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fee hike will 'force drivers out'
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Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  fee hike will 'force drivers out'
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 charges

Councillor 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
Author:  grandad [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
captain cab wrote:

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.


let me at him!
Author:  edders23 [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
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.”


In other words other councils have so they are playing catch up !
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
edders23 wrote:
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.”


In other words other councils have so they are playing catch up !


In other words they haven't been doing their accounts :wink:
Author:  toots [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
Is there anything stopping councils from charging yearly for a 3 year licence? They are issuing licences to 'fit & proper' drivers so they must trust them to be honest to come in each year a pay accordingly
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
ive yet to be convinced it costs 3 times the price for a license issued once
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
toots wrote:
Is there anything stopping councils from charging yearly for a 3 year licence? They are issuing licences to 'fit & proper' drivers so they must trust them to be honest to come in each year a pay accordingly

As far as I can see there is nothing preventing them from charging daily as regards the payment, but the badge on issue would last 3 years.

It would seem fair to allow a standing order to pay it monthly for those that need the facility, it would cause a problem for the bankrupt, they would have to able to pay cash monthly at the same rate.
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
captain cab wrote:
ive yet to be convinced it costs 3 times the price for a license issued once

I have to agree with you.
Author:  grandad [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
Chris the Fish wrote:
captain cab wrote:
ive yet to be convinced it costs 3 times the price for a license issued once

I have to agree with you.

Even our Council are only charging the same for the 3 year licence. £102 at the moment. The first one was issued to one of my drivers today.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
grandad wrote:
Even our Council are only charging the same for the 3 year licence. £102 at the moment. The first one was issued to one of my drivers today.


yeah - and apparently your lot of full of f*cking looneys :lol:
Author:  MR T [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
captain cab wrote:
grandad wrote:
Even our Council are only charging the same for the 3 year licence. £102 at the moment. The first one was issued to one of my drivers today.


yeah - and apparently your lot of full of f*cking looneys :lol:

And you know looneys..
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
MR T wrote:
And you know looneys..


hell yeah - conference is coming! :wink:
Author:  MR T [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
captain cab wrote:
MR T wrote:
And you know looneys..


hell yeah - conference is coming! :wink:

Book me in..
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
MR T wrote:
captain cab wrote:
MR T wrote:
And you know looneys..


hell yeah - conference is coming! :wink:

Book me in..


need a form ffs :wink:
Author:  skippy41 [ Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: fee hike will 'force drivers out'
I was under the impression that there was case laws regarding the above, stating that councils couldn't charge more than what it costs to produce a 1 year licence, any links
Also the law commission has said a 3 year licence should be issued
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