Purpose

Sections 53 and 70 of the Local Government
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (“the Act”) allow
the Council to charge fees for the grant of licences in respect of
hackney carriage and private hire drivers, vehicles and
operators.

 

Taxi licensing fees are separated into 5 licence
types, these are:
·        
Hackney Carriage Vehicle
·        
Private Hire Vehicle
·        
Hackney Carriage Driver
·        
Private Hire Driver
·        
Private Hire Operator
The cost of issue and
administration can be recovered for drivers’ licence fees. In
respect of vehicle and operator licences the reasonable cost of
inspecting and enforcement may be charged. Additionally, the
reasonable costs of providing hackney carriage stands and any
reasonable administrative or other costs in connection with the
foregoing and with the control and supervision of hackney carriages
and private hire vehicles can be included in the fees.
The Local Government
Association guidance states Initial application costs can include:
-
·        
Administration
·        
Initial Visit/s
·        
Third Party Costs
·        
Liaison with interested parties
·        
Management Costs
·        
Local democracy costs
·        
On Costs (internal recharges)
·        
Development, determination, and production of
licensing policies
·        
Web Material
·        
Advice and Guidance
·        
Setting and Reviewing Fees
In addition, further
compliance and enforcement costs could include:
·        
Additional Monitoring and inspection
visits
·        
Local democracy costs
·        
Registers and national reporting

 

Within Kirklees the last detailed review of private
hire and hackney carriage licence fees was carried out in 2015,
with subsequent inflationary increases being implemented in 2016
and 2017.

 

In 2023, the service carried out a robust review of
its private hire and hackney carriage fees to-

 

·        
Ensure that the service receives sufficient
resources to ensure continued service delivery.

·        
Carry out its administrative and inspection
activities and maintain its enforcement role.

·        
Achieve cost recovery.
This detailed review
resulted in proposals to increase the fees as outlined in appendix
1 to this Decision Notice.
In line with
Legislation the proposed fees at appendix 1 were consulted upon. It
should be noted there is no legal duty to consult upon changes to
the private hire / hackney carriage drivers fees; however, given
the level of increase the service thought it necessary and
appropriate to consult upon those fees.
Following
consultation, a total of 114 representations against the fees was
received along with one petition.
The main themes of the
representations received are –

·        
The trade is already struggling due to downturn in
customers,

·        
Increased costs in petrol / diesel, and
insurance

·        
Increased costs because of the cost-of-living
crisis

·        
That there appears to be no rhyme reason as to why
different fees have increased by different percentages

·        
That the service had made a surplus in previous
years and whether that has been factored into this
review.
While the service is
confident that the proposed fees have been calculated in line with
legislation, case law and best practice, the strength of view from
the trade and the issues raised need to be explored
further.
Legislation dictates
that, following consultation on proposed fees, a decision on
whether to implement the proposals or maintain the current fee
level must be taken within two months form the date of the end of
the consultation period.
Given the issues
raised, it is proposed that the current fee level be maintained
pending further investigation relating to the
representations.
 

Content

1.   
That, having considered the representations received
against proposals to increase private hire and hackney carriage
licence fees, the current fee levels be maintained pending more
detailed investigation into the issues raised by those who
submitted representations.
 
2.   
That the detailed investigation be completed by 30
April 2024 with recommendations for future position on private hire
& hackney carriage fees be produced by the service.
 
3.   
If, following that detailed investigation, the
result is that any / all of the private hire and hackney carriage
licence fees need to be increased or decreased, that consultation
on those proposals takes place in line with legislation.
 
4.   
That, if consultation takes place as a result of
point three above, and representations against the proposals
follow, a report be prepared for Members of the Licensing and
Safety Committee outlining in detail how the proposed fees were
calculated and the matters taken into account when calculating the
proposed fee, and for Members of that Committee to take a decision
on the proposed fees.