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taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
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Author:  captain cab [ Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
Guildford taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fee charges



The Guildford Hackney Association think that drivers have been 'overcharged' for years

Angry cabbies are demanding a judicial review into what they regard as historic overcharging over their licence fees.

The Guildford Hackney Association (GHA) has been involved in a long and bitter dispute with Guildford Borough Council, making applications to the ombudsman and threatening to strike, over what it sees as the ‘injustice’ of charges set by the licensing department, going back more than 20 years.

The charges for 2015-16 were agreed by the borough executive last month, but the council last week accepted recommendations by officials to reduce the figures – some by more than 50%.

The charges vary, depending on whether the application is a renewal, replacement or a new licence.

Mark Rostron, secretary of the GHA, said: “That’s some dip, from £100 to £48, so they are quite a big lowering in things such as the changing of plates per vehicle.

“Unfortunately, these fees and issues are really infrequent and when they come about have to be paid.

“We are concerned about the annual taxing, which has gone up by 12.9%, and drivers’ licences have gone up by 14.9%.

“This situation is so bad and has been on going for so long we are going to apply for a judicial review.

“If you just change your car that has gone down by more than 52% so blatantly they were overcharging and for what? Just a plastic plate, a piece of paper, and 10 minutes of a clerk’s time.

“We welcome some of the fees going down, but it seems like they have partially relieved an injustice which has been in place for more than 20 years.”

The charges were approved on February 11 but Councillor David Goodwin predicted that questions would be raised.

He said: “I welcome the reduction to taxi charges, which is up to 58% in some cases, and think it is good for taxis drivers and their customers.

“However, it goes to prove that Guildford Borough Council has been overcharging the taxis for many years.

“Some of the changes are only 50p one way or the other. However, some are up to 58% reductions.

“While I welcome reductions and I am quite sure the taxi trade will welcome reductions, it does beg the question what has been going on for all this time?

“Because the only explanation here is that the review was led into the mechanisms and recordings of charges.”

Cllr Paul Spooner, the lead councillor for licensing and governance, explained: “Each year we calculate the cost of processing and issuing different types of licences, and these costs are used to set fees and charges.

“We have been working hard to streamline the processes we use for licensing taxis, private hire vehicles and drivers.

“As a result we have reduced some of the fees for 2015-16.

“This will certainly benefit drivers, who can choose to pass on these savings to their customers.

“We set the maximum fares that can be charged, but drivers can agree lower fares with their customers.”

source: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey- ... al-8682902
Author:  captain cab [ Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
I thought these guys won something last year regarding license fees?
Author:  captain cab [ Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
last year? 2011 ffs - how time fly's!

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-n ... es-4816205

http://www.jamesbutton.co.uk/Subscriber ... 202012.pdf
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
Taxi drivers say 'council u-turn' proves they've been overcharged for years


The Guildford Hackney Association claims the council has overcharged drivers for licence fees for years, and says a sudden decision by the council to reduce many fees, proves it.

The borough executive had agreed that many of the fees taxi drivers are charged would rise for 2015-16.

But just weeks later, the council accepted recommendations by officials to reduce many of the figures instead – some by nearly 60%.

Liberal Democrat councillor, David Goodwin, says the reductions can be seen as partial vindication for the GHA, which says it is now planning to apply for a judicial review.

Guildford Borough Council denies it has overcharged taxi drivers and says following an internal review into its processes, it has become more efficient and can therefore charge less:

The council says it has been working hard to streamline the processes it uses for licensing taxis, private hire vehicles and drivers.

As a result we have reduced some of the fees for 2015-16.

This will certainly benefit drivers, who can choose to pass on these savings to their customers.

We set the maximum fares that can be charged, but drivers can agree lower fares with their customers.

– Guildford Borough Council


When asked about the sudden change from a proposed rise in many fees, to some sharp reductions, Cllr Paul Spooner said:

"It demonstrates how quickly we are running at the moment in terms of some of the actions of this council."

source: http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2015-0 ... for-years/
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
good video!
Author:  Nidge2 [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
Ours have been ripping us off for years, for example £10 to change your address, Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence New/Renewal £357.00, To consider vehicles outside the Councils Policy £52.00.
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
Nidge2 wrote:
Ours have been ripping us off for years, for example £10 to change your address, Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence New/Renewal £357.00, To consider vehicles outside the Councils Policy £52.00.



thieves
Author:  trotskys twin [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
captain cab wrote:
Nidge2 wrote:
Ours have been ripping us off for years, for example £10 to change your address, Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence New/Renewal £357.00, To consider vehicles outside the Councils Policy £52.00.



thieves


Nah just exploiting MUGS like Nidge :D :D
Author:  trotskys twin [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
captain cab wrote:
good video!


so it and demonstrates what getting together can achieve............now theyve got the taste the question is whats next on the Agenda :D :D

fares up a more rigorous knowledge test more ranks .....get stuck in chaps :badgrin: :badgrin: :badgrin: :badgrin: they're on the run keep them there =D> =D>
Author:  Cabby John 1 [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
I guess that you have all forgotten the £1.1 million Cardiff drivers had back plus the LA forgot to add the "Interest" :roll:. I submitted a claim of 5% interest for the years that they had my money - the result was an extra £63 costing them the LA overall another 30/35K for the rest of the drivers.
Author:  grandad [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
Cabby John 1 wrote:
I guess that you have all forgotten the £1.1 million Cardiff drivers had back.

I haven't. :wink:
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: taxi drivers demand judicial review over licence fees
grandad wrote:
Cabby John 1 wrote:
I guess that you have all forgotten the £1.1 million Cardiff drivers had back.

I haven't. :wink:



yep - the taxi trade are using that judgement ffs - cabbyjohn lighten up :lol:
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