter St David’s Hackney Carriage Association. The report sought approval to commence a public consultation, having considered the requested variation of fares for the hire of hackney carriages.

 

Members noted that there had not been an increase in Hackney Carriage taxi fares since 2013, and amendments to the tariffs was an Executive function. The proposal was based on discussions with the Hackney Carriage taxi trade ahead of taking the proposal out for a public consultation, in accordance with Section 65 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The proposal followed the tested Guildford model which had stood up to legal challenges in the courts and was based on local information to consider the cost of living in the city.

 

Particular reference was made to the proposed tariff increase, which if approved in November 2022, would put Exeter at the top of the Devon Tariff charts and 54th in the national list.

 

During the discussion the following points were made:-

 

·        The Guildford model localised the figures for Exeter and was favourable in line with the request from the taxi trade to increase the tariff; and

·        There had been no tariff increase since 2013, so any increase would be fair to support the drivers, especially with increased demand for taxis due to current public transport issues.

 

RESOLVED that the Executive approve:-

 

(1)   that the proposals set out in the report are put out to public consultation to run from 5 October 2022 until 2 November 2022 (4 weeks);

(2)   that a public notice containing the proposed variation table be published in one local newspaper during the above period; and

(3)   that the matter be brought back to Executive on 29 November 2022 for determination.