Taxi Driver Online

Not particularly interesting, but like in Blackpool the HCA want to bring T2 and T3 forward. But they want three extra hours (pardon pun) on T2, and to bring forward the 3am T3 'super rate' to 1am


Barnsley taxi fare increase on hold until drivers submit evidence of rising costs

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics ... ts-3377012

A potential 40p increase in base taxi fares has been put on hold at a meeting today (8 September), until more information about rising costs is sought.

The Hackney Carriage Association submitted a request to Barnsley Council’s licensing department to increase the base rate by 40p to bring hackney carriage fares in line with private hire charges.

The association says the price hike would help towards the “significant rise” in fuel costs, running costs and insurance.

This would mean that the first mile of a journey would increase from £3.80 to £4.20.

Cabbies have also called for evening fares to begin at 8pm rather than 11pm, to encourage drivers to work unsociable hours, and the “super rate” to begin at 1am, instead of 3am.

The council’s general licensing regulatory board were set to make decision to send the matter to public consultation, but voted to wait until evidence of rising costs was submitted.

Councillor Kevin Osborne told the meeting that fares had last increased in September 2019, and that the cost of diesel had risen by “pence” since then.

“I don’t really see any evidence, apart from them quoting a significant rise in fuel costs, running costs and insurance.

“The flag fare will be increased by 10.52 per cent. I did a quick check, just to see what the fuel price of diesel vehicles were back in September 2019 – and they were 131.97. Today that stands at 136.68.”

Councillor Margaret Bruff told the meeting: “There’s a lot of businesses [that have] really, really struggled over the last few years and continue to struggle.

“There’s a lot of people struggling because they’ve lost their jobs.

“I think at this time it’s just to much to ask.”

As has been alluded to in the article, that's a load of old fanny.

Fuel price average is much the same now as it was then, insurance hasn't changed much if at all, and running costs are much the same IMO.

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IDFIMH

That I have some sympathy with.

In many areas there is a lack of drivers working nights, and, as has been shown by Uber's surge, punters will pay a premium when taxi/PH demand is high.

Someone did suggest something like this in B&H ( ) but was a very very very very lone voice.

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IDFIMH

Barnsley’s Hackney Carriage drivers hit back over fare increase

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics ... se-3395358

Hackney Carriage drivers in Barnsley have hit back after councillors asked for more evidence of rising costs to justify a 40p fare increase during a meeting last week.

The Hackney Carriage Association submitted a request to Barnsley Council’s licensing department to increase the base rate by 40p to bring hackney carriage fares in line with private hire charges.

The association says the price hike would help towards the “significant rise” in fuel costs, running costs and insurance.

This would mean that the first mile of a journey would increase from £3.80 to £4.20.

The council’s general licensing regulatory board were set to make decision to send the matter to public consultation, but voted to wait until evidence of rising costs was submitted at their meeting on September 8.

Councillor Margaret Bruff told the meeting: “There’s a lot of businesses [that have] really, really struggled over the last few years and continue to struggle.

“There’s a lot of people struggling because they’ve lost their jobs.

“I think at this time it’s just to much to ask.”

Documents submitted by chairman Shaun Jeffers to the licensing board state: “I have been a hackney carriage driver for 24 years.

“If I work a day shift which consists of at least eight hours I am lucky if I earn £50…. less than the minimum wage, then out of this wehave running costs to pay.

“We can not recruit drivers because they are better off on benefits than what they can earn driving a Hackney Carriage.

“I am sure councillor Bruff and Co. would not sit on Barnsley hackney rank for eight hours for £40 profit.

“Barnsley councillors are asking for proof that our costs have increased when it is plainly obvious that they have.

“We are not “greedy” people we just need to make the Hackney Carriage trade a viable business because as it stands our earnings are only just above what unemployed people get on benefits.”

Robert Taylor, the secretary of the association, also submitted a statement, which reads: “We certainly haven’t done this on the back of the pandemic and are definitely not wanting sympathy as taxi drivers have been one of the hardest hit industries over this period, we are fair and honest people trying to do our job.”

