Taxi fees to rise despite widespread opposition and 125-strong petition TAXI licensing fee hikes of up to seventy per cent are set to be approved by councillors this week despite widespread opposition and petition sporting more than a hundred signatures.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet has been advised to push through the fee hikes, which will see a significant jump in the price paid for renewing drivers’ licences, knowledge tests and operators’ licences.
The matter was first considered by the cabinet in July before a consultation took place prompting a raft of responses from Swindon’s taxi industry in opposition to the rises.
In a report submitted for Wednesday’s meeting, the cabinet member for finance, people and performance, Councillor Russell Holland (Con, St Margaret & South Marston), said the proposals should be adopted.
“It is recommended that the proposed changes are implemented in order to ensure the income covers the cost of the service recognising that no increases have been implemented in the last three years,” the report said.
“The service must be self-financing and all fees must be re-invested back into the service with an additional post being employed to allow capacity for improved administration, systems and enforcement to the benefit of the service.”
Tracey Kirk, fleet manager for Private Hire Rental and CMH Car Hire, which own approximately 150 vehicles between them, was responsible for pulling a petition together which now has 125 signatures opposing the fee increase.
“We are disappointed with the outcome of the fee increases as it is going to make life a lot more difficult for drivers, who are already struggling to make a living from it,” she said.
“At this point, I don’t think any of us will be bothering to make a protest. We have already done as much as we can and they are still not going to pay any attention.
“You wonder why you bother.”
Among the proposed increases, the largest jump is for those drivers wishing to sit a knowledge test, who would fork out £50 for their first attempt, as opposed to £30 as it is now.
Those existing drivers looking to renew their minicab licences would be required to pay out 54 per cent more, at £70 rather than £45.50.
Operators like United Radio Cars, including V Cars, Cross Street Cars and SN1 Cars, which service more than 20 vehicles, will now be needed to fork out £450 for a licence, up from £309 in 2014/15.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United, said: “I’m very disappointed the council hasn’t taken any notice of the opinions of the people who are affected.
“Everybody will be suffering: the drivers, the companies and even the council themselves.
“When they take the fees up it will be less attractive for people to become drivers.
“They don’t know the number of people who might have wanted to join. That’s a hidden figure behind all this.
“At the end of the day, there’s going to be a great impact on a lot of lives in Swindon.
“If the decision’s made, it’s like everything else: you have a voice and want to make it heard, but when they hear your voice they totally ignore it.”
In a letter to Tracey, Richard Bell, head of planning and regulatory services at Swindon Borough Council, said higher costs are incurred for additional checks, a more rigorous knowledge test and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
He also said there would be additional enforcement to protect the reputation of the industry in Swindon and other road users by ensuring all taxis are properly insured.
source:
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... _petition/
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