Licensing Committee
16 March 2015
Hackney Carriage Fare Increase 2015/16
1.
PURPOSE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Purpose of Report:
To consider increasing hackney carriage fares
Recommendations:
It is RECOMMENDED that:
(a) Appendix ‘1’ be advertised so as to give Notice of
the intention to increase hackney carriage fares to
that shown therein;
(b) If no objections are received, the Public Health and
Protection Partnership Manager be authorised to
bring the new structure into force on a day
deemed suitable to re-calibrate all taxi-meters after
1st April 2015.
Councillor B Davis (Community)
Portfolio Holder:
Contact Officer:
Steve Ricketts, Community Protection Team Leader
Sean Whitney, Public Health and Protection Manager
2.
BACKGROUND
2.1.
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 gives powers to
Councils to set fares that hackney carriage drivers charge to members of the
public.
2.2.
These fares legally only relate to journeys commencing from a taxi rank or
hailed in the street, and are calculated by way of a taxi meter. However, the
fares agreed by the Council are also used by many companies to work out
charges for pre-booked/private hire journeys.
3.
ANNUAL HACKNEY CARRIAGE FARE REVIEW
3.1.
It has become normal practice over the years to grant fare increases annually
in Christchurch, and increases have shadowed the fares charged by
Bournemouth licensed hackney carriages. Whilst there is no real reason for
this, it has brought some consistency into the way in which the fare structure is
considered.
3.2.
Obviously, there is always the need to round any rises up or down to the
nearest practicable money denomination, i.e. the fare structure avoids the use
of copper coinage.
3.3.
The current approximate fare structure is as follows:Tariff 1 - (Day Rate)
Tariff 2 - (Unsociable Hours) (Between
Midnight – 06:30 hrs daily
All day Bank/Public Holidays – 18:30hrs
day before – 06:30hrs the day after
Tariff 3 - (Christmas and New Year)
£4.30
for the first
mile
£5.70
for the first
mile
£2.15
per mile
thereafter
£2.90
per mile
thereafter
£6.40
for the first
mile
£3.25
per mile
thereafter
4.
COMPARISONS WITH NEIGHBOURING AUTHORITIES
4.1.
Some neighbouring authorities’ approximate fares are as follows. Fares have
been rounded up/down to the nearest 5 pence.
Authority / Tariff
1st Mile
Day Rate
£4.40
Miles
thereafter
£2.20
0000hrs-0630hrs/Bank Holidays
£5.80
£6.50
£2.90
£3.30
£4.30
£2.15
£5.70
£2.90
£6.40
£3.25
£3.80
£2.00
£5.05
£2.65
£5.70
£2.95
£4.00
£2.00
£6.00
£3.00
£8.00
£4.00
£4.00
£2.00
£6.00
£3.00
£8.00
£4.00
Day Rate
2300hrs – 0700hrs/ Sunday/Bank
Holidays
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New
Year, 6pm on Christmas Eve and
New Year’s Eve
£3.60
£5.40
£2.60
£4.20
£7.20
£5.60
Day Rate
2300hrs – 0700hrs/ Bank Holidays
6pm on 24th of December and 7am
on 27th December and between
6pm on 31st of December and 7am
on 2nd of January
£3.60
£4.75
£6.35
£2.45
£3.70
£4.90
Bournemouth
Tariff 1
(Approved rate Tariff 2
Tariff 3
for 15/16)
Christmas and New Year
Tariff 1
Poole
(Approved rate
14/15)
Tariff 2
Day Rate Mon - Sun
0000hrs-0630hrs Mon-Sun. and
Bank Holidays
Tariff 3
Christmas and New Year
East Dorset
Tariff 1
(Approved rate Tariff 2
13/14)
Day Rate
2300hrs-0700/Bank
Holidays/Sundays
Tariff 3
Christmas and New Year
West Dorset
Tariff 1
Day Rate
(Approved
2011)
(proposed
increase going
to committee
10.02.15)
Tariff 2
North Dorset
Tariff 1
2300hrs – 0700hrs and Bank
Holidays
Tariff 3
Christmas and New Year
Day Rate
(Approved in
2012)
Tariff 2
2230hrs – 0700hrs/Bank
Holidays/Sundays
Tariff 3
Christmas and New Year
Purbeck
Tariff 1
Tariff 2
Tariff 3
New Forest
(Approved in
2012)
Tariff 1
Tariff 2
Tariff 3
5.
