Taxi Driver Online

Third of Ryedale taxi drivers oppose fees rise


MORE than a third of licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers in Ryedale have objected to plans to increase licence fees by ten per cent.

Councillors will be asked to decide whether to recommend that the proposed fees and charges for 2009/10 are amended, after 41 drivers wrote to Ryedale District Council opposing the rises.

One of the letters says: “I strongly feel that in the current economic climate it would not only cause great hardship to some fee payers but could force some out of business.”

Another says: “I cannot afford to pay more for a licence since the recent economic crisis. And this would put me under great pressure financially, as my husband has already had his hours cut due to the financial climate.”

Malton-based Ryedale Taxis wrote: “To actively increase costs above reasonable levels will only serve to put taxi companies out of business as they struggle to meet increasing demands.

“We already compete against York firms whose fees are half, and in some cases a third, of what we currently pay.

“It would not be sensible to price out present taxi services which provide integration into the present transport network and are a lifeline to the rural community.”

Beckie Bennett, Streetscene manager at the council, which is aiming to make its taxi licensing service pay for itself, said: “What the council is trying to do through its policy is to balance the cost of providing a statutory service at a minimal cost to the council taxpayer.”

Since 2005/06, when the authority adopted the policy, licence fees have increased by at least 15 per cent each year in a bid to make the taxi licensing service “cost-neutral”. She said: “In light of the recession members may wish to consider the policy. But the evidence is we haven’t seen a decline in the number of licences that we’re issuing.”

Ms Bennett said last year a “member task group” met at least twice to look at the fees and charges, and representatives of the taxi trade were invited to attend all the meetings.

“The task group did also agree to look at the fees and charges again in the summer, so it’s an ongoing piece of work,” she said.

Drivers must have a licence for their vehicle, which currently costs £334 a year.

Under the proposals, the licence would cost £367.40 a year.

The councillors will also be asked to decide whether to recommend a change to the policy.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi-drivers in fees protest


ANGRY ... Lisa Mills, front, and other taxi-drivers in Norton, who are complaining about licence fee increases 091277


TAXI-drivers will march on Ryedale House tomorrow to object to the "excessive increases" in fees they must pay.

They believe a 10 per cent rise in Ryedale District Council's licensing charges for 2009/10 will place a "considerable strain on individuals and operators" during the recession.

Vehicle licences now cost £367.40 per year, with a combined driving licence valued at £117.70 and taxi operators expected to pay £293.70.

John Ridsdale, of Station Taxis, Church Street, Norton, estimates he will pay between £6,400 and £7,000 to licence their fleet of 12 vehicles and 17 drivers this year – a figure that does not include MOT tests and CRB checks.

Mr Ridsdale said: "The trade has for many years objected to the regular and, in our opinion, excessive increases in fees imposed on us by Ryedale District Council."

A specialist consultant has been hired to examine the council's accounts and the reports of the community services and licensing committee, which sets the charges, over the past year.

"We have submitted a detailed letter of objection with comparative data from another similar rural district authority which shows that the fees charged by Ryedale are significantly higher than elsewhere," said Mr Ridsdale. "In our opinion this is because Ryedale District is imposing excessive amounts of staff and other overhead costs on the trade when setting the fees for taxi licensing."

He added: "We want to know where all the fees are going and how it is being spent. We want to know we are getting value for money."

The increases are part of a council policy, started in 2005/06, which pledged to achieve a cost neutral taxi licensing service in five years – requiring annual increases of at least 15 per cent.

A member task group said fees should be increased by 10 per cent in 2009/10 following a review into the taxi licensing service last year but the district's taxi drivers feel they did not take into account the "dissatisfaction" felt within the industry at the regular rises.

The committee will decide tomorrow whether it should recommend a change to the taxi licensing policy and if the issues raised by the taxi drivers should be investigated further.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How the hell can the council justify that amount???????
Is there a list of what other councils charge I can only find the Scottish one

It doesn't matter what others charge it only matters that they use the money for licencing and nothing else.



I'm curious who has paid for this and how much that's costing

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

york charges £170 for renewal of vehicle and driver badge.

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now a licensed hackney driver

Because the Council see us as a cash cow, we need to work so the Council ups it's fees and raises more money in the meantime.

I'd have to see the reports but there is a chap who is getting involved in licensing fees in that area.......invariably as a result of his investigations license fees increase!

I notice from the report an 'expert' is mentioned.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi-drivers to battle on



TAXI-drivers have vowed to carry on their campaign to reduce the fees and charges they pay to Ryedale District Council.

Objectors from across the district turned up in force to Thursday’s community services and licensing committee meeting only to see their appeal for lower charges rejected.

But members agreed the committee’s Taxi Working Group would break down the costs of running the service to see how the money is spent.

John Ridsdale, of Station Taxis, Church Street, Norton, said: “The councillors and officers who attended the presentation given before the start of the meeting all commented that they had found it extremely useful but they went on to ignore all the arguments we presented; showing how Ryedale Council charges significantly higher fees than a similar authority.

“The council imposes much higher salary and overhead costs into the account for which fee income is charged. This results in the council seeking fees for vehicle and driver licences more than double those charged by other authorities.”

The investigations of the Taxi Working Group would only defer the matter, he said, and added: “This was something the group was asked to investigate last year but only produced a further increase in fees.”

Ryedale District Council started a policy in 2005/06 which aimed to achieve a cost neutral taxi service within five years. It led to annual increases of 15 per cent in fees and charges with a 10 per cent rise planned in 2009/10.

But taxi drivers complain the “excessive increases” put a “considerable strain” on individuals and employers during the recession.

Mr Ridsdale, who estimates he will pay around £7,000 to licence his fleet of cars and drivers, said objectors would now form an association to carry on their campaign and said they are “united in their determination to carry on their fight to get fees reduced”.

He added the trade was also concerned that the council provided large sums of money to community transport groups, which were not subject to the same levies, leaving commercial taxi firms at a “disadvantage against groups providing cheap travel”.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Shouldnt this have been done in the first place?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Meeting 26th March!

report from 27th November 08!

No wonder the drivers are p*ssed off

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin