Nothing spectacularly out of the ordinary here, with boilerplate-ish stuff from all sides
And you'd need to really engage with the detail to evaluate it all - looks like a mixed bag.
And, of course, with Lewes and the whole cross-border HC thing in Brighton, and the consequent CCTV spec etc, then that's obviously had a knock-on effect as regards fees etc.
Not sure to what extent the cross-border thing is still an issue with Lewes HCs (although I'm sure someone on here does). But that all demonstrated the nonsense of the 'unmet needs test' the trade is demanding here - see what I did there?
('Unmet needs' sounds more like a foodbank or something
)Petition calls on Lewes District Council to consider higher taxi fares
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/busines ... es-5485551
Campaigners are calling on Lewes District Council look at higher taxi fares.
The demand comes as part of a petition, which also calls on the council to freeze the fees it for charges for taxi driver licences.
It was launched in response to proposed increases in the council’s overall licensing fees for the coming financial year.
Lead petitioner Sean Macleod, a former district councillor, argued the council needed to do more to protect its taxi trade.
In a press release, Mr Macleod said: “It’s clear the trade is struggling and after a 66 per cent fee increase last year to be hit with another 50 per cent [increase] in some cases this year is a clear kick in the teeth.
“It’s time councillors stood up for the trade and listened to their demands as they quite frankly have been ignored for too long.
“The four steps the trade are asking for are totally reasonable given the concerns the trade have … and their minimal expense.
“Given licensing money is completely ringfenced and in past years operated at a significant profit this should be considered as a reasonable expense. Not only that, it makes the trade feel listened to and that their concerns are being addressed.”
The petition says the council’s fare structure — the amount drivers can charge their passengers — is out of date.
It says it has failed to “keep pace with the dramatic and ongoing increases in operational costs, including fuel, insurance, vehicle maintenance and the overall cost of living.”
It also calls on the council to conduct a “comprehensive and independent audit” of its licensing department’s finances. It says campaigners have “serious concerns” about how the fees are currently being allocated and the level of transparency offered by the council.
The petition also calls on the council to commission a study — known as an Unmet Needs Survey — which would be used to determine whether the current number of taxis meets the district’s need. Mr Macleod said this would be expected to cost around £20,000.
A spokeswoman for Lewes District Council said: “We value the vital service provided by the taxi trade in Lewes district.
“The review of licensing fees is an annual process undertaken by local authorities across the country, and is in accordance with national requirements to ensure our licensing service remains sustainable and continues to meet its statutory obligations.
“The proposed fees for 2025-2026 are currently at the consultation stage and no final decision has yet been made. This proposal will be considered by the Licensing Committee, which will review all relevant information before reaching a decision.
“Fee adjustments are never taken lightly. However, like all service providers, the council is facing significantly increased operating costs and inflationary pressures. The proposed increases reflect the actual cost of administering the scheme and ensuring the safety of the public and the taxi trade.
“Any petition submitted to the council will be considered through the authority’s formal processes.”
The proposed fee increases are set to be considered by the council’s licensing committee on Thursday evening (January 22).
A report to the committee notes how “it is proposed that the majority of fees will be increasing by 10 per cent” as a result of increasing “demand and inflation.”
However, the report goes on to note some taxi licensing fees are proposed to increase by 20 per cent.
The report says this is a result of “significant operating costs” linked to the council having become the data controller for CCTV systems installed in all licensed taxis.These costs were reflected in the taxi licensing budget carrying a deficit of £140,869 at the end of the 2024/25 financial year, the report said.
The proposed 20 per cent increases would only apply to the renewal of individual drivers’ licences.
Currently, the cost of a three year renewal comes to £472.50. It is proposed to increase this fee to £567.
Two other taxi fees could increase by a greater extent.
This may include the amount the council charges to provide vehicle livery. This fee could be increased from £83 to £125 — an increase of 50 per cent.
The fee charged to replace a door sign could also increase from £15 to £24 — an increase of 55 per cent.
Most other taxi licensing fees would increase by a lesser degree, however. Some fees — such as the cost of replacing ID badges and interior stickers — are only expected to increase by around 50p (less than one per cent in most cases).
Operator licence fees — the licence which allows a business to run a fleet of licensed drivers — are not set to increase at all.
If backed by the committee, the fees would then be expected to be put to a full council vote for the final decision.
The petition can be found at: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/lew ... licensing/