The main missing increase is the minimum wage going up twice in that period.

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Grandad,

Has the council increased charges, council tax, etc?

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Former taxi driver

Always, as no doubt have councillor allowances.

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IDFIMH

Generally speaking, Councillor allowances are linked to officers pay awards. If, as has been the case in the last couple of years, officers have had a pay freeze then so have Councillor allowances.

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Grandad,

B&H councillor's basic allowances have gone up about 10% over the last two years.

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IDFIMH

The headline says it all, and otherwise this is just rehash, but one nugget below...


Barnsley residents asked for views on proposed taxi fare increases

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics ... es-3407824

Members of the public in Barnsley are being asked for their views on a proposed Hackney Carriage fare increase of 40p.



Like that's going to affect the night time economy in any way, shape or form?

They'll be leaving the town in droves just before 8pm

You have to wonder who is the thickest, numpty councillor or the folks that voted him in.

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IDFIMH

Oh, I forgot about that one - that's three licensing councillors/chairpersons in a couple of days talking nonsense - Barnsley, Craven and Perth

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IDFIMH

Well looks like this has finally reached some sort of conclusion.

Don't know how many articles there's been on this, on each and every little step on the process, but they're not all posted here


Barnsley taxi fares set to rise with price hike from 8pm and 'super rates'

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/loc ... e-21999694

Barnsley Council has agreed the incease in fares for hackney carriages

Councillors have today (October 27) agreed to a fare increase for Barnsley’s hackney carriage drivers, after a request received cross-party support.

The Hackney Carriage Association submitted a request to Barnsley Council’s licensing department to increase the base rate by 40p to bring hackney carriage fares in line with private hire charges.

The association says the price hike would help towards the “significant rise” in fuel costs, running costs and insurance.

This means that the first mile of a journey will increase from £3.80 to £4.20, although it has not been made clear when the charges will come into effect.

Evening fares will also begin at 8pm rather than 11pm, to encourage drivers to work unsociable hours, and the “super rate” to begin at 1am, instead of 3am.

During today’s meeting of the council’s general licensing regulatory board, councillor David Greenhough said he fully supported the rise, adding that “being a taxi driver is bloody hard way to earn a living”.

“It’s not easy,” coun Greenhough added.

“You’ve got a lot of expense before you even earn a single penny.”

Councillor Tim Shepherd also supported the increase, and told the meeting that the council had to consider the “viability of the town as a whole”.

“We want to drive this town forward, and part of driving this town forward would be to increase the night-time economy and increase the availability of taxis,” Coun Shepherd added.

Councillor Steve Hunt added: “The small number of comments received [during the public consultation] indicates to me that the residents on Barnsley aren’t particularly troubled about this increase.

“We have just spent £200m on the Glass Works, we have a facility which rivals Leeds and Sheffield. We have a great night-time offer.

“But what if, after a night out, people can’t get home safely? We need to ensure that there’s sufficient taxis otherwise leisure consumers may go elsewhere.”

Councillor Margaret Bruff said that she “had some concerns” on behalf of elderly residents, who use taxis to do their shopping.

Councillor Bruff added that she found the increase “excessive”, adding: “We’ve got a lot of other businesses are struggling. We’ve all had problems during the lockdown period.

“Our work increased tenfold during lockdown. We were having to go out in our cars……we’ve had to absorb that cost within our own budgets.

“I’m not saying that they shouldn’t have an increase, I think it’s excessive.”

Don't think the relevant article was posted here, but the comments included one which called the increase "greedy, money-grabbing"

But they received four objections, and two which supported the rise.

And I'm sure these half dozen respondents are precisely representative of the public at large

But looks like it's just 40p on the flag, so not much on longer trips, but doubt if penny-pinching locals will be too impressed with a 40p rise on a short run.

But suspect the bringing forward of T2 and the T3 'super' rates by two or three hours will be more likely to cause grief.