Taxi Driver Online

3.8 Licensing – Hackney Carriage / Private Hire
3.8.1 The licensing of taxis and drivers is considered to be a service which, under the Charging
Policy, should achieve cost recovery. Historically, the fees and charges have not reflected
cost recovery and therefore this objective is not being met, with full cost recovery
estimated to require an increase of over 300%.
3.8.2 Members will also recall that an increase of 25% was agreed in the last 2 years as an
approach that balances the requirements of the charging policy with a sum reasonable to
service users. It is proposed that a similar increase is provisionally agreed for 2015/16, for
the same reasons.
3.8.3 Detailed time recording took place between October and December 2013 to examine
whether the cost apportionment assigned to taxi licences (traditionally 40% of the overall
licensing budget) was accurate to determine the correct proportion and to distinguish
between Operator‟s, Driver‟s and vehicle licences. The results of this were reported to the
Committee in March 2014 explaining that the „measured‟ outcome was 43%, and that the
current (2014/15) fee levels would result in recovery level of approx. 51%. The proposed
increase by a further 25% would create a recovery rate of approx 62% (subject to
confirmation of the budget for 2015/16 and verification that cost apportionment remains
accurate).
3.8.4 It is therefore recommended that the final setting of the charges is postponed until a
further sample period of time and activity recording has taken place which verifies and/or
adjusts our understanding of cost apportionment (and therefore recoverable costs, under
s53 and s70) for the individual types of licences for the „Q3‟ period (October – December
2014) and that the Committee revisits this issue after that has taken place, in order to be
able to set fees on a fully informed and robust basis. Accordingly, it is recommended that
the increase described above is provisionally set, and that the results of time & activity
recording and cost apportionment is then used to verify or adjust the fees. This approach
has been discussed with the Chair of the Melton Mowbray Taxi Drivers Association

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Grandad,

Time spent issuing and processing taxi + driver licensing documents including DBS by an officer = 2 hours??, at a wage of @ £9ph = £18
Cost of stationery, postage and phone calls = @ £3

Total = £21

Cost of a vehicle and driver licence = £150 +

Yet they reckon that £150 (or more, or less)only covers 43% of the cost to the licencing service. Well I suppose once you add on buildings, heating, lighting, utilities, vehicles, pensions,...................

Absolute La La land.

Object again, and then get the District Auditor to look at things.

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IDFIMH

We won't get the opportunity to object until February/March when they publish the increases. In the meantime I am hoping to be working with the Council to do the time recording properly, it used to be my job. I will also be showing them the Cardiff Judgement to show them that the way they keep information is wrong. Unfortunately for me, the leader of the Labour group on the Council who was in support of my quest, died last week so I will need to contact other Councillors now.

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Grandad,

I just filled in my forms for vehicle and badge renewal last week, took all of five minutes. Took them to the office and the LO checked I'd filled them in correctly in under a minute. A week later I went to collect my plate, which hadn't been made up but if I hung around for 15mins they'd have it ready.

I reckon the time spent on my application must have been less than 30 minutes.

I sent a copy of the Cardiff Judgement to our council.
Here is the reply.

"Thank you for your e-mail, we will consider the content and respond to you, although I would comment from my initial reading that it seems to pertain to wholly different circumstances to those we have in Melton."

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Grandad,

Once again they miss the point.

It may be different circumstances, in fact it is always different f***ing circumstances, but what the judge says relates to the law, and even your mob must adhere to the law.

That said the three year license issue throws everything in the melting pot.

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IDFIMH