Taxi Driver Online

Taxi prices in Northumberland set to rise as cost of living pressure increases

Taxi fares in Northumb erland are set to increase from next month in response to an increase in the price of fuels.

The increase will only apply to so-called hackney carriages - that is, those taxis licensed by the local authority - and was agreed by councillors on Northumberland County Council's licensing and regulatory committee on Wednesday.

The agreement will see all fares rise by five per cent from July 4 2022. However, due to the way the tariffs are calculated, it means the distance travelled before the meter 'ticks' up will decrease.

For example, under the current tariff the fare costs £2.50 fore the first 500 yards, with each subsequent 91 yards costing 10p. Under the new arrangements, the fare will cost £2.60 for the first 500 yards and increase by 10p every 86 yards.

It should be noted that these are the maximum amount that operators of hackney carriages can charge, and actual costs may be lower. In addition, there are different charges for larger vehicles and charges on bank holidays and over the festive period are also higher.

Furthermore, the changes were agreed back in March - prior to the worst increases in the cost of fuel and the cost of living generally - meaning fares could yet rise further. Since then the public has been consulted on the changes with notices issued in local press - but respondents to the consultation have been low.

Speaking at the meeting, the council's director of housing and public protection Philip Soderquest said: "We've seen a great increase in the cost of living and more noticeably we've seen a significant increase in fuel cost. Had we run the consultation today we might have got a different response.

"We have strived to include everything we have received up to today. Taxis have always been a luxury but even more so now."

But Coun Brian Gallacher, who represents the Haydon ward, raised concerns over the lack of respondents.

He said: "I don't think taxis are a luxury. I think they're becoming crucial for a lot of people where they've lost their bus service and they cannot afford to use cars.

"I'm really concerned about the consultation and the numbers being low. I get the feeling we're guessing what the industry wants. Times are changing very quickly in respect of the cost of living and fuel."

It was explained that there was no time limit on changing the tariff and if a request came from the industry the committee could consider it again in the near future.

A majority of councillors on the committee voted to support the increase.

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IDFIMH

The last increase Northumberland had was in 2018.

The inflation increase from the middle of 2018 to the current date is 18.7%.

Yet the trade gets 5%.

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IDFIMH

Increase in Northumberland taxi fares branded 'shambolic' by group representing drivers as fuel costs soar

A five per cent increase in taxi fares allowed by Northumberland County Council has been criticised by the county's largest association of drivers amid spiralling fuel costs.

Last week, Northumberland County Council’s licensing and regulatory committee approved the increase for hackney carriages, with the price increase taking place from July 4.

It means the flag fee for a cab will increase from £2.50 to £2.60, with passengers then paying a further 10p every 86 yards. Previously, the fare increased every 91 yards.

However, with fuel prices continuing to stand at record highs and inflation also affecting maintenance costs, many taxi drivers feel the changes do not go far enough. The Berwick Taxi Association objected to the rise in a consultation carried out prior to last week's meeting.

In a response sent to the council, it points out that fuel increased from £1.11 per litre in 2018 to £1.83 by April 2022, while insurance has increased from a low of £750 and a high of £1,500 to £1,000 and £2,500 respectively. It went on to say that maintenance costs have increased by 33 per cent.

It suggested increasing the flag on a normal tariff from £2.50 to £3 and increasing the mileage charge by 10p per mile. This would increase the fare on an average local fare by 80p and a 10 mile trip by £1.50. BTA describe this as a "reasonable" increase that could be reviewed when fuel costs reduce.

The Berwick Taxi Association represents a large number of drivers and is a member of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA). A spokesman for the group told the local democracy reporting service the offer was "very disappointing."

He added: "The increase that the council produced in March was objected to by members. Five per cent was too low back in March when fuel was £1.60, £1.70.

"The increase gives us an extra 10p on the flag. Most of the trips as a taxi driver are local jobs so for every 10 jobs I do I'm going to receive an extra pound. It doesn't even cover the increase in fuel.

"Interest rates and inflation are going up. What is the price of fuel going to be then? The licensing committee evidentially don't know how a taxi operation runs. It's not feasible.

"We're representing the whole of Northumberland. Everybody is absolutely livid at what they've done.

"We put a fair increase forward to the committee. To see that we're only getting 10p on every hire is absolutely shambolic. It is disrespectful to the trade."

It was also claimed the group were prevented from attending the meeting, although the council has denied this.

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: "Proposals for a tariff increase went out for consultation in March and was widely promoted in local newspapers, on the council web site and the council also sent out to 851 emails to Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Proprietors and drivers who we have email addresses for.

