edders23 wrote:
Here is our letter from the council telling us that our new thrice yearly badges will cost us 3 times as much !!!!!
Dear Sir/Madam
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE LICENSING COMING INTO FORCE ON 1 OCTOBER 2015
Following on from the letter we sent advising you of the changes to the duration of driver and operator licences I can confirm that the fees have been agreed as follows:
Private Hire Operators - £138.30 (5-year)
Hackney Carriage & Private Hire driver licence fees - £232.90 (3-year)
The above fees have been published in the local paper and any comments should be made in writing to Mr M Jones, Business Manager, Neighbourhoods, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Comments should be received no later than 4 September 2015.
It is our aim to implement the changes as smoothly and with as little disruption as possible and therefore, to keep the alignment with the DBS and medical checks and the new three-year licence, existing drivers who renew after 1 October 2015 will be issued with a licence up to the date their next DBS and medical check is due; subject to them meeting the required standards. The fee will be adjusted as follows:
Drivers with 1 year to DBS - £77.30
Drivers with 2 years to DBS - £154.60
Operators
You will be required to bring your records of bookings into the office annually for inspection. A reminder will be sent when this becomes due. Failure to do so may result in you being referred to the Licensing Committee.
Drivers
You will be required to bring your DVLA licence and check code annually to the authority for inspection. A reminder will be sent to you when this becomes due. Failure to do so may result in you being referred to the Licensing Committee.
Did they consult before making the decision? Did they take any notice of the debates in parliament where it was stated that one of the reasons for the 3 year license was to cut down on the costs and therefore the fees charged?