Meeting documents

RESOLVED -

That the appointment of Councillor N Shepherd as Chairman of the Committee for the remainder of the Council year, as agreed at Annual Council on 24 May 2011, be noted.

RESOLVED -

That the appointment of Councillor D Meacock as Vice Chairman of the Committee for the remainder of the Council year, as agreed at Annual Council on 24 May 2011, be noted.

To sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2011 were agreed by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

The responsibility for the setting of the maximum fares that the drivers of licensed Hackney Carriages could charge the public had been delegated by the Cabinet to the Head of Health and Housing in consultation with the Licensing and Regulation Committee.

The Fares were reviewed annually, and the Licensing and Regulation Committee were asked to consider a request from the Chiltern District Driver’s Association (CDDA) to increase the Table of Fares, as detailed in the report.

Any recommendation to increase fares would require the proposals to be advertised in the local press, in accordance with the legislative requirements.

Members were reminded that the table of fares had last been considered by the Committee on 29 July 2010, and it was agreed that they should remain at their existing levels. The fares were last increased on 1 November 2008 - bringing the cost of a two mile journey to £5.20.

The report detailed tables showing: petrol and diesel prices over time; the comparative costs of a 2 mile journey in neighbouring authorities; and, the existing tariff charged and the proposals made by the CDDA and other alternatives (including increases in line with the Retail Price Index and the Baxter formula). The Private Hire Association League Tables of Fares was attached as an appendix to the report which highlighted that Chiltern was ranked 171 out of 380 Councils nationally based on a two-mile journey.

Detailed information from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) was also included in the report, illustrating movement of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and Retail Price Index (RPI) since March 2009. The Retail Price Index indicated a 4.0% change in retail prices since the Committee last considered the fares in July 2010, and a 7.5% change since November 2008. The Baxter formula which took into account labour, fuel and vehicle costs, suggested a 6% increase in costs over the previous 12 months.

It was advised that since publication of the report Wycombe District Council had increased the maximum 2 mile fare that could be charged during the day and at night. A sheet detailing the increase was circulated at the meeting. The Committee noted that without any additional increase, Chiltern would remain more expensive than each of the other Buckinghamshire authorities. In response to a question it was confirmed that the Council had not received any negative feedback from residents in relation to the level of fares currently charged within the district.

It was also noted that in April 2011 the price of diesel and unleaded petrol had overtaken the 2008 peak by 8.7 pence and 16 pence respectively.

Members were also advised of the need to also take into account the effect on those persons less able to afford the fares and who may not be able to access other forms of transport. The Council no longer subsidised travel by older or disabled passengers through the Taxicard scheme. The full impact of any increase would therefore be applied those hiring a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Note: The relevant paragraph number from Part 1 of Schedule 12A is indicated at the end of the Minute heading.

The Committee agreed on 3 December 2009 to proceed with a tender process to identify garages that could be designated for the purpose of Hackney Carriage and private hire compliance testing. As well as undertaking vehicle inspections and compliance testing the garages would also be required to accept documentation needed for the compliance process and scan and send documentation including the electronic compliance record to the Council. The transfer of vehicle inspection, data capture and electronic production of records to designated garages would assist the Council in reducing costs associated with licensing.

The Council had now completed a tender process to agree the garages that should hold the Service Level Agreement with the Council. The Committee after consideration of the results of the tender exercise

RESOLVED

That authority be delegated to the Head of Health and Housing to enter into a Service Level Agreement with the four garages identified in the report for the purpose of Hackney Carriage and private hire compliance testing; and, make changes to the Compliance Testing Service Level agreements and any other associated requirements.

Note: Immediately following the meeting Members received training for the Licensing Sub Committee and Taxi and Private Hire Sub Committee.