"At this month's meeting all the feedback was put in front of committee, including that of Berwick Taxi Association (BTA), and was carefully considered. The increase comes in on July 4 and a commitment was made at an earlier meeting to review the figures in 12 months.

"The meeting was in public and as such the BTA could have attended, although the right for members of the public to speak, is a matter for the chair."

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IDFIMH

Northumberland taxi drivers could go on strike amid row over 'disrespectful' fare increase

Taxi drivers in Northumberland could go on strike amid a bitter row over fare increases, it has been suggested.

Council bosses recently agreed to allow a five per cent hike in fare prices for Hackney carriages which came into force this week. But the move has come in for criticism from operators who say it does not go far enough to cover their spiralling fuel and maintenance costs, with Northumberland’s largest association of drivers branding the decision “disrespectful”.

County hall chiefs have now been warned that the dispute could escalate into a drivers’ strike. Bywell councillor Holly Waddell claimed at a full council meeting on Wednesday to have “heard talk from taxi drivers of a strike” and asked if Tory-run local authority would support them in that or in lobbying the government for more support.

Coun Colin Horncastle responded by saying no specific funding was available to help the taxi industry through the cost of living crisis and accused drivers of being disrespectful themselves by not responding to a consultation on the proposed changes. The council’s portfolio holder for community services said: “I would not support the taxi drivers going on strike.

“There is a running thread here, it says the taxi drivers’ federation think it was disrespectful. I wonder what side really thinks it is disrespectful when 800 emails were sent out and only five responses were taken.”

He added: “Although fuel has gone up 40-odd per cent, that is not the only cost taxi drivers have. If you look at some of the other costs, they have not gone up that much. No, I do not support a taxi drivers’ strike. They had their chance to take part in the consultation and they did not.

“As far as the Government is concerned, I don’t know what we can do. This council can’t support individual businesses, I don’t suppose the Government can either.”

A spokesman for the Berwick Taxi Association, which did respond to the consultation on behalf of the dozens of taxi operators it represents, confirmed that the prospect of a strike had been discussed, though no formal action had been taken.

He added: “If they [the council] woke up to the real world, they would understand how difficult it is to be a taxi driver. I don’t think they get the picture.”

Alex Hurst, of Phoenix Taxis, said the fare increase decision was “baffling” but rejected the idea of a strike, saying they would not “punish the people of Northumberland”.

The fare increase means the flag fee for a cab has increased from £2.50 to £2.60, with passengers then paying a further 10p every 86 yards. Previously, the fare increased every 91 yards.

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IDFIMH

The 'local democracy reporter' here makes it sound like only HCs are licensed by local authorities

Anyway, councillors have supported another increase, but are saying that firms will have to keep fares low anyway to get 'bums on seats'

Think that's what's called cognitive dissonance


Taxi fares in Northumberland could increase by 5% for second year in a row

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... e-26259694

The increase applies to the maximum fee hackney carriages would be able to charge

Taxi drivers in Northumberland are set to be consulted on a possible 5% increase in maximum taxi fares.

It would see the fare for a five mile journey on a standard tariff increase from £12.30 to £12.90 if adopted.

The increase would only apply to so-called hackney carriages - that is, those taxis licensed by the local authority.

It follows an increase of 5% last summer as drivers faced financial pressure due to rising fuel costs. However, that increase was deemed insufficient, with the Berwick Taxi Association left "livid".

Previously fares hadn't risen in around five years, but the council pledged to look at the issue again this year due to the rising cost of living. At Wednesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's licensing and regulatory committee, members were presented with the option of either a 5% or a 10% increase, and opted for the former.

Speaking at the meeting, the council's local services and housing delivery manager Philip Soderquest told members that the cost of fuel had "fallen significantly," adding: "We've seen some reductions in the cost of operating taxis now."

Councillors approved the proposals, and were keen to stress the new tariffs would be the maximum firms could charge.

Labour's Coun Brian Gallacher said: "Everybody is struggling massively. If you don't get bums on seats you don't make money.

"If you're a business, you will be trying to keep prices as low as possible to get as much business as possible."

Coun Alex Wallace added: "Fuel prices are part of what demands the increase, but there's many companies that won't charge the maximum.

"You only make money if there's bums on seats."

Public notices will now be published in local news papers specifying the proposed new tariffs and the date it would come into effect. Both members of the public and taxi drivers can send comments on the plans.

Which would concur with an inflation rate of 10%.

If the council/councillors had got it right last year then there would have been no need for this extra bureaucracy.

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IDFIMH

Love business lectures from councillors.

As if taxi drivers don't f***ing well know that.

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IDFIMH