Taxi Driver Online

Burnley taxi fare increase proposals move a step closer

TAXI fares in one East Lancashire borough are a step closer to being increased after council committee agreed proposals on putting up flat rates.

The Licensing Committee at Burnley Borough Council met on Thursday night to discuss a number of issues, including a review of the Hackney Carriage table of fares.

At the meeting, councillors accepted proposals from the Hackney Carriage trade to increase the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

The plans will now go before the Executive Committee to be considered and either approved or denied.

The proposed increase for Tariff 1 & 2 has the support of Hackney Carriage trade representatives and working Hackney Carriage drivers licensed by Burnley Borough Council.

If the executive approve the plans, there will be a 50p increase to the minimum fare for Hackney Carriages. Private hire firms are not affected by the proposals.

Taxi fares in Burnley have not been reviewed since 2006, in which time expenses have increased considerably; in May 2022 Burnley had the fourth cheapest fares in the country.

Hackney Carriage representatives proposed a fare increase late last year following rising petrol prices, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, vehicle maintenance, and the general rise in the cost of living.

A Burnley Council spokesperson said: "We're pleased to have worked with the hackney carriage trade to agree a proposal on a small fare increase that reflects the increased costs to the trade, while at the same time recognising the cost of living pressures residents are under.

"On Thursday night the council's licensing committee recommended that the council's executive should approve the proposal.

"The executive will meet on July 13 to consider the proposal. If approved the decision will be advertised for 14 days in line with the required procedure."

The proposals would see the ‘flag rate’ – the minimum charge for a ride covering the first three-quarters of a mile or four minutes – go up by 50p.

For Tariff 1 (6am to midnight) it would rise from £2.50 to £3, while for Tariff 2 (midnight to 6am and certain bank holidays) it would go up from £3 to £3.50.

Tariff 3, (6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on December 27 and 6pm on New Year's Eve to 6am on January 2) would remain unchanged, with a starting rate of £5.

The discretionary £1 abnormal load charge and max £50 cleaning and loss of income fee if a car is soiled would remain unchanged.

Taxi drivers said they didn’t want a “significant increase” as they fear it “would result in the general public being discouraged from using hackney carriages due to the increased cost and render hackney carriage drivers unable to compete with the private hire trade”.

Even with the rise, Burnley would remain in the top 20 cheapest areas for taxi rides.

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IDFIMH

Don't know where to start with this one.

The rise in inflation since 2006 is 71%. Yes that's right 71%.

The report to councillors is interesting.

https://burnley.moderngov.co.uk/documen ... report.pdf

It appears officers suggested an increase in the yardage (actually it's a decrease, but you know what I mean), but trade reps rejected the offer.

Officers suggested that the running rate, ie after the first 1320 yards etc. might also be increased to ensure that addition fuel costs in particular are reflected in the meter rate, but this was not supported by the trade representatives or their members.

And the hackney trade in Burnley have to run purpose built cabs.

Trade reps in Burnley should be utterly ashamed of themselves. But I doubt they are.

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IDFIMH