Wrexham taxi licence fee hike will 'force drivers out' Concerns voiced over drivers having to pay more than double the current rate upfront with most licences now being issued for three-year period
Taxi drivers in Wrexham will have to pay for a three year licence upfront
Councillors have voted in favour of increasing taxi licence fees in Wrexham – which could see some cabbies pay more than double the current rate up front.
Despite claims from one local cab firm owner that some drivers would be forced out of the taxi trade due to the price hike, members of Wrexham council’s environmental licensing committee backed the move at a meeting yesterday afternoon.
The local authority was forced to reassess their fees after the UK Government introduced new legislation where Hackney carriage and private hire licences are issued for a three-year period from October this year.
The Deregulation Act 2015 also requires private hire operator licences to be issued for a five-year period, meaning in some cases both taxi firms and drivers will have to pay significantly more cash up front.
Currently licences are issued on a 12-month basis at a cost of £55. The new fee will be £250 with the licence lasting for three years.
Existing drivers who renew their licence will benefit from a cheaper fee of £215 for the 36-month period.
Annual licences can still be issued by Wrexham council but would be considered on an individual basis and dependent on circumstances, such as disability or condition.
The new annual fee would be £150 – nearly triple the current rate – but for drivers who only have a DVLA licence for 12 months due to health reasons, they would be asked to pay a third of the three-year licence fee when they renew annually.
Lump sums 'unaffordable'Speaking on behalf of Wrexham and Prestige Taxis’ owner Mark Coates, manager Marie Skinner told councillors at the meeting that the price hike was a “considerable jump”.
She added: “It’s difficult trying to get drivers in as it is. We try to fund as much for them as we can and they pay us back.
“Drivers are out there struggling day to day, they’re living day to day. This will force drivers out.
“We’ve got almost 70 drivers working for us and they are all concerned saying there is no way they afford lump sums.”
She also pointed out that the taxi trade is not a profession that suits everyone and drivers may not stay for three years.
New chargesCouncillor Brian Cameron, who abstained, sympathised with the taxi drivers saying the increases should have been “phased in” and asked whether quarterly direct debit payments could be made. Members agreed that option should be explored if it was possible.
Councillor David Griffiths, vice-chairman of the committee, said the changes to the length of licence fees had been forced upon them and that he was “confident” officers had reached the cheapest figure.
Cllr Geoff Lowe added that the fees were not unreasonable over the long-term, while Cllr Michael Morris said: “In reality we’ve not been charging enough in the past.”
The new charges will come into force from November 1.
source:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-w ... e-10152292
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