The meeting agreed to start a consultation on increasing the fares that can be charged by hackney carriages licensed to operate in the Borough. The meeting also agreed that the Head of Legal Services & Data Protection Officer would be responsible for considering objections to the proposed fare increase. The Committee also agreed to suspend Councillor Dedhia's six month attendance rule, and noted that Councillor Dedhia had sent their best wishes to the Senior Licensing Officer, Andy Jeffery, and his family.

Hackney Carriage Fare Increase

The Committee discussed a report by the Senior Licensing Officer which asked for permission to begin a consultation on an increase to the fares that can be charged by Hackney Carriages licensed by the Council. The current fares were set on 26 September 2022.

The proposed new fare structure includes three tariffs:

Tariff 1 will apply between 7 am and 11 pm each day except Sunday, Bank Holidays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Tariff 2 will apply at all other times. Tariff 3 will apply on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and will be double the tariff 1 rate.

The proposed changes will increase the cost of the average journey by between 11.5% and 13.8%. For example, a three mile journey under tariff one will increase in price from £9.60 to £11.

The report makes the point that:

As a matter of law, the level of fares for the hire of private hire vehicles cannot be controlled by the Borough Council.

The report proposes that the new fare structure come into effect on 1 January 2025.

The Committee approved the request.

Suspension of Councillor Attendance Rules

The Committee considered a request to suspend the six month attendance rule for Councillor Dedhia. Under the Local Government Act 1972, Councils have the power to remove Councillors from office if they fail to attend a meeting for six months.

The committee approved the request.