PROPOSED NEW STRUCTURE
5.1.
The approval of Recommendation (a) and Appendix 1 of this report would
result in the following approximate tariff charges.
Tariff 1
£4.40
for the first mile
£2.20
per mile thereafter
Tariff 2
£5.80
for the first mile
£2.90
per mile thereafter
Tariff 3
£6.50
for the first mile
£3.30
per mile thereafter
5.2.
Members will note that the proposed increase affects the first mile and part
thereof as well as subsequent miles.
5.3.
Appendix 1 shows the detailed breakdown of the proposed new fare structure
which is required to be advertised in a local newspaper.
6.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
6.1.
The request for a rise in the fare structure was made by the Christchurch Taxi
Working Party, which is made up of the main companies in the Borough, as
well as various independents.
6.2.
If the rise in fares is approved, the increase would be subject to a public
advertisement inviting further objections to the proposals, and if objections
were to be received, a further report would have to be presented to the
Committee.
7.
IMPLICATIONS
Corporate Plan & Council Objectives
7.1.
The taxi trade is an important part of the local economy and the level of fares
directly impacts on those local businesses.
Legal
7.2.
Councils must adopt taxi fares in a prescribed manner as contained with the
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Environmental
7.3.
Keeping fares reasonable would encourage the use of taxis thereby reducing
private vehicular use, and reducing pollution and congestion.
Financial and Risk
7.4.
If fares are set too high there is a risk that those most reliant on public
transport are priced out of the market.
Equalities
7.5.
The fare structure specifically excludes extra charges made for the carriage of
wheelchairs. The law prevents charges for assistance dogs.
8.
CONCLUSION
8.1.
The proposed fares are in line with that already being charged in the
conurbation, and therefore the recommendation is to approve the request for
an increase.
9.
APPENDICES
9.1.
Appendix 1 - Proposed Table of fares
10.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
10.1. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976
APPENDIX 1
CHRISTCHURCH BOROUGH COUNCIL'S HACKNEY CARRIAGE FARES
CONTACT TEL NO: 01202 795352
Complaints in writing to Licensing Department, Civic Offices, Bridge Street,
Christchurch. BH23 1AZ
These fares apply to the Borough of Christchurch. Fares ending outside the Borough must also not exceed
these charges unless agreed in advance.
Tariff 1:
Tariff 2:
Tariff 3:
Day Rate
(approximate charge)
£4.40 for the 1st mile
£2.20 per mile thereafter
Unsocial Hours
£5.80 for the 1st mile
(approximate charge)
Midnight – 0630hrs Daily; and
Bank/Public Holidays – 1830hrs day before to 0630hrs
the day after.
£2.90 per mile thereafter
Christmas and New Year
£6.50 for the 1st mile
(approximate charge)
i) Between 1830hrs on 24th December to
0630hrs on 27th December
ii) Between 1830hrs on 31st December to 0630hrs on 2nd
January
DETAILED BREAKDOWN
TARIFF 1
TARIFF 2
TARIFF 3
Initial Charge
Initial Distance
Initial Waiting Time (time –mins/secs)
Additional Charge per fare unit
Each additional fare unit (distance)
Additional Waiting Time unit (time-secs)
*EXTRAS
For each hiring made by telephone or prebooked running in fee
Soiling the carriage by person or animal
£3.00
686.24 yds
3min 11sec
20 pence
161.47 yds
45 secs
20 pence
80 pence
£4.00
683.44 yds
3min 23sec
25 pence
151.20 yds
45 secs
25 pence
£1.00
£4.50
686.24 yds
3min 11sec
30 pence
161.47 yds
45 secs
25 pence
£1.00
MAX -£100
MAX -£100 MAX -£100
£3.30 per mile thereafter
EXTRAS * please see charges under each tariff
a) For each bicycle, child’s perambulator, pushchair, dog
or cat
b) For each one or two articles of luggage carried
(excluding small hand luggage)
c) For each person over one (two children under the age of
ten being counted as one person; children under three no
charge) for charging purposes only
d) Wheelchairs and similar mechanically operated
personal conveyances
*
*
*
FREE