Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm boss hits out at increase in licensing fees



A TAXI company has hit out at council proposals to hike up the cost of private hire vehicle licences calling the news ‘diabolical’.

South Derbyshire District Council said the proposed increase in fees would bring the authority in line with other councils but the owner of Bloors Private Hire Company said it could mean the closure of taxi firms.

The proposals will include raising the fee for the vehicle licence by £13 from £260 a year to £273, while it will cost £212 for an operators licence as of April, a rise from £202.

A driver’s licence will increase from £93 to £98, while the fee for the vehicle transfer will be £38 from £22 — the biggest hike at £16 a year.

The private hire knowledge test and retest of vehicles will increase by £1.

The owner of the 30-year-old taxi firm, in Woodville, Swadlincote, said: “It is diabolical. Our drivers already do an NVQ and have to pass a CRB check, as well as the drivers’ assessment.

“I pay for it and they pay me back, that’s already about £450.

“The new proposed figures are five per cent above the rate of inflation, the last time it went up it was 10 per cent.

“It is hard to say what it will mean to us as £13 doesn’t seem much but I am already paying for renewal licences each year.

“It is just unfair and many businesses will have to shut down. You don’t see any starting up.

“The taxi fees will have to go up anyway because of the price of diesel.

“I won’t be objecting as there is just no point, it is already a done deal.”

A spokesman for South Derbyshire District Council said: “The proposed increases cover the cost of inflation and bring us in line with other councils in the area.

“Licensing private hire drivers and vehicles is of paramount importance to us to ensure members of the public are kept safe.

“These proposals, which we are currently consulting on, will cover the cost of this service. We will listen to any representations put forward.”

Anyone wanting to object may do so in writing to The Licensing Manager, South Derbyshire District Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AH.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Taxi-f ... 022012.htm

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

Nice to see this council not having a f*cking clue as to how to set licensing fees

CC

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

whilst i dont think the original fees were cheap, the rises are quite small

cant even see the point of £1 rise on the last item

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I wonder what he says to his drivers when they ask for an increase, 10p on the start rate and £15pw extra on the payin no doubt, £2.80p becomes £2.90p and the punter gives the same £3 they always do.

A spokesman for South Derbyshire District Council said: “The proposed increases cover the cost of inflation and bring us in line with other councils in the area.


What's inflation and other councils got to do with fee increases? Absolutely nothing

Object on the basis that the increases are made up, hence illegal.

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IDFIMH

Fees charged must be reasonable and no more than sufficient in the aggregate, in respect of S70, to cover the Council’s costs in whole or in part.


It has been established in a number of cases before the courts that a Council may not derive a profit or surplus from such licensing activity.


While the question of what is ‘reasonable’ can only be resolved by challenge, it seems clear that ‘costs’ charged to accounts to be recovered by licence fee income must be commensurate with the actual and necessary expenditure of human and material resources.


It follows that the Council must be able to demonstrate that those costs charged directly or by apportionment can be identified as being relevant and proportionate

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