Steven Toy wrote:
One formal objection would mean that the decision to allow a premium for 5+ passengers would be taken by a full council vote instead of being granted by the licensing department. The public intererest is on the side of the premium because vehicles capable of carrying more passengers cost more to buy and run so there needs to be a financial incentive for proprietors to purchase and license them.
For the consumer it is cheaper to pay a premium of 50% for 5+ passengers than to pay double for 2 four-seater saloons.
We applied for the same 50% premium above all other tariffs in 2008 to replace a flat extra charge of £2 for 5+ passengers. Thus, time and half on bank holidays/after midnight until 7 am and double time at Christmas/New Year's Eve also attracted the 50% premium for 5+ passengers on top. This came into effect in April 2009 and AFAIK, there have been no complaints received in respect of this premium by members of the public.
State your case. Write to the licensing department and as many councillors as possible including the chair of the licensing committee.
You are welcome to cite our example.
We've had this here for a few years now. It worked quite well for a while.
Drawbacks? There are a couple.
They do take up more rank space.
There are only so many jobs to go round. When hires are doubled up in this way, it means fewer jobs for everyone when things are quiet.
We have so many now, I find it hard to believe the extra cost is worth the extra expense. There are only so many multi seat jobs.
Quite a few guys have gone back to 4 seaters.
There are complaints of overcharging by a handful of drivers setting the meter to fare and a half when they shouldn't.