Taxi Driver Online

Drivers face hike in taxi charges



A PROPOSED rise in taxi driver and vehicle fees to cover the costs of licensing the service in Newport is to go out to consultation.

But the decision by Newport council licensing committee wasn't unanimous and one councillor called a report by council officers that proposed the rises "dictatorial".

However no member of the taxi trade came to listen to the decision.

Cllr Majid Rahman, of Victoria ward, said: "If you put this out to consultation to the trade they are going to batter us."

He later added: "I think this report is aggressive and dictatorial. We are telling the taxi drivers this is what we should do because we are losing money".

"With respect that's a poor choice of words," committee chairman Cllr Allan Morris replied.

Cllr Sally Mlewa, of Rogerstone, added: "If we carry on subsiding this function, what are we going to say to the lady that says I have waited three years for a shower?"

Cllr Rahman's comments came after members voted seven to two for the proposals to go out to consultation, with Cllr Rahman and Cllr Chris Evans objecting.

Helen Wilkie, public protection manager at the council, said a long time ago the council decided to run the taxi licensing service at a loss, which steadily increased to a point that was unsustainable.

In 2011/12, following cost saving measures, the deficit between income and spending was cut from £83,000 the year before to £65,000. An estimate suggests the proposal would see that fall further to £394.

The committee heard officers had looked at public safety in balancing the issue. The proposals introduce new fees for vehicles more than 12 years old and cheaper fees for cars under three years, with cars older than 12 years said to have to be inspected more frequently.

Under the plans a Newport taxi driver could face paying more than £110 extra a year to licence cars more than three years old, while drivers of cars more than 12 years old could face vehicle licence fees of £458 a year.

The report claims some of the fees would still be lower than neighbouring authorities.

A consultation meeting with the trade on the rises, would could be in place by October, is planned.


DOING nothing is not an option with the current economic climate, according to the chairman of the licensing committee.

Cllr Allan Morris said after the meeting: "Hopefully we will have a full and frank discussion that come out with a solution that suits everyone."

Cliff Suller, Councillor for Caerleon, said: "We're going to listen to them and genuinely listen to them."

Cllr Chris Evans, of Rogerstone ward, said he objected as he wanted to see discounts offered for "greener" cars, such as hybrids and electric vehicles, and added that entrepreneurship should be encouraged.

Cllr Rahman added that he didn't think the report highlighted the commitment the council had in supporting hard working taxi drivers on low incomes.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/g ... i_charges/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

They seem all over the shop with there costs, I thought the basic Idea that Licensing fees were Profit/Loss neutral and were only pitched at a price that would cover the costs, So how can they do that if they have cheap licenses for Green cars being subsidized by that of more expensive older cars and yet a third price for any other cars.

For a start they would not know how many vehicles were likely to use any given vehicle classification group which make a mockery of the whole scheme. It should be one price for all or it's unfair to everyone.

You are a bit whiffy?

On a more serious not, councils subsidies every other part of the licensing function through council tax, as the other licenses fees don't meet the cost of enforcement, just the cost of processing the license.

Thankfully in the new act, I'm guessing, we will be treated the same way.

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IDFIMH

C'mon..It's Britain and that can never be allowed to happen!

Well it does for every other license issue by councils.

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IDFIMH

But Hack's and PH are the lowest of the low In LA thinking...we're more a nuisance than a benefit.

I love it when they come out with gems like that - what exactly is the criteria when they want to compare! As I see it there is no comparison because the neighbouring authorities all have differing tariffs, differing ratios customers per cab/car, differing earning capacities that allow OR not is the case neighbouring drivers to swallow whatever expenditure is thrown at them - what allows them to compare?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Why the friar tuck should council Tax Payers subsidise Private Business's ?????????????

Really Sussex such as who where when ?

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Westminster just lost a case over charging sex shops enforcement fees. Quite simply they can charge for the process of the license, and that's it.

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IDFIMH