Agenda item

The Sub-Committee to consider changes to the standard timings for taxi tariff’s two, three and four and also to consider changes to the tariff layout.

Mr Frank Landini and Mr Bill Lewtas were in attendance and represented the Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators Association.

Mr Landini presented the revised Hackney Carriage Tariff proposal for 2015 and explained the reasons for the suggested changes contained within the proposal.  He described the changes to the times that certain fare tariffs would be in place as a modest amendment rather than a fare increase. He reported that complications with previous fare tables combined with difficulties in calibrating newly installed vehicle fare-meters had led drivers to ask for a more simplified tariff format.

The Sub-Committee was advised that the main changes to the Tariffs would mean that Tariff One would end at 22:00 between Monday and Thursday. This would in turn mean that the more expensive Tariff Two would come into effect one hour earlier than had been the case with the current Tariff.  Mr Landini also described changes to fares over the Christmas and New Year period contained within the proposal.  He explained that an extension to the length of time that the more expensive Tariff Three and Tariff Four could be used would ensure that drivers were adequately compensated for working during the Christmas and New Year period. He added that in his opinion, the public already expected to pay more for a taxi during this period.

In response to a question about the proposed changes to the existing tariffs and how Blackpool’s fares compared to those in other nearby towns and cities, Mr Lewtas advised that Blackpool fares were roughly average based on Nationwide figures in terms of the cost of hiring a taxi. Mrs Davies offered no comment on Mr Lewtas assertion but added that there was no suitable location in the nearby vicinity of Blackpool with which to make a direct comparison.

The Sub-Committee questioned the wording of a particular line from the newly proposed tariff fare document, which stated ‘Some private hire vehicles may charge a different fare.’ This was considered to be potentially misleading for customers and Mr Lewtas agreed to a change in the wording to remove the words ‘private hire’ in the final version of the document.

The Sub-Committee considered the changes to the tariff document layout and decided that the revised format would be simpler to understand and less likely to confuse potential customers.

In relation to the proposed fare/timing changes, the Sub-Committee considered the impact on fare paying passengers and balanced this with a need to maintain competitive pay for drivers, a need to offset rising equipment costs and overcome technological obstacles. The Sub-Committee therefore concluded that a period of advertisement of proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage should be allowed.

Resolved: 

1.      The Sub-Committee agreed to approve changes to the Hackney Carriage tariff layout, subject to the removal of the words ‘private hire’ from the document.

2.      The Sub-Committee agreed to the advertisement of the proposed amended Hackney Carriage tariff for a consultation period of 14 days.

3.      The Sub-Committee agreed to delegate the power to implement changes to the Hackney Carriage Tariff to Sharon Davies, Head of Licensing Services, Blackpool Council, following advertisement and if no objections were received.